Job Fair for Veterans Attracts Hundreds

On Thursday, the Valley Economic Alliance hosted its 11th Annual Hero Hired Veteran Job and Resource Fair, a vocational event aimed at encouraging Valley-area employers to hire military veterans. More than 500 veterans participated at this year’s job fair. Held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Los Angeles Valley College in Valley Glen, the event counted more than 60 organizations, including Galpin Motors, PennyMac Financial and Los Angeles Police Department among its exhibitors. “Events like these are a critical part of the Valley Economic Alliance’s effort to strengthen our economy, support our brave veterans and build a more innovative San Fernando Valley,” said Chief Executive Kenn Phillips. Event sponsors this year included Aerojet Rocketdyne, City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department, Republic Services, Glendale Community College, Concorde Career College, Maximus, CareMore Health and Wells Fargo. In a ceremony held before doors opened to job seekers, local artist David Schwartz of Artz Works, known for painting on discarded American flags, unveiled a new work called “LAPD: First to Arrive. Last to Leave,” created on an L.A.P.D.-donated flag. The piece pays tribute to L.A.’s police department, which will celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary in 2020. Actor Kevin Dobson, who has played on such TV series as “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Hawaii Five-O” and “Knots Landing,” served as master of ceremonies.