WASHINGTON — Millennial Week is underway in D.C. to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and career development for the youngest generation of working adults.
“We kicked things off with a ‘students for social change’ event,” said Natalie Moss, founding director of D.C.’s Millennial Week. “We engaged area college students to come up with ways to solve things related to food deserts and food waste in the District.”
The millennial generation, as defined by Moss, includes anyone born between 1980 and 1995.
Tuesday’s Millennial Week Hiring Fair at Arena Stage brought together more than 700 applicants and nearly 30 employers and organizations with specialties including the tech, health care and financial industries.
“Millennials have a pretty high unemployment rate,” Moss said.
The D.C. Workforce Investment Council co-sponsored the job fair to give D.C. residents full-time, part-time and paid internship opportunities.
“There are part-time opportunities here because people need experience to get into the workforce,” said WIC Executive Director Odie Donald. “Our goal is to ensure that about 500 of them get placed within the next 30 days.”
The “UnConference” that wraps up Millennial Week Saturday will assist entrepreneurs who’ve already launched a business. Workshop topics include how to make use of social media, personal branding and how to strategize for a business.
“Most of our events are free or low cost,” Moss said.
