Lehigh Acres church aims to help struggling job seekers with ‘second chance job fair’

Helping people with a criminal record get back on their feet. That’s what a local church’s “second chance job fair” hoped to achieve; matching people with the right jobs.

The employers at the job fair were sensitive to the things that would cause a lot of other employers to turn someone away.

One, in particular, told WINK News he wanted to give these people a second chance because a second chance was given to him.

“I’m the first one that has had trouble through my whole life and I’ve been able to come in and work and rise up,” said Ramon Eliseochao, safety director for Mitchell and Stark Construction.

Now, as an employer, Eliseochao tries to show that same grace to others. “We’re firm, firm believers that we’ve all made mistakes and we all get a second chance.”

He was one of seven employers at the second chance job fair today at Rise Church in Lehigh Acres.

Eliseochao said, “we’re here to give these guys that second chance to lift them up to start a family, to have a career, you know it’s not just a job but we have career opportunities.”

The kind of opportunities job seeker Aaron Hawkins said he’s been looking for. “If you don’t have anything you can come here with open hands and you know maybe get a job, maybe grab something. I think it’s a good thing that they’re giving everybody a second chance to be able to live life and be able to pay for their bills and take care of themselves.”

Because of his past legal problems, and tattoos, Hawkins has heard his fair share of reasons why employers didn’t want to hire him. “Your tattoos and all your background. Things like that you have to watch out for your background and mainly your tattoos.”

But he left the job fair left feeling hopeful. “I did it to myself so don’t be discouraged to want to come here and get a job. You can get a job just like I’m about to go and get a job.”

Pastor Nick Yantorn said that’s what this job fair was all about. “We see the people on the fringes and we’re here to offer them that opportunity, that second chance that they may feel like they don’t deserve. You certainly do deserve it and we’re going to help you find your way in this world that is trying to do whatever it can to push you down.”

At least four people were hired on the spot at Thursday’s job fair and three people have another interview scheduled.

Yantorn said they held a similar job fair in April and had about 35 people show up, 17 were hired on the spot.

Another major employment barrier Yantorn said he sees in Lee County deals with language barriers.

Eliseochao said they overlook that barrier by having a Spanish and Creole team so employees only have to speak between 25-50% English.