JVS Boston

Founded in 1938 during the Great Depression to help Jewish immigrants and refugees enter the American workforce, JVS Boston (Jewish Vocational Service) is today one of the largest and oldest providers of adult education and workforce development services in Greater Boston. The nonsectarian 501(c)(3) organization serves a highly diverse clientele—including immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, and older workers—representing dozens of nations and languages.

JVS Boston’s mission is to empower individuals from diverse communities to find employment and build careers, while partnering with employers to hire, develop, and retain productive workforces. Its programs span ESOL and vocational ESOL, job search assistance, career advancement services, education and skills training, financial education, tax preparation, and specialized support for immigrants, refugees, and people with disabilities. The organization partners with over a thousand area employers to fill vacancies and help their employees advance.

While JVS serves people of all backgrounds, it remains proud of its roots in the Jewish community, with its work continuing to be guided by values of social justice, human dignity, and the value of work drawn from Jewish tradition. JVS has also grown through strategic partnerships and mergers, including with the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE), to expand its capacity to serve Boston’s low-income workers, immigrants, and others facing barriers to economic success.