We Change Lives Together
Founded in 1931 in the midst of the Great Depression and historically known as the Jewish Vocational Service, the legacy of today’s JVS SoCal began with a single desk in a Bunker Hill office in downtown Los Angeles, serving job seekers who were struggling to survive amid overt workplace discrimination. Our work remains grounded in Jewish values represented by our enduring commitment to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).
Nine decades later, the agency is a recognized regional leader in the field of workforce development, offering a broad range of innovative programs to tens of thousands of individuals each year and advocating on issues of public policy that impact the people we serve.
Today, more than 240 skilled and dedicated staff members deliver services from over 20 sites throughout Los Angeles County and surrounding areas, assisting tens of thousands of clients each year.
JVS SoCal means Jobs. Vision. Success.
JVS SoCal embraces diversity and creates pathways to equality. We foster and sustain a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our commitment is to ensure all stakeholders have access to resources and opportunities to develop, contribute and grow.
Our Mission
Empowering individuals to achieve dignity and economic independence through sustainable employment.
Our Vision
Thriving communities with hope and economic opportunity for all.
Our Values
- Respect for individuals and families
- Integrity and professionalism in all our interactions
- Principled advocacy on behalf of those we serve
- Collective and collaborative stewardship
- Commitment to uplift communities and serve those in need
Programs & Services
EMPOWERING WOMEN
The JVS SoCal Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) celebrated the 11th Anniversary of its Woman to Woman Conference, having raised over $6M in critical funding to support women in career crisis and transition.
AMERICA’S JOB CENTERS of CALIFORNIA
JVS SoCal operates four AJCCs (America’s Job Center of California) in total in West L.A., Lancaster, Palmdale, and South Los Angeles, and in 2021 our Antelope Valley AJCC was named the #1 performing AJCC in Los Angeles County.
IMMIGRANTS and REFUGEES
Since 1931, JVS SoCal has helped immigrants and refugees from around the world. From German and Shanghai immigrants at the end of WWII to Cuban refugees in the 1970’s and Soviet Jews in the 1980’s, followed by Cambodians, Vietnamese and those impacted by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, we assist refugees and their families from all over the world, including Ukraine, Iran, Armenia, Cuba and elsewhere.
CAREER TRAINING
Since their launch in 2006, our four JVSWorks tuition-free career training programs have placed over 2,500 graduates. At an average starting salary over $40,000, aggregate graduate earnings are well over $100 million annually. This represents a 600%+ return on investment.
DISABILITY and ASSESSMENT
JVS SoCal’s Grossblatt Skills Assessment Center is the only facility in Southern California offering full job skills evaluation services to individuals who are blind and visually impaired and is accredited by CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Since its founding over 50 years ago in 1972, the JVS Scholarship Program has awarded over $13 million in need-based scholarships to 6,000+ Jewish college students attending schools and universities throughout the world.
VETERAN SERVICES
JVS SoCal operates California’s only Veterans AJCC (America’s Job Center of California) at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall in downtown Los Angeles. JVS SoCal was awarded the U.S. Department of Labor’s HIRE Vets Gold Medallion for its commitment to Veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. The Veterans First program has been recognized with the prestigious Seal of Distinction by Activision/Blizzard’s Call of Duty Endowment.
Impact on people
Last year, we provided life-changing services to tens of thousands of people, offering hope and opportunity through job training, career-building skills and access to resources through our network of community partners, empowering them to achieve sustainable employment. Factoring in the individuals who accessed one of our sites by attending an orientation or using our computer centers, JVS SoCal impacted close to 50,000 in 2017.
Our services are offered at the America’s Job Centers/WorkSource Centers we operate in West L.A., the Antelope Valley and downtown Los Angeles at Patriotic Hall; through L.A. County GAIN (public assistance) and REAS (refugee employment) for people transitioning from public assistance to the workplace, and in our range of innovative donor-supported programs.
Transformation starts here
Gabriel received Class A Driving training through the AJCC/WorkSource Center to get a well-paying job.
Impact on the Southern California economy
Though the immediate goal of our work is to assist people to move from unemployment or chronic underemployment to a living wage, the long-term effect is that they are able to contribute to their communities, helping to stimulate and grow the local economy.
As regional leaders in the field of workforce development, the agency has been recognized by Mayor Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and by the Los Angeles Business Journal for our award-winning job training and employment programs and our contribution to the economic health and wellbeing of Southern California.