PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach’s Office of Equity and Citizens’ Advisory Commission on Disability (CACoD), along with the Disabled Resources Center, Mental Health America of Los Angeles, the California Department of Rehabilitation, and Pacific Gateway Network, will host its first-ever job fair for people with disabilities on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Civic Center Plaza and City Hall Lobby (411 W. Ocean Blvd.). The job fair coincides with National Disability Employee Awareness Month (NDEAM), which takes place annually throughout the month of October.

“We are happy to host this inaugural job fair opportunity for people with disabilities,” says Mayor Rex Richardson. “This community is filled with so much untapped talent and potential. We encourage local employers to host a booth and we invite job seekers to come out and explore the opportunities available.”

There are nearly 50,000 residents in Long Beach that identify as having a disability, 33% of whom are unemployed, and preconceived notions about people with disabilities pose barriers to many employment opportunities.

The NDEAM Job Fair will be an opportunity for people with disabilities to apply for job opportunities with employers on the spot. Employment seekers can prepare for the job fair by attending a workshop or class, hosted by the job fairs organizing partners, in the weeks leading up to the job fair. More information about the upcoming workshops is available on the partnering organizations’ websites.

Local employers are still highly encouraged to participate in the inaugural event and can register here. People with disabilities interested in attending the job fair are encouraged to register ahead of time.

In correspondence with the NDEAM Job Fair, the City’s Office of Equity will host a free virtual workshop for hiring managers and business owners, titled "Demystifying + Destigmatizing Disability in the Workplace." As NDEAM approaches, this workshop will break down harmful stereotypes about people with disabilities that can hinder access to job opportunities. Registration for the workshop, taking place Thursday, Sept. 7, is available here.

For more information about this event, please contact Jennifer Kumiyama at 562.570.6257 or at Jennifer.Kumiyama@longbeach.gov.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.