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Networking made accessible: Affirmations and Stand with Trans Hosts Career Fair

Mercedes-Benz, Wayne State University, Henry Ford Health System and Ally Bank. On the face of it, these businesses and institutions have nothing in common, but on Dec. 8, representatives from each of them, and 16 more organizations, joined together at Ferndale's Affirmations LGBTQ community center for its first-ever career fair.
"The Youth Workforce Development Program existed before I came into the position, but I've been working to grow it a little bit," said Youth Program Coordinator Ian Unger. "Kind of my little brain child was that a career fair would be cool, because the youth do get to meet business professionals, but don't get to network quite like adults do."
That youth is part of the Affirmations' XTL, Cross the Line, Youth Workforce Program, in which LGBTQ teens between the ages of 13 and 20 have an opportunity to develop skills necessary for future employment. The 16-week program involves interactive, on-the-job training as well as practical and theoretical application of important concepts. Still, Unger was interested in broadening the scope of attendees, too.
"So, I talked with Roz Keith from Stand with Trans about pairing up and doing this as an event," Unger said.
Soon, she was on board. Keith is the founder and board president of Stand with Trans, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping transgender youth as they transition. The fair was also opened up to community members who wanted to network a skill that Unger said is invaluable in today's job market.
"Networking, getting to know more about different businesses, getting to know the people at those businesses (is important)," Unger said. "Because we're in an age where networking is how you get jobs. It's not as easy as it used to be."
Unger is right, networking plays a huge role in one's job search. In an interview with NPR, president of Career Horizons, an organization that specializes in career advice for professionals, Matt Youngquist said that "at least 70 percent, if not 80 percent, of jobs are not published" on hiring websites. That means that the old adage of 'who you know' is truer than ever.
But feeling at-ease enough to effectively speak with employers, especially at a young age, that's the tricky part. That's why Unger said he hopes that Affirmations can make these career fairs a regular occurrence.
"They get them to be able to do that, to learn to talk to business professionals and to get rid of that intimidation," Unger said. "Because, it's very intimidating the first time that you're talking to a business professional."
And people like 17-year-old career fair attendee Oliver Connolly recognize that. Connolly said he drove 30 minutes from Detroit to get to the fair, but that the drive was worth it.
"I love Affirmations as a center, and as an organization. I really love having networking opportunities and opportunities to meet and be involved with the community," Connolly said. "I'm at an age where I need these opportunities to get my name out there to meet people where I could benefit and then later, benefit them. I loved talking to all the people that I've met."
Unger said that that attitude of positivity surrounding networking is one he hopes to cultivate.
"So, it's getting that idea out, and then getting used to the idea of getting into the workforce, and learning what that takes. And, if you need to get a degree in something, what is that," Unger said. "And, in a way, it's definitely less intimidating because you're not coming here thinking that you're trying to get a job. It's not as much pressure, but if you do get one, that's even better."
The Affirmations LGBTQ community center is located at 290 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. More information about it can be found at goaffirmations.org.

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