On Saturday, February 9, 2008, approximately 500 pre-screened job applicants from Southwest/Near Southeast attended a Jobs Fair held at the Greenleaf Recreation Center to fill 1600 jobs offered by the Washington Nationals and their vendors.  There were approximately 2,500 total applicants attending the event without the benefit of the pre-screening.

An additional Job Fair was held on February 21, 2008 in which a slightly lesser number of pre-screened and total applicants showed up in hopes of obtaining the unfilled positions left over from the first Job Fair.

For both Job Fairs, arrangements were made with the Nationals and their vendors, with the cooperation and assistance of the Department of Employment Services to recruit, pre-screen and process SW and Near SE applicants on a priority basis for the available 1600 jobs.  The Job Fair was a city-wide event purposely held in SW by the Washington Nationals as a community benefit in recognition of the past and future impact of the Stadium on the community.  It was also a plus to the Nationals to employ nearby residents that will be able to walk to the stadium and to build good community relations. 

For those hired from the Job Fair, case management services will be provided as needed, through resources provided by the United Planning Organization, Career T.E.A.M. (Department of Human Services contractor) and the South Washington Collaborative for job retention support over the first season.  These services will include referrals for childcare, job coaching or other job-readiness issues.

Many positions were filled on the spot.  Others were called back several days later for follow-up interviews, and then hired.  The Nationals plan to start training for many of its new employees as early as the weekend following the second Job Fair.  The number of residents hired from the SW/Near SE applicants has not been determined, but it is expected to be large. The actual data will be available within the next few weeks, enabling follow-up case management to be deployed.  Additional immediate employment opportunities will be scheduled to intensify access for the difficult to employ as well as other SW/SE residents desiring part or full time employment.

Beyond these short term employment opportunities, the goal is to plan and achieve a Community Center in SW that will contain a One-Stop Workforce Development /Employment Service, with collaboration among community and city resources to provide wrap-around services.

A very impressive number of resident recruiters and volunteers contributed their time and talents to make the project an outstanding success.  The list includes the SW/SE Community Benefits Coordinating Committee volunteers, South Washington/West of the River Strengthening Collaborative staff, resident leaders of James Creek, Syphax Gardens, Greenleaf Family Housing, their ANC Commissioners Ron McBee and Rhonda Hamilton, Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, and Department of Employment Services, United Planning Organization, Career T.E.A.M. Staff, District of Columbia Housing Authority and all of the Washington National’s staff and vendors.  The teamwork, cooperation, and unity of purpose exhibited by this group produced outstanding results

The planning and execution of this employment initiative was carried out by the Near SW/SE Community Center/Workforce Development Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is an organization supported directly by Councilmember Tommy Wells, as an outgrowth of the community benefits priority setting process which designated a Community Center/Workforce Development initiative as the number one priority desired by the SW/Near SE community The priority setting process was managed under the leadership of the Near SW/SE Community Benefits Coordinating Committee, comprised of leaders and members of  the ANC 6D, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, the South Washington Family Strengthening Collaborative, church and other community/ resident leaders.