Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Omaha Saturday for the fifth annual Level Up Job, Housing and Resource Fair, a community-driven event aimed at linking residents with employment, housing supports and other critical services.
Event brings employers, services and practical help together
Organized by nonprofit Freedomtainment and staged at Gene Leahy Mall, the fair blended traditional job recruitment with access to community resources. Attendees could speak directly with employers, education and healthcare representatives and nonprofit service providers. Organizers said the goal was to offer a range of pathways to stability—from immediate work opportunities to longer-term training and housing assistance.
The event also offered direct services on site, including free food, haircuts and live entertainment, creating a low-barrier environment for families and individuals to explore resources. A notable component of the day was the Community Impact Vehicle Giveaway, a partnership between Freedomtainment and Humble Auto Solutions designed to remove transportation obstacles that can keep jobseekers from sustaining employment.
"It means a lot. It means I'm able to get my kids back and forth to school, to their after-school activities, I'm able to make sure I'm going grocery shopping for them," said Tinice Jones, who won the car.
Workforce connections and industry-specific outreach
In addition to broad employer participation, the fair included industry-focused engagement. Google and J-E hosted a Construction Workforce Industry Day alongside the main event, giving attendees a chance to meet professionals in the skilled trades and learn about training, certifications and job openings in that sector.
Those industry-focused elements aim to bridge the gap between people interested in hands-on careers and employers who often struggle to find trained applicants. Organizers emphasized that workforce development and housing stability are linked: reliable transportation and steady income make it easier for residents to secure and maintain housing.
What was available at the fair
- Job and employer booths spanning education, healthcare and other sectors
- Housing resources and referrals
- On-site services such as food and haircuts
- Live entertainment and community outreach
- Community Impact Vehicle Giveaway in partnership with Humble Auto Solutions
- Construction Workforce Industry Day hosted by Google and J-E
Event hosts said combining these services in one public space helps reduce barriers for people who may not know where to begin looking for assistance. The vehicle giveaway, in particular, addressed a common and practical hurdle: without reliable transportation, many job opportunities are out of reach for Omaha residents who rely on public transit or have limited scheduling flexibility.
| Organizer | Location | Notable partners |
|---|---|---|
| Freedomtainment | Gene Leahy Mall | Humble Auto Solutions, Google, J-E |
Speakers and participating organizations framed the fair as part of an ongoing effort to connect residents with both immediate and long-term supports. For many attendees, the event provided a first chance to meet hiring managers face to face, ask questions about benefits and schedules, and learn about training opportunities that could lead to higher-paying or more stable work.
Organizers indicated the fair will continue in future years, with the aim of expanding employer participation and deepening partnerships that address the intertwined challenges of employment, transportation and housing. For now, the immediate impact for the car winner and the information gained by hundreds of attendees demonstrates the potential of one-stop community events to make a measurable difference in people’s lives.
Freedomtainment and its partners did not release a complete list of employers in attendance or specific placement numbers at the time of the event. Representatives said they will continue outreach to participants and employers in the weeks following the fair to track outcomes and opportunities for follow-up support.
