Skills. Knowledge. Community. These are at the heart of Jewish Vocational Service (JVS), and we are dedicated to building the skills of thousands of Bay Area job seekers so they may thrive in the 21st century workplace.
Let me introduce you to Maureen, who came to JVS for help finding work. Upon meeting her employment specialist, tears came to Maureen’s eyes as she recounted the recent changes in her life — job loss, the death of
her fiance, surviving a pulmonary embolism, back surgery and the care of her aging mother. Maureen got more than just career help at JVS, where her Jewish values resonated with the organization’s mission.
After working on her job search skills through workshops and labs, Maureen landed a staffing contract position out of state. A few months later, a full-time recruiting job offer came through in San Francisco and she moved back. Now, Maureen sends job leads to JVS as a way to help others find meaningful work.
We are here at JVS to help people from all corners of the world, from all walks of life, to start new careers and new jobs. Founded in 1973 to aid recent Jewish college graduates who had trouble finding work, JVS gradually expanded to meet the needs of refugees from the former Soviet Union, as well as workers displaced during turbulent economic times. Today, the organization is at the forefront of efforts to educate the unemployed as they weather the darkest job market since the Great Depression.
With over 40,000 people out of work in San Francisco, JVS has experienced a tremendous increase in the number of job seekers requesting assistance, and served over 5,000 clients last year. Despite the anemic job outlook and some formidable obstacles JVS clients face, we are encouraged to report 1,060 jobs were secured by our clients, resulting in over $21 million in wages paid to these individuals.
But the challenges continue to be daunting. The 21st century presents us with not only rapidly evolving technology, but also a volatile economy that demands a nimble and prepared workforce. Education and solid skills will distinguish and poise our workforce for success.
The correlation between education level and unemployment is significant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while 5.4 percent of people in the country with bachelor’s degrees were unemployed in 2010, the jobless level shoots up to nearly 15 percent for those with less than a high school diploma.
Each day JVS opens its doors to a diverse mix of individuals seeking assistance. The options for training are many at JVS. Some clients seek computer or other hard skills for employment in a specific field. We work with youth in need of basic job search skills, such as writing cover letters. Some older workers, many of whom have seen their jobs evaporate, come to us having not conducted a job search in 30+ years, and need help with soft skills, such as cultivating networks.
In addition to one-on-one assistance, workshops and labs, JVS suite of employment services includes sector-specific education in high-growth fields. As the lead organization for San Francisco’s Health Care Academy, JVS coordinates a consortium of educational agencies to provide outreach and recruitment, vocational skills training and employment services in nursing and allied health professions.
A key educational opportunity JVS offers the Jewish community is the Kohn summer internship, where students receive the hands-on learning experience of a lifetime. Interns spend eight weeks gaining practical and professional skills as they work at a leading Jewish nonprofit. A program with a more than 25-year track record, in 2011 the Kohn internship equipped 27 college students with tools and networks that can help them their entire lives.
Tikkun olam, repairing the world, is a core value of JVS. We believe in meeting people where they are, and are committed to making the world a better place by educating our workforce. Whether you are changing careers, an unemployed youth, an adult with disabilities, a transgender individual, or one of our society’s millions without work, JVS is here for you. We know that skills and education are necessary to secure work. And work transforms lives. Visit www.jvs.org today.