Office of Reentry Services/Coweta CSO: Reality U Job Fair

Recently, the DJJ Office of Reentry Services and Coweta Community Services Office (Coweta CSO) teamed up with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA), Goodwill Industries and the West Georgia Technical College Central Education Center staff to design and implement an exciting new program for youth working to rejoin their local communities –  Reality U Job Fair.

A brainchild of Reentry Resource Coordinator Jaron Richardson and Coweta CSO Juvenile Program Manager Brian Hughes, the Reality U Job Fair is a unique local extension of the Reality U concept, where students participate in a one-day financial literacy event designed to help teach some of the “realities” involved in preparing for an employable future and adulthood. The success of a recent Reality U event in Coweta at which youth simulated real-life costs, decision-making, and outcomes inspired the DJJ team to develop an area-specific and long-reaching permanent Reality U experience that would lead to real-life employment and skill training.

In preparation for the Reality U Job Fair, DJJ collaborated with GVRA to facilitate the creation of a four-week curriculum. Preparing them for life after high school and developing employment skills, DJJ youth were taught how to budget finances, dress for interviews, how to seek employment and how to conduct themselves during an interview. At the end of the training, a job fair was held at the Goodwill Career Center in Newnan.

At the Reality U Job Fair, 20 youth participated,  filled out job applications and spoke with local employers. Companies that attended included McDonald's, Golden Corral, Waffle House, Jibe Staffing, Allegiance Staffing and Hearts to Nourish Hope. Three DJJ youths have already been offered employment and the Office of Reentry Services has been able to provide all participants with State ID vouchers.

DJJ is proud of the work of the students who participated and staff members who took the time to design the Reality U Job Fair concept.