The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA), in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), is pleased to announce the launch of Project EM: Empowering and Employing our Community, a nationwide network providing jobseekers with all the assistance, resources, and tools they need to find work. 

 

The goal of Project EM is to ensure that no matter where someone is on their career path or where they are located geographically, they can get the support they require to get a job–or a better job–free of charge.

 

“The Omicron variant is just the latest obstacle in a two-year trauma that has been enormously disruptive for the nation’s labor force,” said Sarah C. Welch, Vice President of Workforce Development Services at NJHSA, and the coordinator of Project EM.

 

“We created Project EM to help people get the coaching, training, skill building, and support to find good jobs, jobs that pay a living wage and allow them to provide for themselves and their families.”

 

The ups and downs of the pandemic have thrown a curve ball into the jobs market. Many workers remain on the sideline, find themselves severely underemployed, work multiple jobs, or lack access to benefits. Others, who have upskilled during the pandemic, need help breaking into new fields.

 

Through Project EM, job seekers can access interactive workshops, technical skills training, financial literacy sessions, resume writing assistance, and personalized career coaching, as well as job listings. While administered by Jewish organizations, it is open to anyone and everyone.

 

“Creating access to employment services under Jewish communal auspices–and doing so on a national level–helps to ensure that all communities regardless of size or location have the resources needed to support job seekers,” said NJHSA CEO Reuben Rotman.

 

Project EM is administered with services provided by 19 NJHSA member agencies with the support of Jewish Federations, and relies on the partnership and generous funding support of The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies and additional funding partners..

 

“At a time when people are dealing with the pandemic, inflation, and extra child care needs, every bit of support can be a lifeline,” said Jewish Federations CEO Eric Fingerhut. “Project EM will provide that support, and Jewish Federations are proud to be part of that effort.”

 

Project EM’s resources are available at https://www.jewishtogether.org/project-em.

 

To set up an interview with Sarah Welch on Project EM, insight into the challenges facing job seekers, or analysis of the most recent jobs data, please contact Niv Elis at Niv.Elis@JewishFederations.org.

 

The Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA) is an international membership association of more than 150 non-profit human service agencies in the United States, Canada and Israel. Its members provide a full range of human services for the Jewish community and beyond, including healthcare, career, employment and mental health services, as well as programs for youth, families and seniors, Holocaust survivors, immigrants and refugees, a persons with disabilities and caregivers.

 

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) are the backbone of the organized Jewish community in the U.S. and Canada, representing over 300 Jewish communities. They raise and distribute more than $2 billion annually and through planned giving and endowment programs to support Jewish communities domestically and in Israel.