Inaugural Bicoastal Economic Empowerment Week & LGBT Career Fair Launches in San Francisco and New York City

The San Francisco and New York Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Centers inspire economic education and independence in an economy challenging to all.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While serving over 1,000 clients annually, the Economic Development Department at the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center (the SF Center) has expanded its annual Economic Empowerment Week & LGBT Career Fair by partnering with New York City's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, who also has a long history of Career Fairs.  This series will showcase the breadth of opportunities for the LGBT community and their supporters to increase their financial security through events, industry insider panels and workshops that offer financial and credit-building education, job search support and placement, and more.

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Established in 2004, The SF Center's Economic Development Department is the first initiative in the nation to comprehensively address the economic barriers faced by low- and moderate-income LGBT individuals and families.  It has gone on to innovate more national firsts including the first program for transgender job seekers and the first and only program offering free income tax preparation for same-sex married couples, and the results have been impressive:

• Over 100 LGBT people are placed into jobs through the Center's initiatives annually
• Over 80 companies have partnered with the Center for annual recruiting events
• 20% of participants receiving 1:1 credit counseling have bought their first home
• 17 people have raised their credit score and average of 168 points by participating in the Center's new lending circles program

"LGBT communities have long faced discrimination in employment, education, healthcare and economic supports; this is a week where we want to raise awareness of the need and the solutions and by doing so bring economic empowerment to the LGBT community," said Eugenie FitzGerald, Director of Economic Development at the SF Center.  She continues, "Especially in our current financial climate, underserved communities need appropriate services and inspiration to support their diverse needs and this requires innovation and thoughtful creative solutions and partnerships."

In 2005 the New York LGBT Community Center also began helping the community to connect with employers and companies through their LGBT Career Fair.  The fair, supported by locally based corporations, neighborhood businesses, community groups, LGBTQ student associations and business chambers, pointed a spotlight on the employability of the NYC LGBT networks and grew substantially every year.  In 2012, the New York LGBT Community Center Career Fair will showcase over 30 companies, welcome over 800 job seekers and feature the Gay Coaches Collective, ROR Powerhouse Project, SAGEWorks, Neighborhood Trust, Career Outcomes Matter, The Fierce, Financially Fit & Fabulous Team, and over 20 LGBT identifying industry professionals for workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities. 

"The LGBT Community Center in New York City is proud to partner with the San Francisco Center on this critical employment effort," said Kristen Kentner, Corporate Relations Officer at the NY Center.  She continues, "There is no topic more important to the nation than the employability and financial security of every American.  It is our privilege to contribute, in every way possible, in getting LGBT people jobs where they can start out – out."

In San Francisco events will begin on October 16^th with Community Inspired! - a kick-off mixer at the SF LGBT Center and the LGBT Career Fair which will be on October 17^th, and are supported by Visa inc and many local partners.  In New York events will begin October 15^th, with their LGBT Career Fair and multiple workshops covering career support to financial health.

"We are thrilled the SF LGBT Center's Economic Empowerment Week is going bi-coastal!  There will be recruiters from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Starbucks, Salesforce.com, New York Life, Prudential,  Nielsen, Marsh & McLennan Companies and many more, all committed to hiring qualified LGBT candidates," said Clair Farley, Manager of Employment Services at the SF Center."

About the SF LGBT Center:
The Center is a welcoming place for our diverse LGBT community and its supporters to find innovative services and fabulous cultural programs that lead to a stronger, healthier community and a more welcoming and equitable world. Its safety net programs serve the most vulnerable members of our community and provide a welcoming home for all LGBT and allied people. Each month, the Center serves over 9,000 visitors and hosts more than 200 events. The Center is located at 1800 Market Street in San Francisco. Learn more about the Center at www.sfcenter.org, or call us at (415) 865-5555.

About the NYC LGBT Center:
Established in 1983, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is at the heart of the LGBT community in New York City, providing quality health and wellness programs in a welcoming space that fosters connections and celebrates our cultural contributions. We strive to serve the LGBT community with a full-service, multi-faceted approach to programming, from hosting arts and entertainment events, advocacy groups and family gatherings to offering youth, recovery and overall wellness programs. Each year, the Center welcomes more than 300,000 visits to our building in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan from people who engage in our life-changing and life-saving activities. We are proud to be your community Center. To learn more about our work, please visit www.gaycenter.org.

Contact:

Eugenie FitzGerald                                                                                     
Director of Economic Development                          
San Francisco LGBT Center                                       
t: 415-865-5515 | e: [email protected]                     

Clair Farley 
Manager of Employment Services                   
San Francisco LGBT Center                                               
t: 415-965-5632 | e: [email protected]    

Kristen Kentner                                   
Corporate Relations Officer              
New York LGBT Community Center                 
t: 646-358-1721 | e: [email protected]   

Mary Steyer
Communications Manager
New York LGBT Community Center
t: 646.358.1714  | [email protected]  

SOURCE San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center