Jewish Vocational Service:
Empowering Individuals, Enriching Lives

New Program Offers Innovative Approach to Work

As eight people package products for retail sale, six others do puzzles or arts and crafts or watch movies in another part of the room. JVS consumers Font Swift and Joey Bang in the X-Plorers program

They’re upbeat, friendly and productive.

These are the X-Plorers of Jewish Vocational Service, a program that features a mixture of recreation, social activities and workfor consumers with developmental disabilities who prefer lighter workloads.

Workum Internships Expose Students to Jewish Nonprofits

Intern Molly Cramer talks with consumer Craig Harper in the JVS Work Center.

For years, Molly Cramer figured that she’d enjoy working after college as a clinical psychologist in private practice.

But after only a few weeks as a JVS intern, she’s now considering a career in the nonprofit world, too.“This has kind of opened my eyes to new things,” she says. “I’ve really fallen in love with Jewish Vocational Service.”

With JVS Support, Chris Stoner Progresses Toward His Goals

JVS consumer Chris Stoner works in the kitchen at Buffalo Joe’s Family Restaurant in Fairfield. At an age when many people are uncertain about their career paths, Chris Stoner knows exactly what he wants to do.

He wants to work in the world of culinary arts. And since April, that’s what he’s been doing.

With a passion for cooking, Stoner, 20, landed a job at Buffalo Joe’s Family Restaurant in Fairfield. And after only a few months, he had progressed from washing dishes and preparing raw ingredients to the added responsibility of cooking.

The purpose of JVS is to empower individuals to enrich their lives. We do that in several ways: