ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia Career Center will hold its first ever Nonprofit Expo on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tate Student Center. The expo is designed to raise awareness of the wide spectrum of career, volunteer and corporate citizenship opportunities available in nonprofit, government and public service agencies.
“Given that Georgia has more than 17,000 actively registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, and thousands of local, state and federal employers, there is a virtual wellspring of untapped employment opportunities,” said Scott Williams, executive director of the Career Center.
Jeff Brudney, codirector of UGA’s Institute for Nonprofit Organizations and Masters in Nonprofit Organizations degree program, agreed. “The nonprofit sector is one of the fastest growing areas of the U.S. economy. The expo will bring to campus nonprofit, voluntary and community organizations interested in attracting the high-quality nonprofit labor force that UGA is helping to create.”
Recognizing this dynamic opportunity, Jim Richardson, career consultant for social sciences, public and international affairs, and social work, felt it was critical to help UGA students connect with employment prospects in this growing sector of the economy. To further explore this opportunity, the Career Center brought together nonprofit representatives, students, faculty and staff to discuss the concept of a large-scale nonprofit and government event. From these meetings, the concept of the Nonprofit Expo was born, and the Career Center subsequently invited nonprofit and government agencies from across Georgia to participate.
“The response we have received thus far from nonprofit and government agencies has been staggering,” said Richardson. “In fact, we have already reached our capacity for the event and are working to accommodate all organizations that have interest.”
There are more than 90 organizations from environmental, art/cultural, human service, mental health and social action groups as well as representatives from local, state and federal governments. The list of participants includes such organizations as Americorps, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club of America, Georgia Center for Nonprofits, Hospice of Northeast Georgia, Methodist Home for Children and Youth, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, and the Sierra Club. Government agencies include U.S. Bureau of Census, U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Peace Corps, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Cobb County Government and Athens-Clarke County Police Department, among others.
“Clearly, this event will represent an outstanding opportunity for UGA students to explore career opportunities in the nonprofit and government sector. We have had such a great response that this will most certainly become an annual event at UGA,” added Richardson.
The event is sponsored by the Career Center, UGA School of Social Work, UGA Institute for Nonprofits and the Northeast Georgia United Way. For more information on the Career Center, visit www.uga.edu/career.
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