'We want them to stay': Vision Together 2025, Greater Johnstown School District host career fair for elementary students
JOHNSTOWN, PA. – An interactive event designed to educate youngsters on career opportunities in their own backyard was offered at an area school.
Vision Together 2025, in partnership with the Greater Johnstown School District, held its 'I Have a Dream' Kids Career Fair Thursday at Greater Johnstown Elementary School.
In honor of Black History Month, the career fair embraced Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic 'I Have a Dream' message, emphasizing opportunity and success for all.
'We have local organizations and businesses coming together to teach kids about the different careers in the area,' said Mercedes Barnette, community development director for Vision Together 2025. 'The kids career fair is for elementary school students, and we're getting them at the earliest stage possible so when they go to a real career fair they'll know the ins and outs of it. It also sets them up for a successful future.'
On hand were representatives from Conemaugh Health System, Johnstown Fire Department, H.F. Lenz Co., JWF Industries, Johnstown Children's Museum, Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, Aetna and Johnstown Housing Authority.
To further promote literacy, pupils received a gift bag with books, and participated in storybook readings with guest characters, which was provided by the Cambria County Library.
'At Vision Together 2025, we have seven priorities and our first one is focusing on investing in our youth and this was the perfect way to do that,' Barnette said. 'I'm hoping these students know they have supporters here and there's local companies here that they can easily transition to whenever they're ready to start working. I hope they'll be inspired and know they can be whatever they want to be.'
Fourth-grader Payton Goldberg called the career fair 'cool.'
'We got to see a lot of stuff,' she said. 'I got to learn about different jobs that I didn't know about. It's helping me to get ready for a job.'
Leilani Farmer said she enjoyed hearing about the job opportunities.
'It's really cool to learn about this stuff,' the fourth-grader said. 'I want to become an artist and paint and do digital art.'
Kurt Hoffman, principal of Greater Johnstown Elementary School, said holding the career fair and having the students get excited about local careers is imperative.
'We want them to stay in Johnstown and be community changers,' he said. 'It's 100% important to reach them at a young age because that's where the vision and the hope starts and where the motivators happen. They're starting to think about what they want to be, so to bring that in front of them is exciting.'
Hoffman is hopeful students will know they can be anything they choose to be.
'Whatever they dream they can achieve, and we can help them along the way to learn the skills necessary to launch them into their futures,' he said.
Kelly Urban is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. She can be reached at 814-532-5073. Follow her on Twitter @KellyUrban25.
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