Community youth attend Yolo County Youth and Young Adult Job and Resource Fair

Carlos Guerrero

March 31

On Friday afternoon, young community members interested in connecting with a potential employer in person rather than through an app or online had the chance to do so during the third annual Yolo County Youth and Young Adult Job and Resource Fair.

The job fair, held at the Woodland Community and Senior Center at 2001 East St., was put on by the Yolo County Office of Education, Yolo Works, and the city of Woodland Community Services Department. It welcomed upwards of 80 community youth aged 16-24 to check out nearly 80 organizations with informational booths.

"The aim here is just to really try to connect youth with different kinds of opportunities in the community that align with their values and ambitions," said Michael Farrell, outreach specialist with the Yolo County Office of Education. "It's exciting to see so many agencies and organizations throughout Yolo County come together and meet with our youth and provide different opportunities or information. It's been awesome to see the job fair grow the past three years."

Two years ago, during the first youth job fair, the Community Center hosted approximately 15 organizations with around 20 youth participants. Last year, in 2023, both numbers doubled to 30 organizations and around 40 youth participants.

The Woodland Community College EMT Program had an informational booth at the third annual Yolo County Youth and Young Adult Job and Resource Fair, held at the Woodland Community Center's gym on Friday, March 29. (Carlos Guerrero/Daily Democrat)

On Friday, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., around 80 booths filled the Center's gymnasium, offering various options to suit the attendees' interests. Oksana Apodaca, 20, attended the fair with two friends and found it very productive.

"It's great that this is a resource here," Apodaca said. "I noticed the fair was geared towards the youth, which is helpful. I am attending job fairs trying to find a job because I needed help with it in the past. I didn't know there were so many resources, and it's great they are all here to talk about it with us."

Organizations in attendance with a booth along with the three co-hosts in the YCOE, the city's Community Services Department and Yolo Works, included the Woodland Community College EMT Program, Yolo County Selpa, the Woodland Public Library, Yolo County Library, MOSAIC Childrens Museum, CommuniCare Health Centers, RISE Inc., Woodland Community College, Cal Fire, Empower Yolo and many more.

"You don't want to miss out on these fairs," Apodaca said. "They are hidden gems. You can meet people here and get your name out there for jobs. They were really helpful here. It is better than just going out on Indeed or online looking for jobs, and that's why you'd want to come out to something like this."