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of how JVS has expanded its man-
date. Within 24 hours after his arrival
in the United States in 1992, Rozen-
blat, who had been a mechanical
engineer in the USSR, was handed a
referral to the JVS by the Hebrew
Immigrant Aid Society.
Rozenblat, his wife Sima, their son
and daughter, their spouses, and a
randchild left the Soviet Union
because of anti-Semitism.
After they arrived in Detroit, JVS'
Galina Sarkisian came into the pic-
ture. Born in Riga, Latvia, she is the
program coordinator for Employee

Services. She works at JVS' main
office in the Rose and Sidney Diem
Building on Southfield Road between
12 and 13 Mile.
"I knew months in advance that
he was coming," said Sarkisian of
Rozenblat. "All employable adults
will be referred to us by the resettle-
ment services. That's because we pro-
vide vocational services on our
premises as a main function."
Rozenblat was put through the
works by Sarkisian at JVS. The job
readiness procedure includes manda-
tory seminars, workshops for clients

designed to develop the tools neces-
sary for job research, and a crash
course in analyzing the job market.
Participants are also taught to self-
assess their skills.
"We teach people the skills they
need for job interviews. Employers
say that we have the best work force
and our people have the best work
ethic," said Sarkisian.
What's the JVS difference? "In
order for us to better understand
what kind of people to send to
employers, I go on field visits to the
employer," said Sarkisian. "I learn

about the business, I learn about the
industry and the techniques they use.
That's why I know what a C&C
machine is and how a conveyor belt
operates.
"I talk to the employer about what
kind of people they are looking for.
Then I come back and gather infor-
mation from JVS team workers, and
prescreen our clients for the compa-
nies."
Sarkisian's job bank includes hun-
dreds of companies. "We are
absolutely very business oriented. We
have a dual mission: working with

6/26
1998

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