Building Community with our Back to School Family Fair
With the new school year underway, the team at Hired is excited to share with you something special and new that we hosted for our families. In mid-August, we hosted our inaugural Back to School Family Fairs (one each in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties). We welcomed 150+ participants’ families as they received resources, support, and developed more connections to Hired and our community partners.
More Than Just Backpacks
Thanks to the generous support of Greater Twin Cities United Way's Action Day, we distributed 120+ backpacks filled with school supplies. We partnered with local barbers who donated their time and talents to helping students get ready to take on the school year with new haircuts. Staff distributed fun SWAG and food and treats, including scoops of Culver’s frozen custard. Parents swapped school prep ideas while their kids participated in outdoor activities and enjoyed the beautiful evenings.
Our Ramsey County Back to School Fair was hosted by our youth team, and their Safe Streets Save Lives initiative, which is a youth-driven project to raise visibility about impacts of gun violence in our community. We were excited to welcome our partner NdCAD (Network for the Development of Children of African Descent) and Saint Paul and Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Intervention Project to share resources with our families.
A Hired staff member, Charletta Robinson, remarked, “Many families in underserved communities face financial challenges, and the cost of school supplies, along with other financial obligations for getting ready for school, can be a burden.”
“Events like these can be a platform to celebrate cultural identity and pride, while reducing immediate stress for families.”
The Power of Face-to-Face Connection
A highlight of each event was seeing the connections made between families with staff. For several participants, this was their first opportunity to meet Hired staff members in-person and connect face-to-face with the people who had been supporting their career journeys.
Staff member Sara Dooley said, “these events are important because they allow our families to connect in a different space and see that Hired is here to support them as a whole person, with their entire family.”
Internal Hired resources, such as staff members from our Family Home Visiting program and Financial Wellness coaching were there to share their programs with families.
Looking Ahead
This event was part of a new staff-driven initiative we are offering to better support our families in community. We are excited to continue creating more opportunities for our families to connect, and to provide more ways to support them on their career and educational pathways.
“The goal is to become a trusted presence in every corner of the community, making sure families know that help, support, and opportunity are always nearby. ”
If you’re interested in participating in future family fun events and engaging with our community, please contact fundraising@hired.org.
A special thank you to the following supporters: Greater Twin Cities United Way, Culver’s – Golden Valley, Culver’s – East St Paul, Costco – Maplewood, Minnesota State Fair, Safe Streets Save Lives (a Hired initiative), Zero Gravity, Ahmad McGruder, Justice Graham, Michael Hampton, and Speak Life Barber shop, Hired’s Hennepin and Ramsey County MFIP teams, and Hired’s Youth Team.