Interns Participate in Federal Mock Job Fair
This annual event creates the opportunity for those in the Federal Prison who are close to be released gain experience with interview preparation, interview skills through mock interviews as well as assistance with resumes, job applications and the opportunity to talk with employers at the Federal Prison mock job fair.
This is the second year Fresh Start CSI Interns have had the opportunity to participate in the event. The event took place on September 6th, at the Phoenix Federal Correctional Institution. There were over twenty five inmates who completed resumes, mock interviews, job applications and also received resources for release in Phoenix Metro area. Many community organizations and volunteers help to make it possible.
The following article was written by our interns:
Sept 2011. The Federal Bureau of Prisons conducted a mock job fair for the inmates incarcerated in the Phoenix facility, located in Arizona. Fresh Start Community Services was invited to participate in the event. Stephanie Bucey and Shelbey England, Arizona State University interns, volunteered their time to represent Fresh Start at the prison.
The Fresh Start team feels that their physical presence supports and inspires inmates to successfully re-enter the community. The interns arrived at the prison on a beautiful Arizona morning, greeted by the glistening barbed wire fence that separated the inmates from the world they are to one day return to. Stephanie and Shelbey broke the separation by proceeding into the prison to enlighten and inform the ex-offenders that Fresh Start is here to help in any way possible.
The males were the first group on inmates to participate. “Visiting a prison is always an intimidating experience, but the welcoming faces from the inmates took all of my worries away,” Stephanie rejoiced in her memory of walking into a room of smiling inmates. “The expression on their faces is what makes our job as re-entry specialists so rewarding,” she states. During the one-on-one interviews, the interns were able to explain and discuss services and programs offered by Fresh Start while strengthening the ex-offenders interview skills and editing their resumes.
When the male inmates completed the job fair, Shelbey and Stephanie had a once in a lifetime experience eating lunch in the female “chow hall”. Shelbey expressed feelings of anxiety followed by comfort, “Upon entering the female prison I was afraid of being judged, but once I met the women I was reassured and felt completely comfortable.”
One of the presenters at the Mock Fair
The interns discovered the drive that strengthens many inmates during incarceration. Both male and females inmates were anxious to be released from prison to apply themselves towards living a law-abiding life. Fresh Start thanks the Federal Bureau of Prisons for allowing them to participate in an event aimed to reduce recidivism.
A Special Thank You to Sabrina Moore, Reentry Affairs Coordinator for allowing us to participate again this year.
Note: Cameras are not allow in by non-federal employees. Regrettably the photo above is not Stephanie nor Shelby
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