'My Brother's Keeper Alliance' job fair in Oakland targets young minorities

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- An event was held in Oakland Thursday specifically designed to help young minorities in Oakland.

Young people from Oakland and surrounding cities took part in a special job fair Thursday featuring hundreds of jobs, but unlike other hiring events, the mandate for this one came from the White House.

"I've been in California for six months now and I've been homeless after my first month," said Andre Downs, a job seeker.

Downs moved here from St. Louis with little more than the clothing on his back looking for opportunity and it looks like he found it.

Presidential adviser Broderick Johnson oversees the My Brother's Keeper Alliance for the Obama White House. The program was created two years ago to help young people of color break down the barriers that kept them away from good educations and promising careers.

"I just want to say on behalf of the president of the United States and the rest of the administration, we are so proud of what's happening here today," Johnson said.

The executive director says they're trying to reach the 5.5. million young people between 16 and 24 years of age who aren't in school and don't have jobs.

"That number is absolutely unsustainable for this nation. It does not portend for the future that any of us want, or rightly expect," said My Brother's Keeper CEO Blair Taylor.

The alliance picked Oakland for its first job fair. A thousand of young people interviewed for 300 jobs. Resume writing and a chance to network with employers from airlines to police departments. Even a chance to chat with Oakland native and retired NFL star Marshawn Lynch, who wasn't talking to the media.

Johnson showed up an hour before the event, and whose boundless energy and infectious smile paid off.

"I got seven job offers today, seven, seven,"

Sounds so nice, he had to say it twice.