The nonprofit Powerful Young Adults, Inc, will hold its 2026 Career Expo & Job Fair this Friday, June 12, from 1 pm to 4 pm at the North Greenwood Library, 905 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Clearwater, FL 33755.
PYA’s executive director, Katrina George, shared that the goal of its annual job fair is to create economic opportunity in underserved communities “by connecting youth, young adults, job seekers, and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed.”
PYA 2025 Job Fair at SPC. (Image courtesy of PYA on Facebook)
PYA has impacted over 900 students since its founding in 2005. George shared her own life experience as part of what has inspired her to offer the job fairs.
“Growing up in Clearwater, I know firsthand how valuable summer programs can be. They provided job skills training, mentorship, career exposure, and opportunities that helped young people prepare for the future. Unfortunately, many of those programs have disappeared, leaving fewer opportunities for youth during the summer months.”
She also considered the importance of summer job fairs in light of the recent phenomenon of the “teen takeover.”
“The recent teen takeover incidents occurring throughout the Tampa Bay area are a testament to what can happen when communities fail to invest in their young people,” she observed.
George noted that over the years, “Many communities have reduced or eliminated summer employment programs, youth development initiatives, recreational opportunities, and funding for programs that provide positive outlets and pathways to success.
“In some areas, basketball courts, tennis courts, and community gathering spaces have been closed or neglected instead of expanded and improved,” she added.
For George, PYA’s response has been to invest in solutions that offer youth access to jobs, mentorship, workforce training, educational opportunities, entrepreneurship programs, STEM initiatives, and safe places to learn, grow, and build their futures.
Katrina George, pictured on left, with students from the PYA Drone training program.
The organization also has a “Stop the Violence” Initiative, and George sees the job fairs as supporting that initiative “by connecting participants to jobs, education, training, career pathways, and supportive community resources.”
PYA also provides job coaching and resume writing, expert drone training, certification, and an internship program. “Our program caters to the individual needs of the student,” she noted.
Participating Organizations and Employers Include:
- Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
- Clearwater Police Department
- U.S. Army
- Hope Academy International
- CareerSource Pinellas
- City of Clearwater
- City of Clearwater Parks & Recreation
- Velocity
- Publix
- RaceTrac
- Honeywell
- Economic Development Representatives
- 4 Daughters Travel LLC
- Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP)
Community Partners include
- St. Petersburg College (SPC)
- Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP)
- City of Clearwater Economic Development
- Pinellas County Economic Development
- Clearwater High School
PYA will also be giving out a gift card every hour at the job fair.
For more information and registration, scan the QR code above, or visit: powerfulyoungadults.org.
