Beth Walton

bwalton@citizen-times.com

ASHEVILLE - The Campaign for Southern Equality is hosting the town's first Trans Employment Clinic and Job Fair.

The events are designed to connect the transgender community in Western North Carolina with job-readiness support and trans-friendly employers and resources.

The Trans Employment Clinic will take place July 16 at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St.

On July 21, the Trans-Friendly Job Fair and Resource Bank will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1 Edwin Place.

Both events are free and open to the public.

“Connecting with a trans-friendly employer improves our chances of gaining and maintaining employment," said Ivy Gibson-Hill, LGBT Rights Toolkit Coordinator for the Campaign for Southern Equality in a statement. "But we also know the needs in the trans community extend beyond jobs. This is why we've coupled the job fair with a resource bank to help folks find stop gap resources like local food pantries."

The schedule for the Employment Clinic on July 16 is as follows:

9:30 a.m.: Doors open, coffee and bagels provided

10:00 a.m.: Applications, resumes, legal names

11:00 a.m.: Writing your best CV/resume workshop

12:00 p.m.: Networking lunch, free and served on site

1:00 p.m.: Transitioning on the job

2:00 p.m.: Navigating anxiety in the workplace

3:00 p.m. Personal branding

4:00 p.m.: Mock interviews.

The July 21 Job Fair and Resource Bank will feature employers such as Starbucks, Goodwill, JB Media, Caring for Children, Four Points by Sheraton, Crowne Plaza Tennis & Golf Resort, and resource providers like Mountain Housing Opportunities, Appalachian Harm Reduction Collective, Western North Carolina AIDS Project and Western North Carolina Community Health Services.

Other resources will include affirming mental health professionals, eligibility screening for child tax credits, earned Income tax credit, FAFSA, health insurance coverage, energy assistance, food and nutrition services, cash assistance, voter registration, veterans’ education benefits, and more.