Business

Career Fair targets professionals of color

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER — The POC Career Fair returns this spring, another day-long hiring event for the professionals of color (POC) in Minnesota. The fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 30 will feature some 30 employers aiming to connect with under-employed talent.

Published

7 years ago

April 21, 2019

Oakland Post

By Solomon Gustavo

The POC Career Fair returns this spring, another day-long hiring event for the professionals of color (POC) in Minnesota. The fair at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 30 will feature some 30 employers aiming to connect with under-employed talent.

“It’s a career fair, not a job fair,” Sharon Smith-Akinsanya, event founder and CEO of the Rae Mackenzie Group, made clear in a recent interview with the MSR. She sees solving the problem of educated people of color unable to find professional work as her niche.

Minnesota’s POC community is already in bad shape when it comes to jobs, so being hit with a workforce shortage spells crisis. There are talented, educated, well-trained people of color already being ignored who might get pushed further back.

“We have a crisis in the state of Minnesota,” said Smith-Akinsanya. She said the unemployment rate currently among people of color (POC), especially among Blacks and Latinx, is two to four times higher than Whites’. This bodes badly, she noted, with 2020 state workforce outlooks forecasting a roughly 100,000 employee shortage.

It’s a problem she got the state to recognize, first meeting with then-Gov. Mark Dayton about the issue before launching the career fair in 2016.

The current state administration and Twin Cities leaders also agree: Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter all will be in attendance.

Smith-Akinsanya aims to bridge the gap with the career fairs. She doesn’t believe employers don’t want people of color. It’s just that “they can’t find them,” she said.

Instead, people of color with doctorate degrees are working low-level jobs. Smith-Akinsanya said those who have gone to school for four, six or eight years have earned “the dignity of a good job.” They should be fully enjoying doing the things that make Minnesota a great place to live for the general population — and Minnesota should enjoy the higher tax revenues such employment would provide.

On top of the tax base, “a more diverse workforce means a more productive workforce,” said Smith-Akinsanya. National companies like Target and Wells Fargo, she said, will be among the employers on hand, and they need employees who reflect the nation and their customers.

Also among the employers who will have people there face-to-face to speak with prospective employees about all types of upper-level jobs, is the state of Minnesota, US Bank, Anderson Windows, Sleep Number, Metro Transit, Best Buy, Ameriprise Financial, Boston Scientific, Bremer Bank and more.

Smith-Akinsanya said she knows people are getting hired because sponsors and hiring managers from the above companies continue to come back.

Those companies will have plenty of prime candidates to choose from; Smith-Akinsanya anticipates 750 people to be in attendance.
“The energy in the career fair is unlike any other,” she said, adding the event doubles as a great POC networking opportunity for those who already have a job.

Trained and talented people of color can find excited employers who “value their degree,” she added. Those POC workers, in turn, find a committed and inclusive workplace to join.

Participants are also offered a free headshot — a must, said Smith-Akinsanya, for those who want a good-looking LinkedIn page. You can also register to vote.

There is no cost and the event is open to the public. There’s even a free Metro Transit ride, said Smith Akinsanya, for those who download the pass online. “We made it easy for you to make your elevator pitch and get on the bus stress- free. Just come on down.”

The POC Career Fair — Spring 2019 will take place April 30 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, located at 1301 2nd Ave. S. in downtown Minneapolis.

For more info, visit poccareerfair.com.

This article originally appeared in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

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Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC