STRIVE North Jersey Founding Executive Director Donnell Hill (center) and team at the Newark office.
STRIVE Launches Newest Site in New Jersey
Our newest site, STRIVE North Jersey, has opened its doors in Newark! Founding Executive Director Donnell Hill, a former STRIVE New York instructor, has handpicked a stellar team rooted in the local community to bring the STRIVE impact to the North Jersey region. The inaugural Healthcare & Office Operations cohort has begun and will graduate in January 2026 with their Certified Medical Assistant credentials.
Special thanks to our local partners and funders: The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, Citizens Philanthropic Foundation, Liberty National Foundation, RWJ Barnabas Health, KIND, Program for Parents, LISC New Jersey and Newark Regional Business Partnership.
Contact northjersey@strive.org to connect with the team and learn about recruitment and partnership opportunities.
STRIVE Expands Future Leaders Program to Empower More Young Adults Nationally
STRIVE Future Leaders meet with New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams during a 2024 employment event for young adults seeking opportunity.
Thanks to a new $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the STRIVE Future Leaders program will grow its reach for young adults 18-24 years old who are impacted by the justice system or who left school before graduation due to systemic or personal challenges.
Future Leaders offers no-cost job readiness training, real world career exploration, occupational skills training and certifications, and paid work experiences and mentorship. The program takes a holistic approach, personalizing the journey and providing wraparound services such as transportation, childcare, housing support, mental health and substance abuse counseling and legal aid.
This funding will allow us to continue our Future Leaders programs in New York City, and New Orleans through our affiliate partners at Café Reconcile, while launching a new Future Leaders program in Birmingham in 2026.
“Young adults are starting their careers in one of the most challenging labor markets in a generation, made even more difficult by unequal access to opportunity,” said Monique Baptiste, STRIVE’s Chief Program Officer. “These funds will enable us to help more young people reach their true earning potential and become thriving members of their communities who can fully engage in their local economy.”
STRIVE Launches New Thought Leadership Platform for Workforce Changemakers
STRIVE’s new national thought leadership platform, Powering Progress, launched in October 2025 with a timely conversation on advancing America’s workforce during this uncertain and unprecedented labor market.
Led by STRIVE President & CEO Phil Weinberg, a panel of influential workforce leaders shared their innovative approaches to skills and career training that create opportunities for individuals and resilient businesses, including Brian Aquart (VP of Workforce and Community Education, Northwell Health), Lynette Bell (President, Truist Foundation), Nichol King, ABFP (Executive Director of Community Banking, JPMorgan Chase) and Marc Morial (President & CEO, National Urban League).
Special thanks to Cy Richardson, Senior VP for Programs, National Urban League, for joining the conversation, bringing passionate insight and optimism. Watch the full panel event by clicking the button below.
To learn more about Powering Progress events in 2026, email us at strive@strive.org.
STRIVE Joins with National Partners to Advance Criminal Justice Reform
Thank you to National Reentry Workforce Collaborative (NRWC) for giving STRIVE the opportunity to host a panel at this year's conference, discussing the barriers to employment created by unfair occupational licensing laws: "License to Work: Unlocking Employment for Justice-Impacted Individuals".
Moderator Quiwintre Frye, Executive Director of STRIVE Birmingham, was joined by panelists Morgan Southers, Senior Manager, Policy & Advocacy, Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) and Khalilah "KO" Olokunola, Senior Director, Center for Justice & Economic Advancement (JEF), Jobs for the Future (JFF). The panel and an engaged audience participated in a meaningful dialogue about the urgency of opening doors to opportunity for people ready for a new start, while helping employers fill critical workforce gaps.
Alumni Spotlight:
Shante, STRIVE Birmingham 2024
Shante came to STRIVE when she was feeling stuck in life and needed guidance navigating toward her dreams of a career in healthcare. She had put college on hold while she adjusted to the new challenges that come with parenthood and was working to provide for herself and her family but struggled to find a job that paid a livable wage.
At STRIVE, Shante gained direction, confidence and a career-minded community that believes in her. Through our job-readiness training and wraparound support services, she achieved critical career skills and landed a job that provides the income and stability she needs to care for her family while she continues to pursue her long-term education and career goals.
"STRIVE is in your corner. They're just one phone call away." - Shante, STRIVE Birmingham 2024.
These past few months we've been celebrating a whirlwind of major milestones and program growth across sites!
✔ In New Orleans we celebrated our one-year anniversary and graduated the first cohort of our new logistics pathway, to meet New Orleans’ growing demand for warehousing, distribution and transportation infrastructure.
✔ In New York we celebrated the one-year anniversary of our program expansion to serve Brooklyn with an official office opening reception at BedStuy Restoration Plaza in Brooklyn for local partners and staff.
✔In Birminghamwe celebrated our two-year anniversary, graduated the first cohorts of our Fresh Start reentry program for ages 25+ and revealed our new location in Woodlawn at 5515 First Ave. N, opening late 2025.
✔ In Atlanta, we celebrated our five-year anniversary and announced that we will expand programs to include a new healthcare pathway with the Patient Care Tech credential in January 2026, in partnership with LISC Atlanta.
Thank you to our partners, funders, staff and alumni for the incredible progress we've accomplished together this year, and the momentum we are building toward for an impactful 2026.
Join us on November 18 for the 2025 Gala
The 2025 STRIVE gala will be held on Tuesday, November 18 from 6–9pm at 583 Park Avenue in New York City. This year we will honor astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson for his impactful support of our programs and growth. We will also honor STRIVE Board Member Dr.Antoinette (Tonie) Leatherberry, EdD for her longstanding advocacy of leadership roles among women and people of color.
The STRIVE gala is our biggest fundraiser of the year, generating the crucial resources needed to stay on track with our growth plan to launch a new site each year through 2033, bringing our proven model and impact to more communities nationwide. Click below for tickets or to donate!
STRIVE is a catalyst for economic change and prosperity. We prepare individuals 18+ for careers in high-growth industries such as healthcare, construction and logistics, and our proven model works: 80% of STRIVE students graduate, 76% attain employment and 70% retain employment long-term. We meet people where they are, including those impacted by the justice system, and help them achieve their life and career goals. At STRIVE, there is always a path forward.
Join our team of changemakers and be part of the solution.
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. We take an evidence-based approach to our work, leveraging data to enhance our impact and the return on your investment. Support our continued growth and impact.
