Overcoming to Employment Summit

The Jobs Not Guns Summit is designed to assist District residents to qualify for employment by providing them a continuum of care for residents to maintain long-term employment once hired.  The Coalition creates a citywide forum for potential employers, training providers, social service providers, law enforcement and elected officials and employment agencies to meet with District residents and District stakeholders to address the barriers for employing District residents.  It provides a platform for employers to present their barriers to hiring District residents.   It also provides residents an overview of their responsibilities to participate in job training or support programs, as needed, to achieve and maintain employment, and lead to a career.  Panels include:

Employment Opportunities

Employers present their opportunities available and basic requirements; mentorship, internship and career development; an overview of challenges seeking employees and barriers to hiring District residents.

Applicant Training

Training providers presents a summary of available skill-training programs, on-the-job training, apprenticeship training, etc. available.

Applicant Support and Social Services

Supportive Service providers presents a description of types of services (workforce development programs, social services and supportive service programs available for District residents.

Open Discussion

Following the panel discussions, we conduct an “Open Mike” dialog with the District residents and community stakeholders in attendance who provide feedback regarding the challenges of employment, training, support services and hiring practices.

The goal of the Summit is to assist District residents to establish a roadmap to a career to earn a living, provide for their families and creates a different lifestyle that will ultimately reduce the perpetrators and victims of gun violence.  At the end of each event, the volunteers assist with follow-up, analysis and documentation of the events outcome. It also provides volunteers with a snapshot of their personal career development. The overall objective of the Summit is to assist District residents and volunteers to obtain opportunities to earn a living, provide for their families and creates a different lifestyle that will ultimately reduce the perpetrators and victims of gun violence.