Minneapolis is preparing to host a targeted job fair and brunch for Black women, an event organizers say combines immediate hiring opportunities with long-term career support at a moment when racial and gender disparities in the labor market remain prominent. The gathering, organized by a coalition of community groups, workforce nonprofits and corporate partners, aims to offer both interviews and a space for mentorship and professional development.

“We designed this to be more than a table and a résumé,” said Asha Coleman, executive director of the Minnesota Black Women’s Collective, one of the principal organizers. “This is an intentional space where employers meet candidates, and where women can get coaching, referrals and a sense of community as they move into roles that have historically been harder to access.”

Organizers expect dozens of regional employers to attend, representing health care, finance, technology, public service and education. Staffing agencies and training providers will offer on-site resume reviews and interview preparation, while a morning brunch will facilitate networking and informal mentoring. Event materials emphasize opportunities at a range of experience levels, from entry-level positions to managerial tracks, and include information about childcare, transportation stipends and legal rights under employment nondiscrimination laws.

Participants attending previous sessions described tangible benefits beyond job leads. “I had an interview that week and ended up getting an offer within two weeks,” said Latisha Brown, a Minneapolis resident who found employment through a similar program last year. “But the most important thing was feeling seen and supported.”

City officials and workforce specialists frame the initiative as part of a broader strategy to address the twin challenges of recruitment and retention. Minnesota has long ranked among states with stark racial disparities in employment outcomes and economic security, a reality that local leaders say undermines both social equity and economic growth. “When Black women are fully included in the workforce, families and communities benefit,” said Councilmember Jamila Harris, who has advocated for targeted workforce programming. “Events like this pull talent into the pipeline and send a message to employers about the value of inclusive hiring.”

The Minneapolis event is also reflective of a wider trend: targeted hiring efforts for women of color have multiplied in U.S. cities and multinational corporations in recent years as employers confront labor shortages and reputational pressure to diversify. Such initiatives raise both practical questions about closing skills gaps and legal considerations about how employers structure targeted outreach without running afoul of anti-discrimination law. Employment lawyers note that outreach aimed at underrepresented groups is permitted if it expands opportunities rather than excludes others from consideration.

Internationally, similar models have appeared in Europe, Canada and parts of Africa, where community-led recruitment drives and skills boot camps have been employed to mitigate structural barriers to employment for marginalized groups. Advocates argue that coupling hiring with wraparound services — transportation, childcare, mentorship and training — is key to sustainable outcomes.

Organizers of the Minneapolis brunch say they will gather metrics after the event to measure hires, follow-up placements and participant satisfaction, with plans to refine future programming. “This is about building pipelines, not just filling seats,” Coleman said. “If employers invest in people, the benefits ripple through households and the city’s economy.”