Red, White & You Veterans Hiring Event To Take Place November 5
Workforce Solutions East Texas • October 28, 2020
For the ninth year, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), in partnership with Workforce Solutions East Texas(WSET) and 27 other local workforce development boards, and the Texas Veterans Commission, will host veterans hiring fairs in 31 cities throughout Texas on Thursday, November 5. This year for the first time, all events will be held virtually. Workforce Solutions East Texas will participate with its first-ever virtual hiring event allowing employers and job seekers to meet safely. The event is veteran-focused but open to the public.
East Texas employers and job seekers are encouraged to participate by registering for the event at www.easttexasworkforce.org/HRWY2020
and joining us from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on November 5. This online hiring event will connect employers and job seekers across our 14-county service area from the comfort of their home, office, smartphone, or tablet. WSET’s new online, cloud-based platform makes it easy and fun to explore the available information and opportunities and participate in 1-on-1 text-based chats with representatives from participating organizations.
“Since Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, veterans have stepped forward to defend America in times of peril. Today, in the midst of a national pandemic, East Texas has an opportunity to give back to those who have given so much. Join us as we honor those who have worn the uniform, to welcome them back into the communities they’ve defended so well. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, allow us to help showcase your knowledge, skills and abilities, demonstrating to employers the force-multipliers you are,”
said Lt. Col. Doug Shryock, USAF (Ret.), WSET Executive Director.
The multi-city event is designed to assist veterans, service members, and their spouses seeking their next career opportunity. Over the past eight years, Hiring Red, White & You! has connected more than 98,600 job seekers, including 38,925 veterans and spouses, along with 16,650 employers and over 2,700 same-day hires. The Texas Veterans Commission is preparing veterans for these hiring fairs by assisting them with applications and résumés, interviewing techniques, as well as one-on-one counseling services.
The national unemployment rate in 2019 for all veterans was 3.1 percent1. In contrast, for those veterans who served in the military since September 2001, the unemployment rate was higher at 3.5 percent2. There are nearly 1.5 million3 total veterans throughout Texas, which is the 2nd highest state population of veterans in the country.
Employers who hire veterans may be eligible for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which allows employers to receive up to $9,600 on federal business income or payroll tax benefits when they hire from certain qualified groups of veterans.
TWC’s ninth annual Hiring Red, White & You! statewide hiring fair is a joint initiative supported by the Office of the Governor, the Texas Medical Center (TMC), and the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to connect veterans and their spouses in Texas with employers who are seeking the exceptional skills of veterans and their spouses. Information on how employers and job seekers can participate in other Hiring Red, White & You! hiring fairs across the state may be found at www.texasworkforce.org/hrwy. For information on all veteran workforce services available in Texas, visit www.texasworkforce.org/veterans. To participate in the East Texas event, all employers and job seekers must register at www.easttexasworkforce.org/HRWY2020.
Each July, Disability Pride Month is celebrated as a time to recognize the history, achievements, experiences, and contributions of people with disabilities. The observance traces back to July 26, 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, marking a major milestone in disability rights. The first official Disability Pride Month was later recognized in July 2015 during the 25th anniversary of the ADA. Disability Pride Month is not only a celebration but also a reminder of the importance of visibility, accessibility, and inclusion. It highlights the disability community’s ongoing advocacy and the progress made through legislation, public awareness, and collective action. One of the most recognized symbols of Disability Pride is the Disability Pride flag. In 2019, writer Ann Magill, who has cerebral palsy, created the original flag after a negative experience at an ADA anniversary event. The first design featured bright zigzagging stripes over a black background, meant to symbolize the barriers people with disabilities face. However, members of the disability community shared that the design could trigger symptoms for some individuals with visually sensitive disabilities when viewed on screens. In response to that feedback, Magill revised the design by straightening the stripes, muting the colors, and adjusting the arrangement to better accommodate red-green colorblindness. The updated flag reflects the community’s commitment to accessibility and collaboration, showing how people can work together to meet differing access needs. Magill also placed the design in the public domain, making it available for all to use and adapt. Each color in the Disability Pride flag carries meaning: Red represents physical disabilities Gold represents neurodiversity White represents invisible disabilities and undiagnosed conditions Blue represents emotional and psychiatric disabilities Green represents sensory disabilities, including deafness and blindness Faded Black background represents mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence and abuse Disability Pride Month also offers an opportunity to reflect on the history of disability rights legislation in the United States. Over the last century, important laws have helped expand services, protect civil rights, and improve access to employment and public life. Milestones include the Smith-Fess Act of 1920, the Social Security Act, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act Amendments, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Together, these laws helped shape a stronger framework for inclusion, employment support, nondiscrimination, and access to services for people with disabilities. They also reflect the work of advocates, policymakers, and communities who pushed for a more equitable society. During Disability Pride Month, we recognize both progress made and the work that continues. It is a time to celebrate identity, honor disability history, and reaffirm the importance of creating communities and workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to participate fully.
For Verlie Mae Snyder, caregiving has always been more than a profession; it is a calling rooted in faith, compassion, and love for others. Originally from the Philippines, Verlie Mae worked as a Registered Nurse in her home country for eight years after earning her degree. “I love to care for people,” she shared. Working in a faith-based hospital, she believed God was the true healer and that caregivers were tools for bringing comfort and hope to those around them. In 2000, she fulfilled her dream of coming to the United States with deep gratitude and purpose. “I have a giving heart, and I want to give it to the American people,” she said. Her journey was not without challenges. She attempted to pass the NCLEX but struggled with the transition to computer-based testing. Though she did not obtain her U.S. nursing license, she never allowed that to define her. “Nursing isn’t just a license or paper; it’s about loving and caring for people.” Her journey took her through Maryland and Washington, D.C., before eventually settling in Tyler, Texas, where she worked in nursing homes and hospice care, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known for using music to comfort patients, she often helped residents reconnect with cherished memories through song and conversation. She also spent a year and a half caring for a local veteran with dementia, creating meaningful memories through simple joys like lake visits, birdwatching, and ice cream outings. Reflecting on his passing in 2025, she said, “I was sad, but happy that I could give him good memories at the end of his life.” After this chapter, Verlie Mae enrolled in Workforce Solutions East Texas through the RESEA program (Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment), which helps individuals receiving unemployment benefits return to work through career coaching and job-search support. There, she met Career Navigator Cheryl Jackson, who helped her strengthen her resume, prepare for interviews, and rebuild her confidence. “She told me, ‘Verlie Mae, you ARE a nurse,’” Verlie Mae recalled. “She lifted me up.” Through Workforce Solutions East Texas, she also accessed training and resources that strengthened her skills. “I tell everyone, go to Workforce Solutions East Texas, and they will help you,” she said. “Workforce has so many programs to help workless people or people that do not know what they want to do.” After months of persistence and faith, Verlie Mae found her next calling at Breckenridge Village of Tyler, a nonprofit residential community supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where she now serves as a Direct Care Professional. “At Breckenridge Village, I found more than a job; I found a home,” she said. The faith-based environment and focus on kindness align closely with her values. Verlie Mae encourages others to remain hopeful and seek support when needed. “You have to love your work,” she said. “When you love what you do, you come home happy, not tired.” Through every chapter of her journey, Verlie Mae Snyder has remained guided by faith, strengthened by compassion, and committed to serving others. Her story is a reminder that purpose is not defined by a title, but by the lives you touch along the way.
For Mar’cella Lewis, returning to work was never just about earning a paycheck. It was about reclaiming her independence, rebuilding stability for her children, and creating a better future. Mar’cella’s career began the moment she was old enough to work. From retail to management roles in finance and banking, she built a strong professional background and eventually advanced into a senior position at Telco Plus Credit Union. But after stepping away from the workforce to pursue family life, Mar’cella found herself in a controlling relationship. Mar’cella soon realized that she was entirely dependent on her partner for everything and that the person did not have her best interests in mind. Mar’cella found herself needing to remove herself and her children from that situation and start over. “In order to escape, I needed work,” she shared. As a single mother of three, Mar’cella knew she needed immediate stability for her family. Mar’cella had been pursuing a career in real estate through at-home courses, but soon realized she could not afford to wait for success to come later. “I couldn’t wait for income to come to me. I needed to go find it,” she said. And her search led her to the doors of Workforce Solutions East Texas. “That’s the best decision I could have made, walking through those doors.” From the beginning, Mar’cella felt supported. Workforce staff helped rebuild her resume, guided her through Work Readiness and Microsoft training classes, and provided encouragement during one of the most difficult seasons of her life. “They made me feel like they wanted me to win,” Mar’cella said. Mar’cella reflects that from her Career Navigators, Amy Hollins and Danielle McClain, to her Outreach Specialist, LaShawn Crawford, to her Business Outreach Specialist, Theressa Jackson, they were willing to invest time in her success. Before interviewing for a Work Experience (WEX) opportunity at the Law Office of Richard Anderson in Marshall, Workforce Solutions staff conducted mock interviews and coached her through the process, helping her restore and build on her previous skills. That preparation led Mar’cella to an opportunity that changed her life. Soon after the pre-placement interview at the Law Office of Richard Anderson, Mar’cella was offered a placement role as his Legal Assistant. Although she had no legal background, Mar’cella quickly excelled during her Work Experience placement. Surrounded by leadership, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, she discovered a career she genuinely loves. “There is no ceiling to what I’ve learned,” she said. “I’m standing next to people I never thought I would stand next to.” Soon after her placement term ended, her dedication and work ethic quickly earned her a permanent position with the firm. Today, Mar’cella says the greatest thing she regained was her independence. “The devil really tried to convince me I would fail,” she reflected. “Had I listened, I wouldn’t be here.” Instead, she chose resilience. “I gained my independence. It changed everything for me,” she said. “Workforce didn’t just help me get a job; they changed my entire world around.” Now, Mar’cella has stability, a career she loves, and hopes for the future she is building for her children. What once felt impossible has become proof of what can happen when determination meets opportunity. Looking back, she is most proud of taking that first step. “Do not become comfortable staying uncomfortable,” she said. “Pray, be resilient, and do not give up.” “All of this is possible because of Workforce,” Mar’cella said. “The programs should really be something that everybody knows about.” For Mar’cella, Workforce Solutions East Texas provided more than employment. It gave her the opportunity to rediscover her strength, reclaim her independence, and rewrite her story. Today, she is no longer surviving; she is building a future that will impact generations of her family.
