On Wednesday, October 14, Manatí will host the second Labor Training and Economic Development Convention, organized by the Puente Tecnológico para la Optimización Laboral (PTOL) project and the Center for Student and Teacher Researchers (CEMI). The event, themed 'Connecting Talent, Education and Employment,' will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Joaquín Rosa Gómez Center for the Arts and is expected to draw approximately 250 attendees.
The convention will feature a Job and Services Fair, networking opportunities, and workshops addressing skills relevant to the changing labor market. Dr. Odette Piñeiro Caballero, CEMI’s executive director, said the event aims to connect Puerto Rico’s talent with tools and organizations that support professional growth. Thirty organizations have registered for this year’s event, including the Department of Labor and Human Resources, Department of Economic Development and Commerce, and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Job and Services Fair will be open to the public, but workshop registration is required through Eventbrite. Dr. María del Mar López Avilés, PTOL’s program director, emphasized that connecting talent with resources can contribute to individual advancement and community economic growth.