STRIVE North Jersey graduates with STRIVE President & CEO Phil Weinberg and STRIVE North Jersey Executive Director Donnell Hill (R) and his team, January 2026
STRIVE Continues National Expansion with First North Jersey Graduation
We kicked off 2026 with an exciting milestone for our growing national footprint and for the North Jersey community and surrounding economy.
Our latest site, STRIVE North Jersey, celebrated the graduation of its inaugural cohort in January. Graduates are prepared to launch careers in healthcare with local employers offering pathways to advancement.
Special thanks to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka for his warm and inspiring keynote remarks, and to Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for her support.
Thank you to our employer partners at Capital Health and CareWell Health for believing in STRIVE alumni!
We are proud and grateful to receive $1 million in funding over two years from Truist Foundation to support our work advancing economic mobility.
This investment strengthens our programs and impact, and expands our support services in Birmingham and Atlanta, by equipping unemployed and underemployed adults and young adults with the training, job placement and career coaching they need to secure lasting employment. Together, we are meeting unmet demand for workforce training while supporting individuals who face the greatest barriers to opportunity.
Thank you to Truist Foundation for recognizing the impact and value of our evidence-based model to lift students, their families and local communities.
STRIVE Deepens Growth and Impact in Birmingham with Major Milestones
The STRIVE Birmingham team, March 2026
In March, STRIVE President & CEO Phil Weinberg spent time with the team in Birmingham, met with local partners and toured progress on the new permanent office and training facility opening this spring.
In just three years, under the leadership of Executive Director Quiwintre Frye, STRIVE Birmingham has successfully launched all three STRIVE programs—Career Path, Fresh Start and Future Leaders—generating a lasting impact and footprint in the region.
As part of our continued growth and impact in Birmingham, we have launched an inaugural Advisory Board to help strengthen our programs and impact locally, supporting our mission with expertise, connections, fundraising and advocacy for public policy.
We proudly welcome Advisory Board members from Jefferson State Community College, Woodlawn United, Truist and Alabama Power Foundation, among others.
Stay tuned for more STRIVE site Advisory Board announcements this year.
STRIVE Awarded Major New York State Grant for Construction Pathways Training
STRIVE New York Construction pathway graduates in East Harlem
The New York State Office of Strategic Workforce Development has awarded STRIVE $2 million to support the continued development of our construction and advanced credentialing programs. STRIVE's funding was among 13 New York State grantees receiving a total of $15 million in workforce projects.
“Developing and building our skilled workforce to meet the demands of high-growth industries has been a priority of Governor Hochul's administration. Through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development, we continue to invest in projects and programs that will further grow the statewide capacity to train more New Yorkers in the jobs of tomorrow,” Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight.
“STRIVE isn’t just an organization I support, it’s part of my story. Having worked here early in my career at the Johnson Houses, I’ve seen firsthand the life-changing impact STRIVE has on our community. This $2 million investment will open doors for East Harlem residents, creating real pathways to good-paying careers in the construction industry. I’m proud to stand with STRIVE as they continue to uplift and empower our neighbors,” Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs.
STRIVE supports trainees with lifetime case management, including career coaching, transportation assistance and stipends distributed both during training and as retention incentives post-placement.
STRIVE Atlanta Launches New Employer-Driven Patient Care Technician Cohort
STRIVE Atlanta students building hands-on clinical skills, 2026
STRIVE Atlanta’s first-ever Patient Care Technician cohort launched in January, with a second cohort kicking off in March. Students complete a three-week soft skills training before transitioning into an eight-week occupational skills training with our local partners.
A special thank you to Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, Inc. for providing training space, and to LISC Atlanta, whose early investment seeded STRIVE Atlanta’s entry into the healthcare sector—making this new career pathway possible for local residents in Clayton County and Atlanta.
STRIVE Atlanta continues to offer Logistics career trainings through our Career Path program, as well as Forklift Operations through Future Leaders, our young adult program for individuals ages 18–24 who have been impacted by the justice system.
STRIVE & MDRC: Building Evidence of Impact in Workforce Development
STRIVE students in the classroom
Over our 40+ year history, STRIVE has demonstrated tangible, real-world impact in creating access to opportunity for individuals who are motivated to pursue gratifying careers and financial mobility. Expanding a program while maintaining quality is a challenge for many sector-focused workforce development organizations.
Through our partnership with MDRC, a leader in public policy and research, STRIVE has accelerated efforts to document quantitative results and outcomes data as we work to advance evidence-based training programs and scale nationally.
Read more about this work in a blog authored by Stolas Mares-Cluff, STRIVE’s Senior National Performance Director, based on MDRC’s Expanding with Insight: STRIVE’s Investments in Data-Informed Practices to Strengthen Programs and Evidence.
STRIVE Provides Career Opportunities for Justice-Impacted Individuals
STRIVE Board Co-Chair and Alum Roy Castro (L) and STRIVE President & CEO Phil Weinberg (R) with STRIVE Fresh Start graduates in East Harlem
During Fair Chance Month, organizations nationwide showcase efforts to remove stigma and open doors for people aiming to rebuild their lives after incarceration or navigating parole or probation.
STRIVE is committed to helping people navigate systemic barriers, including those impacted by the justice system, by providing tuition-free job skills and career readiness training, including certifications and access to good paying jobs and lifechanging careers.
Nearly 50% of STRIVE graduates have been impacted by the justice system.
STRIVE is a national workforce development solution for people ready and motivated for a new start. We offer tuition-free skills and job-readiness training, one-on-one support and lifetime personal coaching. We create partnerships that result in pathways to life-changing careers for people, while helping employers close critical gaps in their workforces.
STRIVE is a smart investment and delivers a tangible impact. Support our continued growth and national expansion.
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