The Louisiana Business Leadership Network and the Medicaid Purchase Plan are teaming up to connect job seekers with disabilities and employers who are hiring at “Louisiana Job Fairs 2006.” For the third year in a row, job fairs focused on people with disabilities will be held in nine cities across the state in October as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
People with disabilities are both the largest minority in the United States and also the largest population of unemployed Americans. The American Community Survey shows that Louisiana is home to almost 400,000 people with disabilities who are of working age. Studies indicate that 275,000 of these adults with disabilities are unemployed but want to work.
In 2004 and 2005, the Job Fairs connected more than 3,000 job seekers with 327 businesses statewide. Organizers hope to connect more job seekers and businesses in 2006.
Events will be held in Baton Rouge on Oct. 4, Mandeville and Shreveport on Oct. 10, Alexandria and Monroe on Oct. 11, Lake Charles and New Orleans on Oct. 12, Lafayette on Oct. 24 and Houma on Oct. 31.
For additional information about the 2006 Job Fairs, including specific information about the local events call 1-888-544-7996 or visit Medicaid Purchase Plan at www.LaMPP.org or Louisiana Business Leadership Network at www.lbln.org.
Louisiana Business Leadership Network, a nonprofit association led by businesses that value persons with disabilities as customers and employees, is the statewide coordinator of the job fairs. The Medicaid Purchase Plan, a Department of Health program that provides health care coverage to people with disabilities who work, is the statewide sponsor.
A complete listing of events by region is below:
Baton Rouge Area
Wednesday, Oct. 4
9 a.m. -- noon
American Legion Hall
151 South Wooddale Blvd.
Northshore area
Tuesday, Oct. 10
9 a.m. - noon
Castine Center
63350 Pelican Drive
Mandeville
Shreveport
Tuesday, Oct. 10
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Municipal Auditorium
705 Elvis Presley Blvd.
Alexandria area
Wednesday, Oct. 11
9 a.m. – noon
Mainstreet Community Center
708 Main Street
Pineville
Monroe
Wednesday, Oct. 11
9 a.m. – noon
Monroe Civic Center
401 Lea Joyner Expressway
Metro New Orleans Area
Thursday, Oct. 12
9 a.m. – noon
Jefferson – Orleans South
2536 Edenborn Avenue
Metairie
Lake Charles
Thursday, Oct. 12
9 a.m. – noon
Lake Charles Civic Center Exhibition Hall
First Floor
Lafayette
Tuesday, Oct. 24
9 a.m. – noon
Heymann Performing Arts Center
1374 South College Road
Houma
Tuesday, Oct. 31
9 a.m. – noon
Evergreen Cajun Center
4694 West Main Street