14 | JULY 29 • 2021 

A

paid janitorial training 
program for Metro 
Detroiters with dis-
abilities and other barriers to 
employment, operated by JVS 
Human Services, continues to 
provide local businesses with 
specialized cleaning skills essen-
tial during the pandemic. 
 At the same time, lives of 
participants in the eight-week 
program have been changed 
forever, with graduates gaining 
the ability to work part time or 
full time in a variety of facilities 
once the course is completed, 
ranging from hospitals and 
retail outlets to sports arenas, 
offices, apartment buildings and 

government 
buildings. 
To qualify 
for the pro-
gram, participants need to have 
an open case with Michigan 
Rehabilitation Services (MRS) 
or the Veterans Administration 
(VA) to be referred for training 
from these organizations. 
“The feedback we get from 
businesses is how much they 
appreciate the expertise our 
trainees have in commercial 
cleaning, which remains vital 
for everyone’s health and safety,” 
said Danita Love-Carter, man-
ager for Rehabilitation Services 
at JVS Human Services. 

During the 
course, which runs 
five days-a-week 
and is paid at 
minimum wage, 
participants learn 
all the technical 
and interpersonal 
skills to help them 
interact appropri-
ately with people 
as janitors. 
Typically, start-
ing wages for janitorial jobs are 
$10-$15/hour, and while most 
of the jobs are part time and 
do not include benefits, many 
participants will retain their 
disability benefits; and workers 
employed in hospitals are often 
full time and have benefits.
Ken Alexander, 52, of Detroit, 
credits the janitorial training 
program with turning his life 
around. After battling a sub-
stance abuse problem, he was 
“at rock bottom” and needing to 
start over. 

“The program helped me do 
a 360-degree turnaround,” he 
says. “I was learning, and they 
were willing to take a chance 
on me. If I made a mistake, no 
one judged me. It was just so 
supportive.” 
That was in 2007 and, since 
then, Alexander has had promo-
tions, becoming a crew leader, 
and recently earned the title 
of supervisor, Environmental 
Services at JVS Human Services. 
His work has also enabled him 
to look after his family, includ-
ing being able to put his daugh-
ter through school.
Broder & Sasche Real Estate 
uses the service. “The JVS 
Janitorial Services team has 
been a tremendous asset to our 
property management team,” 
said Sarah Turton, property 
manager. 
For information about the 
training or hiring the service, 
contact Danita Love-Carter at 
dlove@jvshumanservices.org. 

OUR COMMUNITY

TOP: YIOP members gather at the synagogue’s ‘welcome back’ 
event. BOTTOM: Members reunite and wait for an ice cream treat.

continued from page 12

he said. “In addition to using the 
grant money for the upcoming 
themed Shabbat programming, 
we were able to use what was left 
over to offset the cost of this event 
to be able to hold it free of charge 
to all members.”
In a statement, OU President 
Moishe Bane stressed the impor-
tance of synagogue life for those 
of all ages. “The COVID-19 pan-
demic reminded us all that the 
shul experience creates a sense of 
community that is irreplicable,” 
he said. “Shul leaders across the 
country are discovering new ways 
to bring back our communities 
stronger than ever; our families, 
our singles, our seniors and our 
youth, and we are thrilled to be 
able to partner with them on this 
endeavor.”
Going one step beyond the 
funding of back to shul programs, 
is how to share these ideas. “The 
purpose of the grant is twofold,” 
Rabbi Posy said. “First, we want-

ed to spur conversations within 
the shul communities around 
the extremely important issue of 
bringing our congregants back to 
shul after such a long time away. 
“Second, we wanted to learn 
about the innovative ideas raised 
in the field and both invest in 
them and share ideas with a 
broader swath of the shuls who 
may benefit.” 
For this, he says a database has 
been created, that he refers to as 
“a launching pad for others.” 
YIOP’s Cohen says she is proud 
that the themed Shabbatot could 
serve as a model for other syn-
agogues. Back home, she looks 
at her own congregation with 
expectation, and says, “By con-
necting davening, dvar Torah and 
Kiddush with an overall theme, 
we believe we will generate excite-
ment and bring together our 
members so we can once again 
enjoy the spiritual closeness we 
had before the pandemic.” 

JVS janitorial 
program train-
ee Vernard
McGouch with 
trainer Charles 
Roberts.

JVS

JVS provides janitorial trainings 
for those with disabilities.

Helping People
Get Work

