06/20/2019

EXPO '19 Helped Build Strong Families

Fathers on the Move Graduation at Expo 2019. 2019 Expo DJ and crowd. People standing at grill making food for the 2019 Expo. Speaker at 2019 Expo. Lady standing and looking around at the 2019 Expo. A large group of people getting their plates of food at the 2019 Expo.

The second annual Expo 2019 vendor fair on Thursday, June 20th from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Harris Gardens Apartments attracted over 150 attendees and vendors.

This free event helped build strong families and have them become self sufficient. Vendors showcased their services regarding health care initiatives, employment opportunities, educational goals, financial planning, and safety/security.

Great food (grilled chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs and other refreshments), a live DJ, games and prizes made this another successful event.

Ten men also graduated from the agency's Second Chance Initiative. Through a partnership with Fathers on the Move, Inc., men with various barriers in their lives attended weekly group sessions to express their feelings and to receive positive messages. Many attendees received housing, jobs, job training, healthcare and earned small business contracts, steering them away from crime, gangs and drugs/alcohol.

This event followed a national effort from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD challenged public housing authorities across the country to carry out an event to promote strong families with an emphasis on the above listed topics.