STRIVE Director of New Market Expansion, Nirmala Singh and STRIVE Strategy & Growth Project Manager Caela Murphy with STRIVE President & CEO Phil Weinberg in Houston.
STRIVE Houston to Launch in 2027
After extensive engagement with local government, philanthropic, corporate and community leaders, we are thrilled to announce that STRIVE Houston will launch in the spring of 2027 with an initial focus on healthcare careers, drawing from our deep experience partnering with leading hospital systems across the nation as we support the fastest-growing sector in the Greater Houston region.
We are grateful to Houston Endowment and all the local leaders and organizations who have provided insight, guidance and support for the launch of STRIVE Houston, including BridgeYear, Greater Houston Partnership, Houston City College and Memorial Hermann.
As we prepare to launch, we are actively recruiting the local team that will lead STRIVE Houston, grounding our evidence-based model in Houston’s distinct context and opportunities. Please help us find our founding Executive Director by sharing this opportunity with talent leaders in your network.
Partner Spotlight: STRIVE and Ballmer Group Advancing Economic Mobility
We’re proud to announce that STRIVE has received a $4.5 million, three-year investment fromBallmer Group, a committed national partner whose continued support reflects a deep belief in our mission and our impact.
Ballmer Group has been an essential partner in supporting STRIVE’s impact and expansion in recent years, supporting new site launches in Birmingham, New Orleans and New Jersey. This new investment will support STRIVE’s continued impact in current and new communities.
Fair Chance Hiring Programs Expand with Support of Local Partnership & Investment
STRIVE Birmingham Fresh Start and Future Leaders students enjoy hands-on residential construction training thanks to partners with The Link training and resource center.
Committed to supporting fair chance hiring that leads to upward mobility and financial empowerment, we continue to expand our programs and services for returning citizens and justice-impacted young adults across sites.
In July, STRIVE Birmingham graduated its first Future Leaders cohort for justice-impacted young adults 18–24. Future Leaders trains with The Link, alongside Fresh Start (reentry 25+), which launched in Birmingham last year.
We are grateful to all our local and national funders who help fuel our programs for the justice-impacted across our sites and support fair chance hiring, including Ascendium Education Group,Louisiana Justice Fund, Gotham Gives, and The Pinkerton Foundation.
Uriel's Story: How One Future Leader's Journey Took Him Cross-Country
After relocating to North Dakota, Uriel, a 2024 graduate of STRIVE Atlanta, attended Lynne’s Welding Training and now works as a Tank Welder at O'Day Tank & Steel in Fargo.
Uriel, a 2024 Future Leaders graduate, took the skills, mindset and strategies he gained through STRIVE to take a leap of faith and start a new life that allows him to take care of his family while building a career he loves.
STRIVE North Jersey Executive Director Donnell Hill (L) and team with graduates in July.
Congratulations to the latest graduating class of STRIVE North Jersey!
The site's largest cohort to-date, each of the 23 graduates has completed their Certified Medical Assistant training, earned their credentials and are moving confidently into promising careers in healthcare.
STRIVE New Orleans Celebrates Graduates While Honoring a Life and Strengthening Community Partnerships
STRIVE New Orleans proudly celebrated its latest cohort of 27 graduates in July, recognizing 14 individuals who earned their Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) credential and 13 individuals who completed the Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) program.
While the ceremony celebrated perseverance, achievement and new career opportunities, it also served as a heartfelt tribute to a member of the CLA cohort whose life was tragically taken by senseless gun violence.
Community partners included Bright Steps, Training Grounds and Ubuntu Village NOLA were in attendance and available to answer questions, connect families with services and provide valuable resources.
Click below to read the full blog post from STRIVE New Orleans Outreach & Admissions Specialist Danielle Jones.
Partner Spotlight: Career Resources Celebrates 30 Years of Impact
STRIVE President & CEO Phil Weinberg (2nd from right) and STRIVE New York Future Leaders Program Manager Emmanuel Pacheco (3rd from left) at Career Resources' 30th Anniversary.
STRIVE President & CEO Phil Weinberg and STRIVE New York Future Leaders Program Manager Emmanuel Pacheco joined with Career Resources CEO Scott Wilderman and team members to celebrate their 30 years of impact in helping Connecticut residents build good careers. A long-standing affiliate partner of STRIVE, Career Resources offers STRIVE programs to their participants.
Graduate speaker and recipient of the Career Resources Champion Award, Christopher, shared his inspiring story of resilience and the role of STRIVE in his and his family's success:
"STRIVE helped set the tone for how I approach my work and my future."
The Future is Calling – Save the Date!
We'll return to 583 Park Avenue on November 12 for the 2026 STRIVE Gala, where we will proudly honor dedicated partner Assured Guaranty.
Beyond financial support, Assured Guaranty employees engage directly with our students, offering their time and expertise through volunteerism initiatives.
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.
