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Author: Jade Daniels

Why I Volunteer at JEVS: Q&A with Kyle Cucuzza

Posted on by Jade Daniels

For National Volunteer Week, we spoke with Kyle Cucuzza, a committed volunteer at JEVS Human Services about his experience. 

Q: You could choose to spend your time with many organizations. Why do you volunteer at JEVS Human Services?

A: JEVS mission in helping people in the Philadelphia area reach their full potential as people and professionals, aligns directly with a passion of mine in seeing others advance in life despite not having the best start, set of tools, environment etc. I think it is very important that we don’t let talent slip through the cracks. The world misses out on so much by not having people reach their full potentials.

Q: What kinds of volunteer activities do you participate in?

A: I’ve been fortunate enough to help with JEVS Project WOW, as well as some other events. I’ve done some resume critiquing as well as mock interviews. I’ve also recently been able to participate in an in-person coat drive as well as an in-person event at JEVS’ Orleans Technical College, giving out essential supplies and gifts.

Q: What has the experience been like for you so far?

A: Definitely being able to directly see people positively affected by your help. Two scenarios that come to mind are the smiles I was able to share and see during the coat drive JEVS had this past winter, and the sincere gratitude and positivity I hear from the other end of the phone when calling people in the area to let them know about career advancement opportunities JEVS helps to facilitate.

Q: What would you say to others thinking about volunteering at JEVS?

A: Do it! There is a great team in place at JEVS, and what ever the capacity is you choose to help, you can’t go wrong. In helping others, we truly are helping ourselves as well as enriching our own lives. I would suggest JEVS to anyone looking for a volunteering opportunity in our area that directly impacts peoples lives.

Interested in volunteering at JEVS Human Services? Visit our Volunteer page to learn about upcoming opportunities.

Career Advice Corner: Strategizing Your Job Search

Posted on by Jade Daniels

Do you feel like the past few years have changed the world, the workforce, and every aspect of the job search? JEVS Career Strategies’ senior career counselor Jackie Savoy shares her expert opinion about strategizing your job search over the next few months.  

Tailor your resume to the job

Job opportunities open to the public are primarily advertised online, and big job search engines like Indeed or Glassdoor use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. The reality is your resume won’t get through the ATS and in front of a recruiter if you don’t include keywords that relate to the specific position. O*NET OnLine is a great tool with detailed job descriptions and industry information that can help you create a tailored resume.  Additionally, JobScan allows you to compare your resume to the desired job description to see if you are a match.

Market yourself

An ATS-compatible resume is the foundation of your job search. Once that’s out of the way, what’s the next step? Google yourself. This is likely the first thing the hiring manager will do when your resume lands on their desk, and how you behave in virtual spaces plays a role in how you are perceived generally.

Therefore, it’s of utmost importance to have control of your online image. Flesh out your LinkedIn profile with a high-quality professional photograph, comprehensive work history, and relevant industry connections. Remaining active on LinkedIn will help you expand your network and increases the likelihood that you’ll be found by recruiters. A career counselor at JEVS Career Strategies can help you represent yourself, your unique work experiences, and strategize how to communicate if COVID-19 impacted your career.

It is not what you know, it is who knows you

No one can hire you if they don’t know you exist. A strong professional online presence is vital to finding a job, but it isn’t enough if that is your only strategy to get noticed.

Yes, you still need to network for inside information and advice so you are the most competitive version of yourself. This may seem counterintuitive given the restrictions on social interaction. Start by making a list of companies you would like to work for, recruiters you want to contact, and professionals in your desired field who might be able to give you guidance.

Social media is the perfect way to expand your network from a safe distance. Consider asking a professional contact for a virtual coffee break on Zoom to maintain the relationship and ensure you’re the first person they think of when they hear of a new opportunity.

Virtual Interviewing is just as important as in-person

Everyday life has widely adapted to a more virtual environment with virtual meeting platforms like Zoom or GoToMeeting. It’s crucial to become comfortable with video conferencing as these platforms are the gold standard for remote collaboration.

Fortunately, the best practices for acing a remote interview are largely the same in a video conference setting. Prepare thoroughly for your virtual interview as you would an in-person interview by researching the company, its mission, and how you would help them reach their goals. Practicing the best answers to common interview questions will set you up for success.

 

If you’ve read these tips and are still looking for guidance, schedule an appointment with a Career Strategies Career Counselor to design a personal job search action plan. Our counselors are here for you to help make a difficult situation productive and meaningful.

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If you are interested in learning how JEVS Career Strategies can help individuals get to the next stage in their careers or job search…

> Learn more.

> Submit an inquiry form, anytime of day!

> See/attend our upcoming free workshops.

> Read our career advice blogs.

> Contact us at 215-832-0878 or [email protected]

Philly Diversion Program Offers Option to Clear Criminal Records

Posted on by Jade Daniels

Nigel Bowe, left, Executive Director of Diversion Services and George Clark, Program Manager The Choice is Yours. – Tribune Photo/Abdul R. Sulayman 

As published by “The Philadelphia Tribune”

Kareem Walton began to speak on a conference call, recalling a moment that changed his life. Walton was a part of a diversion program, The Choice is Yours, through JEVS Human Services. He stopped to get some food on a particular afternoon, making him late for the program. While Walton showed up, he was not taking the program seriously.

That’s when Nigel Bowe, Director of Diversion and Re-entry at JEVS, scolded him for being tardy.

“One day, he came over late, he stopped at McDonald’s and got something to eat and destroyed it in class,” Bowe said. “I jumped on him about it. Right, that day I saw a 180-degree turnaround. And I think he made up his mind that he needed to take the program seriously. I think he thought he had an opportunity that would set him up for life if he took advantage of it. And so everything I asked him to do and expected of him was right in line and then compliant. He had positive reports every time he went to court.”

The Choice is Yours program celebrates 10 years of work, offering first-time drug offenders ages 18-30 an alternative to going before a judge.

According to JEVS, “participants join an orientation that allows them to join the one-year program if successfully completed. The program offers a variety of employment, education and life-skills activities and requires community service. In addition, program graduates are eligible to have their records expunged a year after they graduate from the program if there have been no further arrests and all fees are paid.”

Walton said he thought his life was over when he was arrested on charges related to possession and distribution of heroin.

“I would have been locked up and had a federal record or tons of probation,” Walton said. “My charges were very severe as they were two school zone cases (despite the school not being in operation).”

According to Walton, the program looked out for him and set him up for success and a positive future.

“The whole program was very beneficial,” he said. “The way I was thinking, I was headed down the wrong path. The program helped open up my eyes. I used to think ‘eff everybody and their feelings.’ Now I think about others before myself. Everybody in the program had a major impact on my life.”

Jovid Hernandez was arrested for selling marijuana and became a product of the juvenile courts system.

Hernandez spent two years working before he was laid off. Then, a police stop led to him taking the fall for a friend over an ounce of marijuana. Because he still owed time on previous convictions, he was sent away for a four- to six-month sentence. That’s when a public defender recommended The Choice is Yours to Hernandez.

Like Walton, Hernandez did not take the program seriously. Instead, he thought, why did he need to listen to these people and would use COVID as an excuse to stray away from the opportunity.

Soon Hernandez understood that the program had his best interest in mind.

“’Whatever happens, happens’ was my attitude at first,” he said. “But I turned it around. I started giving it my all and turned it around. JEVS is truly on your side, even if you err. They are understanding and changed my life.”

George Clark is the lead Employment Advisor and Case Manager at JEVS.

Being from North Philadelphia, Clark said he desired mentorship and to work with those dealing with early intervention and prevention in terms of delinquency prevention.

Clark said that the next step in the evolution of The Choice is Yours is developing a mentorship component with graduates of the program.

“So we’re looking at developing a mentoring component that we have our graduates come back to be on our focus calls,” Clark said. “That’s what we want to do to develop the missing components that give them a sense that you’re part of the family. And so anyone who has graduated, you know, we welcome them back.”

Even for those who may not have completed the program, Clark says they want them to know they can always stay connected.

Hernandez has stayed connected.

“JEVS became a part of my everyday life,” he said. “I’d spend time Monday at the TCY office, Tuesday at the rec center volunteering, Wednesday at the office, and meeting with a TCY employment advisor on Thursdays. They were behind me. They saw the potential in me.”

Download a PDF of this article.

Read the article at The Philadelphia Tribune.

Cynthia Figueroa: A Dedicated Advocate for Equity and Access

Posted on by Jade Daniels

Cynthia Figueroa is one of the 2022 AL DÍA Women of Merit honorees, in the nonprofit category.

By: Jensen Toussaint, AL DÍA

If there is one thing that can be traced to Cynthia Figueroa’s unbridled dedication to advocacy work, it’s her personal multicultural Latino heritage.

Figueroa was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico to a Honduran mother and Cuban-American father who met in Puerto Rico, both as members of the Peace Corps.

“So, the issue of social justice has been a critical part of my personal and professional career pathways and it’s an important part of my identity,” said Figueroa in an interview with AL DÍA.

Living within modest means, her father worked in construction before transitioning into teaching. Like so many others, Figueroa’s parents made the journey to the U.S. — Miami, Florida — when she was five, for more opportunities and a chance at a better life.

Figueroa detailed that moving to the mainland presented an indelible experience for her personally.

“I probably wouldn’t have been raised bilingual, I don’t know if I would have gone to college, I don’t know what the trajectory would have been,” she reflected. “But certainly, that opportunity changed the pathway for my sisters and I.”

The story of her mother moving to the U.S. at the age of 40, having to learn to speak English, and the sacrifices she made for her children stuck with Figueroa, and led her on the path she has taken in her career.

MAKING EQUITY AND ACCESS AVAILABLE TO ALL

Since moving to Philadelphia about 25 years ago, Figueroa has been actively involved in a number of prominent organizations.

From roles as director and CEO of Congreso to more recently, Deputy Mayor at the Office of Children and Families, Figueroa’s approach has been the same.

In her own words, “It’s making sure that equity and access is available to all people,” she said.

When she thinks about the opportunities she, her sisters and parents have had in this country, she wants to afford those opportunities to others, as well.

“I see that eroding in our society, particularly for low-income and middle income families,” added Figueroa.

It is for that reason that she strives to be such an advocate and change agent for underserved, marginalized and vulnerable groups in each role she takes on.

“I have always worked really hard to stand on the side of right,” she said. “Sometimes standing on the side of right can be very lonely, it can be very painful. But at the same time, it can be incredibly fulfilling.”

Download a PDF of this article.

Read the article at AL DÍA.

Providing Healing, Promoting Hope: From DSP to Family

Posted on by Jade Daniels

The 2022 Women’s History Month theme, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” is a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers while recognizing the many ways women of all cultures have served as healers, nurturers, and providers throughout history. Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) working at JEVS Human Services are a testament to what it means to selflessly care for and give to others and proof that what began as a career can blossom into much more for not only their clients, but them as well.

We are wrapping up this Women’s History Month by sitting down with some of our amazing DSPs and hearing how working with individuals with disabilities has allowed them to become surrogate mothers, aunts, sisters, and friends to those they serve.

Paula

Paula has been working for JEVS Community Living & Home Supports for 30 years, impacting her clients’ lives and helping to make their days better in any way she can.

“I’ve been blessed to be with JEVS for many years. The job is challenging and rewarding, because I’m able to help people and make a positive difference in their lives. It’s a good feeling to know at the end of each work day that I helped someone along their way. I only hope and pray that I have made a positive impact on their lives. The residents become like family, and sometimes we see them more than we see our biological families. It means so much to me to try to help someone along their way.”

 

Janice

Janice has also dedicated 30 years of her life working for JEVS Community Living & Home Supports. She builds relationships with her clients as if they were her own family.

“My clients know my family and even ask about my kids on a regular basis; they are definitely family to us. We have family relationships and we learn from each other regularly. I am not just there to help them, they have helped me grow and become better at what I do. I am grateful for the connection I’ve built with my clients over the years.”

 

 

 

Our frontline workers are like family members, offering support to individuals with disabilities in a nurturing nature. This Women’s History Month and every month to follow, we celebrate their diligence, compassion, and dedication to helping to “make hope happen” day in and day out.

> Learn more about becoming a Direct Support Professional (DSP) for JEVS.

JEVS Human Services Stands Ready to Support Ukrainians Seeking Safety in the U.S.

Posted on by Jade Daniels

As you know, earlier in March, we issued a statement on the crisis in Ukraine. The United Nations has estimated that 3.5 million Ukrainians have left their homes in search of safety and freedom from a dictatorship that is ravaging their country. As the crisis intensified, JEVS joined over 375 national and local organizations in urging the Biden Administration to expedite admissions for Ukrainian refugees with close family ties in the US.  This is a process that has been used by prior administrations to admit Iraqis, Haitians, and Afghans during crises in their communities.

We are very proud to have joined this list of supporters at this critical time. You can read the final letter here, which has been delivered to the Administration.  We encourage you to join us and lend your voice to this effort, you can send a message to the Administration via our partner HIAS by visiting their website here.

Our work with refugees is deeply rooted in our history and continues at our Center for New Americans (CNA). For some of us, it is also personal.  In the words of Zoya Kravets, our CNA Director and former refugee client from the Ukraine, “There are no words to describe what we feel about Putin’s war. We are grateful that America, many decades ago, gave us a home, safety, and hope for a better life for us and our children.  I hope that those who had to leave their homes will find safety in the US and soon become our clients and our extended family.”

The Biden Administration announced that the US would accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.  Philadelphia is home to a large Ukrainian community and will no doubt be a beacon to others seeking a new start in the United States.  We know this is a very small number versus the need and we will continue to encourage the Administration to increase the number of Ukrainians who can enter the United States as refugees.

We stand ready to support Ukrainians seeking safety in the US.  There will certainly be more opportunities for action in the coming days and weeks, as well as chances to help closer to home.

Women in Construction Week Brings Reflection to Orleans Tech

Posted on by Jade Daniels

By Claudia Salvato, Northeast Times

The first full week in March is National Women in Construction Week, or WIC for short. This initiative was created by the National Association of Women in Construction to “raise awareness and celebrate the work of women in the construction industry across the country.”

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 11% of workers in the construction industry are female. However, Orleans Technical College in the Northeast predicts that the number could rise.

Debbie Bello, Director of Admissions at Orleans Tech, said that traditionally the trades were dominated by white men, but now, many different groups are becoming interested.

“It’s always been tradesmen, not tradeswomen or tradespeople. It’s just that. I think the world is changing,” Bello said.

She suggested that as baby boomers retire, and as people reevaluate their lives during the pandemic, more people may join the trade industry who haven’t considered it before. And that includes women.

“Usually if I find women coming in here for a tour or calling on the phone, they’ve had some experience with doing some type of hands-on work,” Bello said. “Maybe they were side by side with their dad or their grandfather, and they liked it.”

Georgetta Wellman, who goes by Penny, will graduate this month from the building maintenance program at Orleans. This program studies skills such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, tiling and appliance repair to prepare students for home and building careers.

Wellman earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with the intention of becoming a physical therapist. But she found the job monotonous and realized that it wasn’t her passion.

Then, she and her husband bought their first home.

“I was doing little things around the house and then I did a refresh to my powder room, and in doing that I just was like, ‘I love this, this is what I want to do.’ ”

Wellman constructed a barn door for their powder room and felt satisfaction from her hands-on work. With the encouragement of her husband, she joined the carpentry program at Orleans and later switched to building maintenance.

“People go through life and don’t really know, ‘Where am I going? What am I doing?’ and some people really never find their true purpose. But I feel like I’ve found what I really love and I’m so happy to have found it,” Wellman said.

She plans to start her own contracting business in the future.

In terms of being a woman in a male-dominated field, Wellman said she thinks women don’t get involved because they don’t see themselves represented. They may count themselves out because of the stereotype.

“I don’t feel intimidated and I am the best,” Wellman said. “I feel like being a woman, you bring a different perspective to things. I think it’s an asset.”

In the last 5 years, Orleans Tech has had 46 women total come through its construction programs, and they hope to welcome more this year.

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Read the article at Northeast Times

Prison Diversion Program Celebrates 10 Years of 2nd Chances

Posted on by Jade Daniels

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A prison diversion program for first-time drug offenders celebrates 10 years of keeping people out of the system.

Graduates of “The Choice is Yours,” operated by JEVS Human Services of Philadelphia, move forward with clean records and a second chance.

First-time, non-violent drug offenders between 18 and 30 years old who have been arrested and charged with possession with the intent to distribute can take advantage of the free 13-month program.

JEVS Human Services Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Kristen Rantanen said participants are required to be working or in an employment and training program.

“The first thing that happens with participants in the program is an assessment and a goal-setting process identifying what they want to work on over those next 13 months, and what’s going to make the biggest difference for them,” she said.

The program includes skills training and educational opportunities, job search and job placement help, as well as community service placement.

Once they complete the program, they have a new lease on life.

“One year post-graduation, if folks stay out of trouble and they aren’t re-arrested, they have the opportunity to have their record completely expunged,” Rantanen said. “At graduation, charges are dropped.”

Rantanen applauds the program’s success rate.

“We have an 85% graduation rate, and about a 12% recidivism rate one year post-graduation, which is extraordinary,” she said.

She added that many participants return to be a mentor.

“It speaks to the value of their experience in the program that they want to stay connected and reach back, and help other young people who are traveling down the same path,” said Rantanen.

The Choice is Yours is run in partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Municipal Court, and the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and has recently expanded to Montgomery County.

Download a PDF of this article

Read the article at KYW Newsradio

JEVS Human Services Receives $1.4M in Grant Funding to Ready Job Seekers for In-Demand Careers and Expand Successful Diversion Program

Posted on by Jade Daniels

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHILADELPHIA (March 21, 2022) – JEVS Human Services (JEVS) announced that it received a total of $1.4 million for two Community Projects included in the FY 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, signed into law by President Biden on last week.  Funding for these projects was championed by Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey (PA) and Representative Madeleine Dean (PA-4).

A grant of $1M will support the expansion and enhancement of career and technical education (CTE) programming anchored at its vocational skills center, Orleans Technical College, in Philadelphia. Services will include academic skill-building, job readiness, and credentialed skills programs in the trades, information technology and healthcare.  Programs support diverse job seekers to prepare for and to access in-demand jobs in the Greater Philadelphia region.

$400,000 will fund the full replication of The Choice is Yours (TCY) in Montgomery County, PA. TCY is a criminal justice program aimed at advancing racial equity and reducing over-incarceration in local criminal justice systems. This 13-month diversion program for first-time, nonviolent, felony drug sellers includes wraparound supports for participants and an opportunity to expunge their record upon completion. For 10 years, TCY has operated successfully in Philadelphia. In Montgomery County, the program is operated in partnership with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office.

“Since opening its doors, JEVS Human Services has helped thousands of Pennsylvanians find vocational support and a bridge back to work. Programs that provide job training, skill development, recovery services and vocational rehabilitation have transformed the lives of so many Southeastern Pennsylvanians and contributed to the region’s economy as a whole,” said Senator Casey. “With new funding for Orleans Technical College, JEVS can build on and expand its work and help many more adults learn new skills to succeed in the workforce. JEVS will also be able to grow its The Choice is Yours program into Montgomery County, building on its success in Philadelphia and helping first-time, nonviolent drug offenders get a fresh start in the workforce. I was proud to advocate for this funding with Congresswoman Dean so JEVS can continue its vital work and I will keep fighting to bring home federal dollars to invest in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

Regarding the funding for TCY, Representative Dean says, “Criminal justice reform is long overdue in this country, and we see the results of inequity every day. While we continue to work on systemic change, I am excited to bring the necessary funding to establish The Choice is Yours program in Montgomery County, which offers a second chance and a bright future to their program’s participants.”

“This funding is a significant investment in economic opportunity and equity. Our work to help job seekers prepare for family-sustaining jobs and support young people to get themselves back on track is vital for the individuals we serve, their families and our region,” says Cynthia Figueroa, JEVS’ President and CEO.  “We are tremendously grateful that Senator Casey and Representative Dean prioritized these initiatives and sought federal funding to support our mission.”

Local Women Choose The Trades as Their “Great Resignation” Destination

Posted on by Jade Daniels

ABOVE PHOTO: Orleans Tech student Georgetta “Penny” Wellman (Photo courtesy Orleans Tech)

By Philadelphia Sun Staff

For the past 50 years, Orleans Technical College (Orleans Tech), operated by JEVS Human Services, has educated women in construction.

As the so-called “Great Resignation” continues to unfold and the baby boomer generation retires, the trades are in desperate need of workers, and the interest in Orleans Tech continues to rise. This interest is especially strong with women. During National Women in Construction Week, observed this year from March 6-12, the school celebrated female students.

“For almost 50 years, women have been having success at Orleans Tech,” said Rodney Brutton, Orleans Tech campus president. “They quickly learn that not only do they survive in our classrooms. They thrive. When a student completes one of our 6-month day or 13-month night training programs, they graduate with a skill that they have for life. That skill can be used in countless ways, but most importantly they can be turned into careers that are in high demand.”

Thanks to a rapidly aging construction industry workforce, jobs are plentiful and offer excellent pay that includes starting salaries above the national median wage, the ability to earn six figures, and incredible stability. Once students graduate, Orleans Tech utilizes decades-old relationships with employers around the region to help find jobs for graduates. Many also return for additional education, stacking skills so that they can become entrepreneurs, opening their own businesses.

“More and more, we are seeing students come in looking to change careers after spending a decade or more working in other industries,” Brutton said. “This is especially true of the women who have been enrolling, and they are coming from past backgrounds of all kinds. Whether someone is making a career change in their 30s, 40s or 50s, and even 60s, people can learn a trade at any point in life.”

In addition to career training, Orleans Tech offers support services, scholarships, connections to resources, and more to prepare students for recession-proof careers. To go along with an aging workforce, the United States also has an aging infrastructure in need of repair, and a skilled workforce will continue to be in high demand. By 2031, it is projected that 41% of the construction workforce will have retired, thus opening countless opportunities in the trades.

Georgetta “Penny” Wellman — who graduates from the building maintenance career training program on March 25 — previously received an undergraduate degree in physical therapy but realized that the career was too mundane for her after her externship. Patients would always come in with the same issues. Wellman,34, eventually became a senior secretary in pathology, but when COVID struck, she decided that was enough.

“COVID hit, and I decided I didn’t want to be here,” Wellman said. “However, I didn’t want to go back for more school. We bought our first house in January 2020 and since it needed work, my interest in becoming a carpenter was piqued.”

Real estate investing has always intrigued Wellman, so she officially became a realtor in 2021 and decided that a trade would help her better understand real estate.

“I’ve been sharing my story, and so many people are getting excited about the trades,” Wellman said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are. You can change careers and do something different. I love the idea that I’m learning something that no one can take from me. I can have opportunities, no matter what.”

For more information about Orleans Technical College, visit: https://orleanstech.edu/.

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Read this article at The Philadelphia Sunday Sun

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