Debra Baer
May 18, 2009
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A press conference will kick off a week-long event today featuring job fairs at four different Los Angeles community colleges. As KPCC's Debra Baer tells us, the "Operation Confidence Mega Job Fair" is unique because of its backstory and grassroots organizer.

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Debra Baer: The "mega" job fair is the dream of Consuella Mackey, a beautician with a salon on Fairfax Avenue that caters to disabled people.

Consuella Mackey: I had to do something to bring employment back to the community! My little business, which is a hair salon – we do our "Dress for Success" here as well for our clients in wheel chairs – but it's even slow as molasses.

Baer: Inspired while attending President Barack Obama's inauguration in January, Mackey says she contacted the administration's Web site and was encouraged to start organizing. She called community colleges to host the fairs and rallied employers.

Mackey: Five hundred – I just jumped out there and did it on faith, and it took on its own momentum at that point.

Baer: Mackey has a track record as a grassroots organizer. She started Operation Confidence 28 years ago to help people with disabilities prepare for the job market. She got that idea when she was spending weeks in a wheelchair recovering from a broken foot and feeling sorry for herself.

Mackey: And then there was this wonderful voice that came to me: "How dare you say woe is me when there are people with permanent disabilities that are doing just beautifully dealing with life every day, along with their disability." So that started me wanting to give something back.

Baer: Mackey's been organizing job fairs for 10 years, but never anything this big.

Mackey: No! (laughs)

Baer: She enlisted the help of Maria Acosta with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Maria Acosta: Sometimes we help her out with postage, with e-mail, with our staff.

Baer: Acosta is one of several honorary chairwomen and men for the "Mega Job Fair."

Acosta: I think she's a phenomenal person. She is just a person that will go out there and get what she wants and needs. She just does it.

Baer: Before the weekend, Mackey said at least 100 employers had been confirmed for three of the four job fairs this week. That's 100 for each campus. And the other one was filling up fast.

Mackey: We're thrilled – just want everybody to keep us in prayer and come on out and try to get a job, and employers please support us, 'cause folks are in a dire situation here and we just want to make a difference.

Baer: The free job fairs will also feature community resources for the unemployed. The first one is Tuesday at Los Angeles City College. For information, check the events link at LACityCollege.edu.

Note: The job fairs – which are open to everyone, including disabled and able-bodied – will also be held this week at Los Angeles Valley College, West Los Angeles College, and El Camino College.