Mayor hopes for 'thousands' at hiring event

Clovis Mayor Mike Morris is hoping “thousands” of young people show up for Clovis Hires at Clovis Community College Feb. 28.

Morris has described it as a hiring event, not a typical job fair. More than 50 employers will be there.

“I want to find a way for young people to see it clear for their education and career,” Morris said of next Tuesday’s event that will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Morris spoke of the inspiration for Clovis Hires which happened last spring when state Cabinet Secretary Yolanda Montoya-Cordova, the Secretary of Workforce Solutions, visited Clovis.

Morris shared with Montoya-Cordova his desire to have an event for the area’s young people.

“You need to do what they’re doing in Albuquerque,” she said.

Morris then learned the Albuquerque event is a hiring event for the Duke City.

“Clovis Hires will be more than a job fair,” Morris said. “It’s about vision casting for young people.”

Morris said the first organizational meeting for the event had few people.

“And just one person was there from Clovis Schools,” Morris said.

The next time the organizing group met, there were six representatives from Clovis Municipal Schools, including Clovis High School Principal David Fredericks.

“These were six cabinet level representatives,” Morris said.

Morris said a number of people and businesses have joined the effort on the event.

“Robin Kuykendall at Clovis Community College (CCC) has moved mountains to make this happen,” Morris said.

CCC was one of the partners that joined Morris and the city in making Clovis Hires happen.

Morris acknowledged the partnership of Clovis Municipal Schools, Clovis Economic Development, the Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Plains Council of Governments (EPCOG) and the Department of Workforce Solutions.

“In addition to the employers showing young people the job opportunities that are out there,” Morris said, “Clovis Community College will be there to show them what programs can help with jobs.”

Morris, whose first job was dishwasher at the North Dock Marina at Cochas Dam (“But I did everything there”) has strong feelings about the event for 16 to 24-year-olds.

“The strengthening of our workforce,” Morris said, “Supports our quality of life and aids in our economic development strategy.”

Morris suggested that interested people go to the city of Clovis’ website and follow the link: https://www.cityofclovis.org/opportunity/ .

In prepping for the event, Morris got what he believes is a great quote from CHS Principal David Fredericks: “We’re fighting apathy with purpose.”