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J CC M ACC A B I G A M E S ® & A R T S F E ST ®
Attention Jewish athletes
and artists!
Please join us for informational meetings about the
2017 JCC MACCABI GAMES ® & ARTSFEST ® !
Meetings will be held at the Jewish Community Center
Team Sports
ArtsFest
1-2 p.m. Sunday, December 11, or
6-7 p.m. Thursday, December 15
3-4 p.m. Sunday, December 11, or
8-9 p.m. Thursday, December 15
Individual Sports
Meet the coaches, receive a tryout/
audition schedule and learn about
host locations and other important
information.*
2-3 p.m. Sunday, December 11, or
7-8 p.m. Thursday, December 15
The 2017 JCC Maccabi Games ® will be July 30-August 4 in Birmingham, Al.
The 2017 JCC Maccabi Games ® & ArtsFest ® will be August 6-11 in Miami, Fla.
For more information: 248.432.5480 or j ccmaccabi@jccdet.org
* Parents with a child trying out for more than one sport, and families with more than one
child participating in the JCC Maccabi Games ® & ArtsFest ® need to attend just one meeting.
jccdet.org
Signature :<9=0=69:/07,=,5;
Join us in a community conversation on prostate health, nutrition,
exercise, latest treatments, sexual and mental health issues.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 6pm
Karmanos’ Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center
/PSUIXFTUFSO)JHIXBZt'BSNJOHUPO)JMMT .*
Panel experts:
Dr. Joel Kahn, Cardiologist
Dr. Michael Cher, Urologist
Dr. Jason Hafron, Urologist
Dr. Jordan Maier, Radiation Oncologist
Kathleen Hardy, Social Worker
Julie Booksh, Counselor
Moderated by Dr. Michael Lutz
To RSVP, please visit:
Your
Surviva
l
FREE Guid
e
EVENT!
MIUMensHealthFoundation.org
1.855.66.HELP.MEN
M ICHIGAN I NSTITUTE OF U ROLOGY
JVS job internship program
helps mature workers.
G
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building
Eugene & Marcia Applebaum
Jewish Community Campus
6600 W. Maple Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Refreshments will be served.
Building People Up
Judy Greenwald | Contributing Writer
Jewish Community Center
of Metropolitan Detroit
Brought to you in
partnership with
Gerard Baltrusaitis moderates the weekly New Experiences
Internship Program class.
erard Baltrusaitis has found
Baltrusaitis explained that JVS saw the
his perfect job: assisting
need to address these issues and estab-
mature workers in gaining
lished this program to assist the commu-
skills so they can find employment.
nity’s older workers. Program qualifica-
Baltrusaitis, 57, internship
tions include meeting the age
employment specialist at JVS,
requirement and being consid-
has been with JVS for just
ered long-term under-employed
over a year; and his focus is on
or unemployed. Potential par-
running the New Experiences
ticipants must also meet certain
Internship Program, which
income requirements and have
helps those 50 and older refresh
a clear job target in mind, with
their job skills, learn new ones
a resume designed to match
and get new industry/occupa-
that goal.
tional experience by providing Gerard
The whole idea of the pro-
Baltrusaitis
full-time paid internships to
gram, he said, is to engage these
qualified candidates.
individuals and give them some
“The program has been in existence
traction.
since October 2013,” Baltrusaitis said.
And what does this concept mean?
“JVS received target funding from the
Baltrusaitis is uniquely qualified to
state to address the needs of special
explain, for not only is he well suited
populations, which includes those work- to oversee the internship program and
ers over 50.
espouse its goals, he, too, has experi-
“After 2007, a lot transpired in the
enced the stigma of being without a job.
economy. Changes in the workplace
“I’ve been unemployed six times
created a definite rise in long-term
before. I’ve experienced long-term
unemployment for mature workers. The unemployment. Years ago, I was blessed
numbers now range from 3 to 4 mil-
to be home with my mother, but I was
lion people nationwide in that category,
unemployed for two years. I would sit
and this is a real concern to us in Metro
at home wondering, ‘Why hasn’t any-
Detroit.”
one hired me … but I hadn’t sent out
According to Baltrusaitis, JVS CEO
resumes or done any work. It’s a crazy
Leah Rosenbaum was able to secure this frame of mind, a difficult place to be!”
funding to begin services for older work-
Every day, he noted, it was more of a
ers, not only to assist with career plan-
struggle to get out of the house. “And so
ning, but also to deal with the depression to get traction means just to get out and
that was apparent among this group.
do, not only for the job or the financial
“It was a mental health issue,” he said.
aspects of working, but so one can feel
“People became disengaged from society. needed and productive.
“This age group had never experi-
“I’m a big believer in us being put here
enced anything like this. To have several
on Earth for one reason: to serve others.
jobs within the course of a year — today, When you’re unemployed, that’s like say-
that’s common — but older workers
ing you’re no longer needed in society.
thought: ‘What’s wrong with me? Why
By getting people internships, they’re
can’t I keep my job?’”
able to say, ‘Wow, this employer needs
continued on page 18
16 December 1 • 2016