Published On: 10.06.15 | 

By: Sherrel Stewart

This party has a purpose

As a longtime leader in west Birmingham, City Councilman Steven Hoyt says he had attended countless rallies and candlelight vigils in response to violence when he asked this question about 10 years ago:

“What do we do after we blow out the candles? When the vigil has ended, what does our community really need?” he said Saturday as hundreds filled Ensley Park – indoors and out – for the 9th Annual Party with a Purpose.

Party with a Purpose from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

While dance groups performed outside on stage and people ate hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken under a pavilion, 46-year old Catrena Carlisle walked through the job fair in the Ensley Recreation Center gym looking for work.

Residents file into Ensley Recreation Center to participate in the community job fair.

Residents file into Ensley Recreation Center to participate in the community job fair.

In another area, the Red Cross had set up a blood drive, and down the hall you could get a variety of free health screenings. Outside, uniformed Birmingham police officers played pickup basketball games with youths.

“People need jobs. They need hope. We have to work together,” Hoyt said.

Carlisle says she hasn’t worked in about eight years and is looking for a part-time job.

About 20 companies were taking job applications Saturday, and a mobile unit from the Alabama Career Center was set up with computers to help people with resumes and online job applications.

“We want people to know that there are jobs available in Birmingham,” said Yvette Fields, manager of the Alabama Career Center Birmingham office.

Home Depot operates a 650,000-square-foot distribution center in McCalla, with a workforce of 300 to 400 people, she said. “Those jobs start at about $12 an hour.”

Preston Combellick, a Home Depot staffing specialist, said he wanted to raise awareness of opportunities with his company and find people to apply for positions as warehouse assistants, office assistants and maintenance assistants.

The Party with a Purpose included games and festivities outside and a job fair inside the Ensley Recreation Center.

“This gives us an opportunity to get out into the community and see people,” he said. “We want to put people back into jobs.”

Fifty-four-year-old Virginia Bridges is retired, but she picked up job information to pass on to relatives and friends.

“I’ve got a nephew looking for a job. I know other people looking for jobs. They got all kind of information out here. If you’re computer illiterate, they have it set up for people to get you online,” the Green Acres resident said. “Events like Party with a Purpose give us hope.”

It takes more than 300 volunteers and 200 community partners and sponsors to put on Party with A Purpose, Hoyt said.  In 2011, the event took first place in the Neighborhood USA “Best Neighborhood Program” category.

Anthony Marino, owner of Marino’s Market near Five Points West, has been a longtime partner with the event. In 2013, he led in launching Education with a Purpose, which provides scholarships for students who are involved in their communities and excel in academics.

“As a business owner, I feel that it is our civic duty to reach out to citizens and to let them know that we care, and this event lets me do just that,” Marino said.