NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April
7, 2010
AJA Receives Important Records of the
International
Association of Jewish
Vocational Services
Records valuable to researchers in the fields of occupational
and vocational services
CINCINNATI,
OH:---The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives—located on the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of
Religion— is pleased to announce the opening of records
of the International Association
of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS). Donated by Genie Cohen,
Executive Director of
IAJVS, the IAJVS records are now available in The Barrows-Loebelson
Family Reading
Room at the Jacob Rader Marcus Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
A
finding aid is available in the Reading Room and online at
http://www.americanjewisharchives.org/aja/FindingAids/iajvs.html.
Founded
in 1939 as the Jewish Occupational Council (JOC), the IAJVS
was created when
the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds called
upon the Jewish community
to respond to high levels of Jewish unemployment during the
Great Depression.
Following
World War II, the JOC expanded its work to help Jewish soldiers
re-enter the
workforce upon their return from war. In later years, the
organization began to assist Jews
who were being persecuted in other countries while also conducting
educational
programs, rehabilitation services, and home and community
based services for émigrés
and handicapped persons, among others.
Today,
the IAJVS (renamed in 1976) links 28 health and human service
agencies in the
United States, Canada, and Israel.
The
IAJVS records document the organization’s administrative
activities, annual
conferences, and special projects from its beginnings to the
current day. The IAJVS records
include constitutions and bylaws, minutes from the Board of
Governors and Executive
Committee, miscellaneous reports, conference programs, project
files, and photographs.
Minutes document administrative actions and oversight functions
of the IAJVS. Project files
include notes, correspondence, internship reports, as well
as files on IAJVS’s work with
émigrés, and an aging workforce.
One
of the highlights in the collection is a pamphlet titled,
Contributions of Jews to the
American Economy by Walter Duckat. Published by the JOC in
1954 in concert with the
celebration of the American Jewish Tercentenary (1654-1954),
Duckat briefly describes
three centuries of Jewish economic and social life in the
U.S. while examining the impact
Jews have had on manufacturing, trade unions, commerce, transportation
and
communication, agriculture, entertainment, and science and
technology in the United
States.
The
records of the IAJVS are a valuable resource for those studying
the role and impact of
Jews in the workplace and the major professions, as well as
for persons interested in the
larger fields of occupational and vocational services.
The
Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives,
founded in 1947 by its namesake on the Cincinnati, Ohio, campus
of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, is committed
to preserving a documentary heritage of the religious, organizational,
economic, cultural, personal, social and family life of American
Jewry. The Marcus Center contains over 15,000 linear feet
of archives, manuscripts, nearprint materials, photographs,
audio and videotapes, microfilm, and genealogical materials
December, 2008
U.S.
LOSES 533,000 JOBS IN
NOVEMBER - UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 6.7%
IAJVS
MOBILIZES TO CONFRONT UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS!
International
Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS)
THE
IAJVS RAPID RESPONSE TO RISING UNEMPLOYMENT:
At
the organization's annual conference in Phoenix Arizona during
the first week of November, the CEOs of IAJVS affiliated agencies
voted to dispense with the planned agenda, turned the meeting
into a strategic planning session and developed a national
strategy to help confront the evolving unemployment crisis.
IAJVS Executive Director Genie Cohen stated, "IAJVS historically
has been one of the major "first responders" to
address rising unemployment."
In
recent months, the current economic crisis in the United States
has resulted in the collapse of major insurance companies,
the effective end of major US investment banks, sustained
significant losses by the country's financial markets and
the possible bankrupting of the US automotive industry. Resulting
from the new economic reality is the threat of massive unemployment
not witnessed in this country since the Great Depression of
the 1930s.
This
week IAJVS issued the white paper "Without
Work" to emphasize the problems associated
with the escalating massive increase in U.S. unemployment
and to publicize the commitment of the organization to developing
and implementing programs and services that will get people
back into the workforce. The full paper may be downloaded
from the IAJVS website at www.iajvs.org
Since
the meeting in Phoenix, IAJVS workgroups have held national
conference calls focused on further mobilizing its own national
system and developing mechanisms to communicate with
decision makers in every sector about the urgent need for
strategies and resources to address this problem.In addition,
the workgroups commissioned the creation of this e-newsletter
to advise the public of IAJVS programs and services on a regular
basis.
WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT STAFF AT IAJVS AFFILLIATED AGENCIES ACROSS THE
NATION ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO HELP ALL AMERICANS WHO ARE "WITHOUT
WORK."
About
The International Association of Jewish Vocational Services:
Since
its creation during the depths of the Great Depression, the
International Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS)
has been a vital force in building and rebuilding America
's strength through helping tens of thousands of Americans
to find employment. IAJVS is comprised of twenty-four non-
sectarian affiliated agencies across the United States , two
in Canada and two in Israel .
The
IAJVS network serves more then 425,000 workers annually and
collectively works with over 40,000 employers throughout the
United States .
The
IAJVS strategy in response to the current unemployment crisis
is based on the synergy that emanates from the combined resources
and expertise of its affiliates providing employment assistance,
skills training, rehabilitation programs, mental health and
health services
IAJVS
is in a unique position to provide cost-effective employment
services to tens of thousands of Americans who are "without
work". The Canadian and Israeli affiliates also provide
cost-effective employment services to thousands of Canadian
and Israeli citizens.
International
Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS)
Peter
Bloch, President
Genie
Cohen, Executive Director
215-854-0235
Department
of Labor Employment and Training Administration Awards $1
Million to IAJVS for Financial Training of American Workers
with Disabilities
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Philadelphia, PA –July 18, 2006
Today
the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services
(IAJVS) was awarded a$1 million grant by the U.S. Department
of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOL-ETA)
to provide financial services training to American workers
with disabilities. The grant is part of the President’s
High Growth Job Training Initiative, a strategic plan to prepare
workers for jobs in expanding industries.
“Financial
services has been among the strongest sectors of America’s
growing economy and there is need for skilled new workers
as well as upgrading the skills of existing workers,” said
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.
IAJVS
is a nonprofit membership association linking 27 social service
agencies in theUnited States, Canada, Israel, and Argentina
providing a wide range of educational, vocational, and rehabilitation
services. Through its member agencies, individuals
seeking to improve their lives gain access to a vast array
of services such as career management, skills training, rehabilitation
programs, and health services.
Services
will be provided by three IAJVS affiliate organizations: JVS
Los Angeles, CA; JVS San Francisco, CA; and JVS East Orange,
NJ. These member agencies are highly professional employment
and training organizations with extensive experience serving
people with disabilities and working within the financial
services sector.
The
goal of the IAJVS program is to engage the financial services
sector and build its capacity to attract, employ, and retain
workers with disabilities to meet their growing demand. Increased
capacity will be reflected in the creation and adaptation
of pre-employment assessment and training as well as retention
programs for entry-level workers with disabilities, including
mentoring and natural support approaches that connect potential
workers with current employees.
“IAJVS
is very excited to be part of the President’s High Growth
Job Training Initiative, and in particular to be working in
the financial services sector,” said IAJVS Executive Director
Genie Cohen. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department
of Labor for giving us this opportunity to play an integral
role in advancing the skills and employment prospects for
individuals with disabilities.”
For
more information contact:
Karen
Rosen
215-854-0233
rosenk@iajvs.org
To
view the full press release from the U.S. DOL-ETA click here.
To
visit the DOL-ETA website click here.
###
The
International Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS)
and CVS/pharmacy Announces National Strategic Partnership
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Philadelphia, PA- February 14, 2006
Today,
the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services
and CVS/pharmacy announced a national strategic partnership
that promises to promote and enhance training and employment
opportunities for mature workers in the communities they jointly
serve.
This
partnership intends to increase the local capacity of IAJVS
member agencies and CVS/pharmacy stores throughout the country.
In partnership with CVS/pharmacy, IAJVS will work with member
agencies to design and implement a customized training program
for member agency mature worker clients to prepare them for
assessment, screening, career exploration, training and employment
at CVS/pharmacy in positions including Pharmacist Scheduler,
Pharmacist Technician, Photo Lab Technician, Greeting Card
and Cosmetic Specialist. The collaboration will strive to
make the best use of each partner’s experience, flexibility
and record of success in placing mature workers on career
paths.
CVS/pharmacy
is America’s leading retail pharmacy with a workforce of over
140,000 employees in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
Its mission and vision are to be the easiest pharmacy retailer
for customers to use and help people live longer, healthier,
and happier lives. CVS/pharmacy believes in developing highly
skilled employees who excel at customer service. It is recognized
as a national leader in creating public and private partnerships
on local, state and national levels to further workforce development.
The
International Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS),
a not-for-profit membership association linking 29 social
service agencies in the United States, Canada and Israel,
provides a wide range of educational, vocational, and rehabilitation
services. Through its member agencies, individuals seeking
to improve their lives gain access to a vast array of services
such as career management, skills training, rehabilitation
programs, and health services.
Both
companies regard this collaboration as a mutually beneficial
partnership. CVS/pharmacy and IAJVS are responding to the
dramatic demographic shift within the workplace and are committed
to enhancing the employment opportunities for the mature workforce.
“IAJVS is so excited to be working on this important initiative
with a company with such a national presence and a long history
of service to the community” said Genie Cohen, Executive Director
of IAJVS.
IAJVS
is pleased to be awarding CVS/pharmacy with the 2006 National
Partnership Award in recognition of their outstanding efforts
to improve the employment opportunities of older workers and
under-served individuals. The award will be given at the IAJVS
Annual Conference 2006 in Minneapolis on May 22, 2006.
For
more information about IAJVS contact Karen Rosen at rosenk@iajvs.org
or visit www.iajvs.org.
For
more information about CVS/pharmacy contact Ernie DuPont at
eedupont@cvs.com
or visit www.cvs.com.
###
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