The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) will hold a unique expo here on Thursday, July 23rd introducing employers to programs aimed at facilitating the integration of people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds into Israel’s work force. Dozens of major private-sector companies –Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Teva, Migdal Insurance, The Fishman Group, the Ashdod Port Authority, WIZO, El Al — are set to take part in the special private-third sector collaboration organized by Tevet, JDC’s employment advancement partnership in Israel, and hosted by Bank Hapoalim. ‘This is a unique opportunity for the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds to come together to help underemployed and disenfranchised segments of Israeli society ,’ said Sigal Shelach, CEO of JDC TEVET and Senior Deputy Director of JDC’s overall Israel operation. ‘By the end of the event, we hope to raise awareness to the myriad ways companies can work with NGOs to improve employment practices, advance individuals from underprivileged backgrounds and offer jobs to people.’Among the innovative initiatives being launched at the expo are: The Apprenticeship Program which offers vocational training to employees through their employer together with classroom study and certification from Israel’s Ministry of the Economy. The Kidum initiative aims to help working poor obtain higher-paying positions and strengthen their family’s socio-economic status through a job-training course.As one of the greatest challenges facing Ethiopian Israelis in the job application process is screening tests — often inherently biased against them — EMET is an initiative studying employee screening practices used by human resources departments and working to develop tools and practices that employers can use to hire more fairly and diversely. And finally, the Mentorship program teams vulnerable Israelis with accomplished professionals with the hope of advancing their careers.In all, six intervention processes will be shared in order to foster best practices and employment advancement within participant companies. JDC’s TEVET employment initiative — formed in partnership with the Government of Israel and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation in 2005 — has helped more than 140,000 chronically unemployed Israelis through services such as job training, skill enhancement, and the securing of employment. About JDCThe American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. JDC works in more than 70 countries and in Israel to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life, and provide immediate relief and long-term development support for victims of natural and man-made disasters. For more information, visit www.JDC.org