By Benjamin Pola

Candice House ’24, a senior in the USC Business of Cinematic Arts Program, made USC history last year by launching the first-ever Black Career Fair as Co-Executive Director of the USC Black Student Assembly (BSA). Returning this year as Co-Chair of the career fair alongside Ire Omitowoju ’24 from the Iovine and Young Academy, they aimed to surpass their previous success with another groundbreaking event.

Building on last year’s success, House, Omitowoju, and their BSA team sought to enhance the student experience. Incorporating feedback, they expanded outreach to include more industries, particularly in the medical and non-profit sectors, while maintaining strong connections with major entertainment companies such as Lionsgate, Amazon, Dolby, Ticketmaster/Live Nation, and others.

A notable addition this year was the introduction of a BSA-run Career Week preceding the fair. This week featured various events including resume reviews, interview and career workshops, and free professional head-shots, all aimed at equipping students with the skills and confidence needed for the fair.

To accommodate more student engagement, the event was extended by two hours. This allowed for increased participation in tabling and speed-networking activities with recruiters, fostering deeper and more meaningful conversations. House noted the success of speed networking stating, “Speed networking was a big hit again this year and benefitted both students and recruiters because it allowed students to be able to hear from other students and recruiters were able to network across companies and industries.”

While House will graduate this year, she hopes the organization will continue to prioritize intentionality and student benefit. "Intentionality would be the word of our committee, we didn’t want to do just anything just to do it, we only wanted to do something if students got a benefit out of it,” states House. 

The commitment to purposeful planning is evident in the growth of the fair, from the expansion of companies to the inclusion of diverse industries. Overall, the success of the fair continues to underscore the importance of representation and diversity in the workforce. It serves as another testament to what can be achieved when students unite to effect real change, setting a promising example for the future of student-led initiatives.

The 2024 Black Career Fair Committee 

Leadership: Candace House, Ire Omitowoju (Co-Black Career Fair Chairs), Ayomide Ajayi (BCF Intern), Kameron Villafana (Marketing Lead)

Outreach: Jolisa Cage, Jordan Coffer, Jackson Dowell, Jayla Eloy, Clifford James, Hayley Simpson

Marketing: Sade Anderson, Adia K Clarke, Gianna Desdune, Melie Haile, Elijah Patterson, Bianca Pomeroy

Event Photographers: Jamilah Muhammad, Elijah Patterson, Laila Smith