Jobs Not Guns Recruitment Fair October 8 in Southeast DC: What to Know Before You Go

Published: September 28, 2026 | By LocalJobPage Team

WASHINGTON, DC — East of the river gets its biggest hiring room of the fall on Thursday, October 8, when the Jobs Not Guns Citywide Recruitment and Resource Fair fills St. Luke's Center on East Capitol Street SE. Organizers are planning for up to 100 exhibitors and roughly 500 District residents, with employers interviewing, building trades unions explaining apprenticeships, and training programs signing people up on the spot.

One day, five hours, one address in Marshall Heights. If you live in DC and want work, this is the room to be in on October 8.

Ready to search? Skip straight to the job links and begin searching now →

Event	2026 Jobs Not Guns and Jobs Not Drugs Citywide Recruitment and Resource Fair
Date	Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time	10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location	St. Luke's Center, 4923 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20019
Format	In person
Registration	Through the organizer's Eventbrite page
Eligibility	District residents, including high school youth
Contact	202-678-8840

📍 What Happens at the Jobs Not Guns Fair

The Jobs Not Guns coalition has run recruitment fairs across the District since 2021, built around a simple idea: steady paychecks and real careers are violence prevention. The format is practical. Federal, District and local employers bring lists of open positions and hold short interviews right at their tables. Building trades unions walk people through how their apprenticeship applications work. Job training providers recruit for their next classes, and community organizations register residents for support services.

This year's fair is organized by the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors, the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization and the DC National Guard Counterdrug Program, under the Jobs Not Guns and Jobs Not Drugs banner.

⚠️ Read This Before You Go

It's for District residents. The organizers describe the audience as DC residents and high school youth. Maryland and Virginia job seekers should look at other fairs.
Register first. Planned capacity is about 500 attendees, so sign up on the official Eventbrite registration page before you head over.
No employer list yet. The organizers have not published which companies or agencies will be exhibiting, and no hiring counts have been announced. Come ready for anything rather than for one specific employer.
Cost isn't stated on the listing. Call 202-678-8840 if you want it confirmed before you register.

📋 How to Show Up Ready

On-the-spot interviews reward people who come prepared. Bring several printed copies of your resume, a photo ID, and a short list of references with phone numbers. If you're interested in the trades, have a copy of your high school diploma or GED handy, since most apprenticeship applications ask for it. Dress one step above the job you want. Arrive early in the window, when recruiters are fresh and lines are short.

St. Luke's Center sits in Ward 7, roughly between the Benning Road and Capitol Heights Metro stations on the Blue and Silver lines, so plan on transit if you can.

Looking for other dates? This fair is one stop in our Fall 2026 Washington DC job fairs guide. Different events, different days, different requirements.

🔎 Where to Aim Before October 8

Past Jobs Not Guns fairs have drawn recruiters from construction, public safety, the military, health care, food service and hospitality. Get a feel for who is hiring in the District now, so you walk in already knowing what fits.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Jobs Not Guns fair in 2026?

Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at St. Luke's Center, 4923 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20019.

Who can attend?

The organizers are inviting District of Columbia residents, including high school youth.

Do I need to register?

Yes. Registration runs through the organizer's Eventbrite page, and planned attendance is about 500 people.

Which employers will be there?

No exhibitor list has been published. The coalition says federal, District and local employers, building trades unions, training programs and community service groups take part in its fairs.

Can I interview on the spot?

According to the organizers, participating employers conduct individual interviews at the fair, so bring resumes and be ready to talk.

Get Your Search Moving Now

Don't wait for October 8 to start. Create a free LocalJobPage account to save searches and get new District listings as they post, and browse every open job in Washington, DC.

Employers: Hiring in the District? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach local candidates before and after the fair.