The Premier Networking and Hiring Experience for Professionals of Color in the Twin Cities
Wednesday, April 24th
Minneapolis Convention CenterThe Ballroom
THE BEST NETWORKING & HIRING EVENT FOR PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR - PERIOD !
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
People Of Color Career Fair founder, Sharon Smith-Akinsanya, is thrilled to see the Twin Cities embrace the importance of not working in silos. We want to thank everyone who made the 11th edition of the People Of Color Career Fair the most successful yet !
We took a bold step, expanding into the Ballroom, and the community responded in kind – we FILLED the room, creating an ambiance of unity, growth, and potential. This milestone signifies not just the growth of the Career Fair, but the increasing commitment in our region to diversity and inclusion.
As we gear up for our Spring 2024 edition, the question is: Will you be in the room?
MAJOR SPONSORS
EMPLOYER PARTNERS
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BRINGING YOU THE ACCESS YOU NEED
NETWORKING BREAKFAST
The Networking Breakfast is an invitation-only event the morning of the People of Color Career Fair™, that connects highly skilled and experienced professionals with executives, recruiters and hiring managers from top Minnesota employers looking to fill leadership positions in fields such as IT, healthcare, engineering, and financial services.
FREE PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS
Take your headshot with us and use it everywhere. We want to help you upgrade your professional profile, so we are offering headshots FREE of charge to you. If you decide to participate, we will send you instructions on how to download the image for you to use on all of your professional profiles.
THE HUDDLE
LOUNGE
The Huddle Lounge was back in April 2023. This space enables Professionals of Color to engage with corporate decision makers in a more relaxed and intimate setting, while allowing employers the opportunity to step away from their booth and sit down directly across from a prospective candidate.
NETWORKING WITH
HIRING MANAGERS
Enjoy the opportunity to connect with representatives from 70+leading Employers in the region. Converse with vetted Employer Partners who are committed to diversifying their workplaces. Utilize the moment to market yourself to your next potential Employer.
ONSITE
INTERVIEWS
Some of our Employer Partners are ready to conduct onsite interviews at the Career Fair. We have a space specifically designated for providing Professionals and Employers the opportunity to delve deeper into open roles, qualifications, and experience.
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360°
GLAM CAM
360° Glam Cam will return in 2023. This omnidirectional camera captures full-circle, 30-second videos that can be used on social media platforms both for fun, and to bring awareness to the important work we are doing together to bridge the racial employment, wage and wealth gaps in the North Star State.
Professional Organization Partners
We're excited to partner with leading organizations dedicated to moving the needle forward for Professionals of Color in our region.
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See what CEOs, Executives, and Policymakers are saying about the People of Color Career Fair™
Chris Galvin
PRESIDENT & CEO ANDERSEN CORPORATION
“Andersen has been a Premier Sponsor since the inception of the People Of Color Career Fair. When Sharon presented the concept to us, Andersen was all-in, understanding the importance of expanding networks and committing to being in the room. I'm thrilled to see so many other corporations join us this year, sending a message to all that Minnesota is beginning to understand the link between inclusivity and recruitment & retention.”
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ANDREA JENKINS
PRESIDENT
MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL, WARD 8
"The work that Rae Mackenzie Group is doing continues to be work that inspires us all and strengthens our region. The People Of Color Career Fair™ is another way RMG is working hard to move MN forward. People of Color deserve the opportunity to shine. We are as qualified as anyone else, and thank goodness the Twin Cities has the People Of Color Career Fair™ to make sure everyone knows it. We must partner with initiatives and events like this Career Fair to make sure our region is an equitable place to live, work, and be for all."
JACOB FREY
MAYOR
CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
“Our city and state need the People Of Color Career Fair™. For too long, we’ve been garnering a reputation of violence and negativity. And while we can’t take away the past—nor would we ever attempt to deny its existence—there is a truth about us that people need to know. We are working to make Minneapolis and Minnesota safe and prosperous for all. The People Of Color Career Fair™ is that truth personified, a tangible example that elected officials and businesses want our region to be a place where everyone has access to opportunities to succeed.”
MELVIN CARTER
MAYOR
CITY OF SAINT PAUL
“We have been waiting for the return of the People Of Color Career Fair™. The type of access that this Career Fair provides to Professionals of Color is unmatched. In the past, the employers who have attended have been serious about helping our region solve for unemployment rates and labor crises, doing the most immediate and impactful thing they could to get the problem rectified: hiring people. I expect that this fair will be no different in its approach and efficacy.”
KAREN RICHARD
SVP & CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
ANDERSEN CORPORATION
"We've been partners with the People Of Color Career Fair™ since it began six years ago, and every Career Fair just gets better and better ! We have hired team members on the spot at the Career Fair, and they have gone on to become strong, invaluable leaders in our company. Any company that says they are serious and committed to DEI should have a booth at the People Of Color Career Fair™."
TRACEY GIBSON
VICE PRESIDENT CHIEF & DIVERSITY OFFICER ANDERSEN CORPORATION
“I am so excited that the People Of Color Career Fair™ has returned and that Andersen is a premier sponsor ! As a region, we’re always talking about ways we can come together to shift the unemployment gap and ensure that People of Color have access to resources. The People Of Color Career Fair™ is one of those ways. I know from personal experience that hundreds of qualified Professionals of Color will be there. We’re serious about our DEI commitments at Andersen, and we’re getting ready to do even more hiring at the Career Fair. Other companies better watch out because we’re ready to make offers !”
GREG CUNNINGHAM
SEVP & CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER
U.S. BANK
"At U.S. Bank, we're clear about our DEI commitments and what we need to do diversify our workforce even more. The People Of Color Fair™ provides us with the opportunity to connect with qualified Professionals of Color in our region and execute on various aspects of our DEI recruiting strategy. We're proud to be partners with the People Of Color Career Fair™ in the work to ensure that Professionals of Color have the access they need to move their careers forward."
PAT MCADARAGH
CEO
MIDCO
“We understand the importance diversity brings to our company and the value it has on providing positive and memorable customer experiences. Our services – internet, TV and phone – are necessary for everyone, and we want our workforce to reflect our customers. Our relationship with the Rae Mackenzie Group and the People of Color Career Fair dates back to the beginning, and we’re proud to be a premier sponsor of the People of Color Career Fair. It helps us identify amazing talent as well as demonstrate that we mean what we say: diversity, equity and inclusion are essential. Our goal for the Career Fair is clear: we intend to hire.”
LATRISHA VETAW
COUNCIL MEMBER
CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, WARD 4
"The People Of Color Career Fair™ is an invaluable event to our region and the community. People of Color deserve equal access to the opportunities that companies have available and the individuals who make the decisions. The People Of Color Career Fair™ is doing the work to ensure necessary connections are being made in an attempt to level the playing field and give everyone a fair shot at success."
We Got Hired !
Mia Krohn
Financial Analyst
Andersen Corporation
Just taking the step to show up may surprise you ! I had no intention of applying for jobs as I already had a job offer from somewhere else, but I showed up to practice networking and I was interviewed on the spot and given an offer, which I was excited to accept !
Andrew Eromobor
Business Analyst
RBC Wealth Management
Don’t miss out on the chance to attend the People Of Color Career Fair, this was a life changing experience for me and I did not imagine that my next career opportunity would come as a result of making the decision to attend.
Porsche Page
Quality Management Consultant
Children’s Minnesota
You don't wanna miss any opportunity... You should take advantage of this event. It was dedicated and specially made exactly for us. Don't shortchange yourself. Get out there, be proactive, and go for it.
Emmanuel K. Dickson
Client Experience Consultant
RBC Wealth Management
This is a great opportunity no matter your career level. You will be thrilled by the conversations and offers so don’t sleep on it ! They want to hire you !
SCHEDULE
AT A GLANCE
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Check In+Get Ready !
Arrive early to check in and get the lay of the land. Maximize your time to network and connect with recruiters, hiring managers, and leaders.
Don’t forget your resume !
Level Up - Free Headshots !
Take your headshot with us and use it everywhere. We want to help you upgrade your professional profile, so we are offering headshots FREE of charge to you.
Headshots located near registration.
It's Go Time!
Enjoy the opportunity to connect with representatives from 50+ leading companies in the region. Converse with vetted Employer Partners who are committed to diversifying their workplaces. Utilize the moment to market yourself to your next potential employer.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What to Bring
The best way you can show Employers that you're ready to land a role with their company is to come prepared. So bring at least 15 to 20 copies of your resume (on the good paper) along with a winning mindset.
What to Wear
Come interview ready. Dress for the paycheck you want to receive. And, above all, be your authentic self.
The People Of Color Career Fair™ is bringing together top Employers in the region– Employers ready to interview and hire Professionals who will take their business to the next level.
How to Win
Come ready to confidently share your accomplishments, goals, and unique contributions.
This isn't just about landing a job, it’s about moving your career and life forward. Embrace this opportunity, own your career path, and remember—success isn' t an accident. It' s a result of determination, preparedness, and a winning mindset.
YOUR RIDE TO THE CAREER FAIR IS ON US !
You can drive. You can use a rideshare app. OR...you can easily download a Metro Transit pass for a FREE ride ! We are providing Professionals with the means they need to attend the People Of Color Career Fair™. We want to make sure all of your energy goes toward wowing our Employers, so we’re taking the stress out of getting you there.
Wednesday, April 24th
Minneapolis Convention Center The BallroomTHE COUNTDOWN BEGINS !