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Robert Milles
Robert lived in the park after he lost his job, burying his
belongings under the trees, eating breakfast at a local soup
kitchen, and showering in a hotel. In 2010, he set three goals: get
his high school diploma, find a job, and move into his own
apartment. With the support of JVS, Robert got his GED. He took JVS
job search workshops, worked on his resume, practiced his interview
skills, and began volunteering at the Haight Ashbury Food Program.
Noting his calm demeanor, the staff soon offered Robert a job as
their Pantry Coordinator. Today, Robert has achieved his three
goals: his high school diploma, a job he loves, and his own
apartment.
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Charles Jackson
After six arrests and detentions by Liberian President Taylor’s
forces, Charles knew that he had a choice to make: his career
as an outspoken opposition journalist or his life. He fled to Ghana
and, as a refugee, came to California for the Knight Fellowship at
Stanford. After this fellowship ended, Charles worked at a gas
station, which later closed down. Desperate to break into the U.S.
workforce and eager to help other refugees, Charles earned his
Paralegal Certificate and turned to JVS. After a long search,
Charles now works at the African Advocacy Network, a Program of
Dolores Street Community Services, where he helps Haitian and
African refugees settle into their new homes.
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Rhea Spate
Rhea grew up in a family with addicts and alcoholics and
started using methamphetamines at the age of nine. After 35 years of
drug use, she ended up in prison and lost custody of her 7-year-old
son. After her release, Rhea saw a flyer for a JVS program training
low-income parents for positions at UCSF. Despite her self-doubt and
clouded background, Rhea persevered, learning new computer software
and office skills. She excelled in her internship and became the
first in her class to be hired in a full-time position at UCSF’s
Memory and Aging Center.
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Jackson Soderquist Steel
As a teenager with Down’s Syndrome,
Jackson struggled in school. At 14, he first started working with
JVS, taking our skill-building courses as part of his school day.
Over the next five years, JVS coached him through his first jobs.
Last year, JVS placed Jackson as an Explainer at the Exploratorium.
Jackson has thrived at his job, learning quickly how to build his
strengths, overcome his challenges, and communicate his needs to his
supervisors. He loves his work and takes pride in setting a positive
example to other youth with disabilities who visit the museum. Watch Video |
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Flor - Emergency Medical
Technician
Flor worked in IT for a mortgage
insurance company for 28 years, but
when her company dramatically
downsized, Flor lost her job. For the
next six months, Flor searched diligently
for work, but found little demand for
the skills she had spent decades
perfecting. At the age of 48, Flor
decided on a change. Healthcare had
always fascinated her, so when she
learned about the Emergency
Medical Technician training program through the
HealthCare Academy,
she jumped at the opportunity. Four
months later, Flor has passed the
training with flying colors, and is ready
for her new and exciting career in the
growing healthcare field.
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Hector - Stanford School of
Medicine
Hector had a great job as a graphic designer for a marketing agency,
but when the bottom fell out of the economy, design projects dried
up, and Hector was laid off. He tried freelancing, but it wasn't
paying the bills, and when he had to pull his two-year-old son out
of daycare to cut costs, working from home became all but
impossible. He knew he needed the stability of full-time work.
Hector came to JVS Jewish Employment Network
workshops on cover letter and resume writing, and our
employment specialists advised him
on how to handle his upcoming interview. The pieces fell into place,
and Hector now works full time as a web designer at the Stanford
School of Medicine.
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James
- Safeway/Kaiser Permanente
As a child, James and his family were forced to flee his native
Sudan to escape civil war and religious persecution. He lived in
refugee camps in Uganda for most of his life, finally reconnecting
with his brother as a teenager. When he came to the United States in
2005, he needed work, but didn't know where to begin. James came to
JVS, where he enrolled in the Retail Training Program, learning the
basics of customer service and cash handling. When
representatives from Safeway came to speak to his class, James
jumped at the opportunity and applied for a job. He began work
as a Deli Clerk less than three months after arriving in this
country. James continues to work with JVS to further his career,
using the Technology Access Center to enroll in college,
and joining the LVN Refresher Program to move towards his goal of
working in medicine. After the JVS
Strictly Business event, where
James was honored as an Employee of the Year, James spoke eloquently
about his experiences and his desire to become a doctor. Soon
after, he was approached by Kaiser Permanente, where he now holds a
job as a Care Partner.
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Galina - Victoria Healthcare Center
Galina had just graduated from nursing school when her family fled
anti-Semitism in Russia. She arrived in San Francisco with no work
experience, but in 1993, Galina participated in one of the first
Nursing Refresher programs offered by JVS. In only one semester, Galina was armed with both a practical and theoretical understanding
of the U.S. health care system. After graduating, she found a job at
Victoria Healthcare Center, and thrived in her new position. Now, as
Director of Nursing, Galina has hired 6 nurses from JVS. In 2005 she
participated in a focus group for the
RN Refresher Program, using
her knowledge as an employer to help JVS create an effective
curriculum. “I began as a client, but now I turn to JVS as an
employer,” Galina says. “I know from experience that JVS will
provide me with caring, well-trained and hardworking nurses.
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Cindy - UCSF
Cindy immigrated from Canton, China 20 years ago. She held a stable
job as a seamstress at Unique Garments Inc. until 2004, when the
company moved its operations overseas. Cindy had limited English
skills and work experience only in the garment industry. Her job
prospects looked bleak until she joined the JVS Back to Work
Program, where she attended class at JVS every day for six months to
improve her English language skills, then spent the next six months
at City College of San Francisco training to work in hospital
environmental services. She was hired in August 2006 by UCSF as an
Operating Room Department Assistant, cleaning up before and after
surgeries. Her new job – at triple her former salary – came when she
needed it the most: right when her twin daughters started their
first semester at City College of San Francisco.
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Paul - Macy’s West
At
18 years old, Paul did not have it easy. His father died when he
was only three years old, and his mom passed away from a sudden
heart attack when he was 13. Paul is also responsible for his
younger sister and suffers from a serious reading disability.
Working with our JVS youth
department, Paul learned how to approach a job interview, how to dress at
work, how to sit, and how to maintain eye contact. Through JVS, Paul
got a part-time holiday job at Macy’s. With his charm, dedication,
and hard work, he quickly became full-time and was promoted to the
position of Calvin Klein specialist. A winner of nine awards for
outstanding service at Macy’s, he has consistently increased his
sales. “The skills that I learned at JVS are still affecting and
helping me and shaping me through my journey at Macy’s, where I
interact with customers,” Paul says.
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Thyra - Seyfarth Shaw LLP
In
February 2005 Thyra was laid off from her job at the medical surgical
group where she had worked for 19 years. She and her
husband were putting their daughter through school, so she needed a
new job right away. At first Thyra felt confident in her job search,
but after eight months with no results, she began to lose hope.
Employers were especially concerned about her outdated computer
skills. Thyra joined the JVS Legal Employment Action Program
(LEAP), where she spent five and half months polishing her skills.
She updated her computer experience, refreshed her communication
skills, and learned new job search strategies. The LEAP program
helped her get a job at Seyfarth Shaw LLP as a Records Coordinator,
managing records for four legal secretaries.
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Davie - Mr. Scooter
As a tenth grader at Galileo High, Davie was having trouble
concentrating in school. No subject could capture his attention.
The only thing that seemed to interest Davie was a love for
scooters. Davie’s JVS
youth department counselor decided to see if she could put
this passion to work. She turned to the local small business
community, and found Mr. Scooter. She approached the store’s owner,
Pedro, to see if there was a role that Davie could fill. Soon,
Davie began working at Mr. Scooter after school. He changed
carburetors and air filters while Pedro taught him how to assemble a
motor. At a job he loves, Davie is now learning – learning a new
trade, learning to focus, and discovering the joy of learning
itself.
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| Alina - American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Alina and her family moved to the Bay Area from Belarus when she
was five. As a sophomore at UC Berkeley, she found the JVS
Kohn
Summer Intern Program, which places college students into
internships with local Jewish community agencies. Alina was
placed with the Jewish Community Federation, where she got a
taste of what it was like to work in the Jewish community. When
she graduated from UC Berkeley, Alina wanted to give something
back to the Jewish Community, so she took a position at the
American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Alina credits her
decision to work within the Jewish Community to her experience
in the Kohn Program.
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