“You know people are anxious right now, and they need to know what’s available to them,” said Gaylene Kanoyton, CEO of Celebrate Healthcare. This organization promotes healthcare equity in vulnerable communities.
Celebrate Healthcare is hosting a series of job fairs in Hampton Roads, including at Virginia Peninsula Community College in Hampton, to connect displaced workers with employers. However, Kanoyton also stresses the importance of people who were laid off or fired not to waste time signing up for health insurance.
“In the first 60 days, you can go on COBRA, but you can also go into the Affordable Care Act, which is less,” said Kanoyton.
She said Virginians can also enroll in the Virginia Insurance Marketplace within that time window.
Celebrate Healthcare is partnering with Tidewater Community College and Virginia Peninsula Community College, where interested people can gain workforce development.
“That realignment takes place now for us to be able to fill the gap for whatever upskilling is needed for anyone who has been a displaced worker,” said Dr. Adrienne Cosby, the Director of Business Solutions and Corporate Training and Development at VPCC.
Cosby said more people are calling the college about opportunities to develop new skills or careers.
In February, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced a new resource hub to connect Virginians with 250,000 available jobs while supporting the Trump administration’s move to slash thousands of federal jobs.
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