DePaul Community Resources is hosting a Job Fair and Reality Store for foster teens in Vinton today from 4 to 7 p.m. Here is a press release from DePaul:

What:
To help teens in foster care find a job and provide a dose of reality, DePaul Community Resources is holding its second annual Career Fair and Reality Store event, On My Own: Real Jobs for Today’s Youth. At risk youth, ages 14-21, from surrounding areas are invited by DePaul to meet with potential employers and participate in the Reality Store, a financial simulation in which participants are given a paycheck and real-life budgeting scenarios to solve.

“This event will provide at-risk young adults with information about real career possibilities,” says Sue Bentley, Executive Director of DePaul Community Resources. “The Reality Store will introduce attendees to the challenges life brings, while also providing guidance on how to overcome these barriers. Together, the job fair and Reality Store will hopefully assist the participants in making better life choices, which will help them towards becoming productive members of our community.”

Studies show that after leaving foster care, fewer than half of the emancipated foster youth graduate from high school, compared to 85 percent of all 18-to-24-year-olds.

The City of Roanoke, Carilion, Virginia Western and Jefferson College are just a few of the vendors that will be available to job fair and reality store participants.

When:
Tuesday, May 3, 2011 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
May is National Foster Care Month

Where:
Lynn Haven Baptist Church in Vinton
1501 East Washington Ave., Vinton, VA 24179

Who:

• Nearly 75 young adults are expected to attend, as well as approximately 50 volunteers to assist with the event.
• This event was planned by DePaul Community Resources’ Roanoke Community Advisory Board – board members will be available for interviews.

Visuals and Audio:

• View the teens participating in the job fair and Reality Store

Contact:
Kimberly Burrows, 540-265-8923, KBurrows@depaulcr.org