Amtrak to promote veteran-hiring initiative at National Urban League event

Amtrak officials plan to highlight the railroad's veteran hiring initiative this week at the 2013 National Urban League (NUL) conference in Philadelphia.

The railroad is a co-sponsor of the event, which will be held July 24-27. The meeting's theme, "Redeem the Dream: Jobs Rebuild America," aligns closely with the railroad's goal that military veterans comprise 25 percent of all new hires by 2015, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

In addition, NUL President and Chief Executive Officer Marc Morial's goals of job creation and "rebuilding America" are ones that Amtrak shares, said Darlene Abubakar, Amtrak's senior director of national advertising.

To achieve the veteran-hiring goal, Amtrak is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes program, the Wounded Warrior Project, RecruitMilitary and Army PaYS. The railroad also is participating in more than 30 military job fairs across the country.

Amtrak's marketing and human resources representatives will be available at the conference to help attendees explore career options.