The Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) program in Boston has been a workforce development organization supporting individuals in achieving financial independence for over 80 years. “We work with individuals from diverse communities to help them find employment and build careers,” said Micah Fleisig, Senior Manager of Disability Services at JVS. "Our employer partnerships have led to a more inclusive workforce by hiring, developing, and retaining productive employees in Massachusetts.”
The Transitions to Work Program, part of the organization’s Disability Services Department and recently funded through the Employment Program for Young Adults with Disabilities, “has become one of Disability Services’ largest and most successful programs, providing support for participants as they are leaving high school and preparing for employment at a critical stage in their career development,” Fleisig explained.
Challenges such as limited work-related experience after leaving school settings and exposure to real-world workplace expectations and professional environments often concern young adults. For participants like Reese Branham-Sanchez, the program serves as a structured support system at a crucial point in their lives.
“The program has really helped me build confidence, especially when it comes to interacting with people in a professional setting, something I’ve struggled with in the past,” said Branham-Sanchez. “Before I started the Transitions to Work program, I really struggled to interact with people. When you’re my age, and you don’t have a job or something to get you out and meet people, it can be really discouraging.”
Fleisig says the lack of opportunities to improve these communication and self-confidence challenges Reese refers to are just some of the issues this program hopes to address. “If people don’t know how to access and sustain a job, they’re already at a disadvantage,” Fleisig mentioned. Limited experience with job searching, networking, interviewing, and navigating transportation systems such as the MBTA or MBTA Ride are other barriers addressed by the program at JVS. In addition, the program works alongside employers who may need additional support to build inclusive workplaces that support long-term, meaningful employment opportunities.
The program addresses these challenges by providing participants with a structured, year-long program into employment. “Thanks to CommCorp funding, we are able to catch young adults who did not have access to Transitions to Work during high school, and provide then with real world, employer-based internships where they can develop the array of skills they need to transition into employment,” said Fleisig. Through the program, participants complete internships that align with real workplace expectations while receiving on-site support from JVS career coaches. The funding supports the staffing needed to create these highly structured, closely supervised training experiences in a safe environment where students can develop their skills without the risk of losing employment," Fleisig mentioned. Employer partners, including CVS Health, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Old Colony YMCA, and Boston Children’s Hospital, offer participants long-term career pathways across industries such as healthcare, customer service, retail, and hospitality. “Every employer we work with has hired our clients,” said Fleisig.
Reese recently completed an internship at Spaulding Rehabilitation Network in Charlestown, where he worked on the cafeteria food services team and gained hands-on experience with the support of a manager and a career coach.
“It has been a huge boost for my confidence, and now I can go chase my dreams because I have a huge steppingstone,” Reese shared about the career journey. “Overall, I’m more confident in my day-to-day life, and I’m excited to start a new role.”
Looking ahead, JVS plans to expand its Transitions to Work opportunities across Greater Boston and Greater Brockton, including growing training pathways in retail and customer service and human services sectors. “We want to continue giving more opportunities to more people,” said Fleisig. Programs like Transitions to Work are critical to reaching more young adults with disabilities and providing them with access to comprehensive workforce services that will continue to strengthen our Massachusetts workforce.