The 6th Annual Greater Hartford Reentry Employment & Resource Fair

Written by Sue Gunderman, STRIDE Program

The Greater Hartford Reentry Council and the Chrysalis Center, Inc. held the 6th Annual Greater Hartford Reentry Employment and Resource Fair and Employer Breakfast Symposium on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. This event was supported by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Prior to the fair, there was a panel discussion “Access to Employment Opportunities for Returning Citizens” with State Representative Brandon McGee D-Hartford, Mayor Luke Bronin, City of Hartford; John Santa, Malta Justice Initiative; Daryl McGraw, DMHAS; Cheryl McDonald, Co-owner Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ; Louis Lista, Owner Pond House Café/Zest 280 and Sue Gunderman, STRIDE and Co-Chair Greater Hartford Reentry Council. After the breakfast, the fair provided a unique opportunity for about 200 returning citizens to show prospective employers they were job ready. Participating in this event were more than 40 employers and resource vendors. In addition to finding employment, there was an opportunity for participants to obtain information on local schools, training programs and community organizations providing support.