Virtual Reality Comes to Livingston as RIVET Brings Career Exploration to Overton County

Job seekers in Overton County will soon have the chance to step into a new career without leaving the room. On Wednesday, July 22, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m., Workforce Connections will host a RIVET event at the Overton County Chamber of Commerce, 222 E. Main St. in Livingston.

RIVET, short for Rural Investment in Virtual Education and Training, is a Workforce Connections program that uses virtual reality technology to let participants experience what it is like to work across a range of in-demand industries, including health care, manufacturing, logistics, and construction. Rather than reading about a job or hearing it described, attendees put on a VR headset and try the work themselves, exploring day-to-day tasks and discovering paths they may never have considered.

The program is designed to meet the region's untapped and underemployed workforce where they are. It serves adults and out-of-school youth ages 18 and older, from new workforce entrants to dislocated workers, and it offers wrap-around support such as childcare and transportation to help remove the barriers that often keep people from pursuing training.

Leading the Livingston event are Elijah Andrews and Kora Sloan, who guide the RIVET program and work directly with participants to connect what they discover in the simulations to real opportunities in the local job market. Their goal is simple: help residents picture a future they can build here in the Upper Cumberland.

The event is free and open to the community, but registration is encouraged to reserve a spot. Anyone interested in exploring a new career, or simply curious about what the technology can do, is invited to attend.

To secure your spot - make sure you register here!