Last month, the Great Court in Temple University’s Mitten Hall was transformed into a bustling job fair where over 450 local job seekers met face-to-face with potential employers to discuss employment opportunities.

The sixth annual Temple University Neighbors Job Fair brought representatives from more than 35 businesses, agencies and organizations, including Independence Blue Cross, SugarHouse Casino, Rite Aid and PECO-Excelon, to Temple's campus to connect with residents of the surrounding neighborhoods seeking jobs.

The job fair is one example of Temple’s ongoing commitment to the North Philadelphia community, said Kenneth Lawrence, senior vice president for government, community and public affairs.

“At Temple, we want our neighbors to think of us as a partner and a resource," Lawrence said.

Sponsored by Temple’s Office of Human Resources' Division of Community Outreach and Hiring, the job fair is part of a larger outreach effort known as Temple's Community Hiring Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to provide area residents with the resources they need to achieve their employment goals.

As part of this outreach effort, the university offers a series of workshops designed to increase a candidate's chances of employment at Temple and elsewhere. The workshops cover topics such as resume writing, interviewing skills and job search techniques and provide hands-on training to enhance workplace skills and personal effectiveness.

As a result of the initiative, 10 percent of Temple employees currently come from the neighborhoods adjacent to either Main Campus or the Health Sciences Center; the university has hired nearly 1,400 individuals from the community around Main Campus and Health Sciences Center over the past five years. Community residents have obtained employment with other local businesses as well.

This year, Temple undergraduates got involved and lent a hand. Students in the “Advertising and Copywriting” course taught by Professor James Marra created fliers and e-mail blasts to help get the word out about the event.

“We recognize that the future of Temple and North Philadelphia are dependent on one another,” said Karen Ward, assistant vice president for employment. “At Temple, we work hard to bring professional development and job-seeking resources to our neighbors.”