May 2019
STRIVE Newsletter
Dear STRIVE Friends and Partners,

STRIVE is proud to be the nation's leading solution for people who face the biggest obstacles to employment. Our proven model propels motivated students into life-changing careers that define the promise of the American Dream.

I am eager to share with you some ways we are scaling our impact while going deeper with services that lift our graduates even higher—including exploring new cities for STRIVE's unique employment model. Does your community need STRIVE? We want to hear from you.

We are immensely grateful to our partners, donors, and friends for joining us as we provide bright futures through our career pathways program for people like Daniel, whose story you can read below. We're excited about how much more we can accomplish together.

Phil Weinberg
President & CEO | STRIVE
INVESTING IN WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE
In support of the women of STRIVE, we are pleased to announce a generous gift of $500,000 from the CBS Corporation ( read the press release ).

In addition, our 7th Annual Women's Empowerment Luncheon , honoring Judy McElnea of the Jeffrey Group and Lisa Grennon of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, raised over $350,000 for the women of STRIVE.

This increased support allows STRIVE to provide more resources, such as support groups and dynamic trainings, to equip women facing unique challenges at work.
2019 Women's Empowerment Luncheon STRIVE Graduate Speakers, Vanessa (left) and DeAsia (right)
EXPANDING CAREER PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG ADULTS
STRIVE's innovative youth program for young adults ages 18-24, Future Leaders , expanded to four new cities in 2019 after seeing tremendous success since its 2015 launch. Increased f unding from the US Department of Labor brings our program to STRIVE sites in Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Yonkers, while existing sites in Baltimore, Hartford, New Orleans, and New York City continue to support their youth.

STRIVE Future Leaders was developed in response to growing needs of young adults who are struggling to enter the workforce. Designed in collaboration with Youth Development Institute and with support from The Annie E. Casey Foundation , our program trains youth with involvement in the justice system to develop the skills necessary to get not just a job, but a career. Partnerships with MDRC ( read their report on STRIVE here ), Prosperity Now , Penn Foster , and Jobs for the Future as well as support from the Citi Foundation ensure the program's success in cities across our network, serving 389 young adults in 2018.
NATIONAL GROWTH: STRIVE IN NEW COMMUNITIES
With gaps in wealth, opportunity, and income increasing nationally, STRIVE's programs are in more demand than ever.

We are exploring new opportunities for our program across the country, to be operated by STRIVE.

Does your community need STRIVE? Contact connect@strive.org to start a conversation.
STRIVE FEATURED AS INDUSTRY MODEL IN NEW REPORT
The Strada Institute for the Future of Work released a report, "On-ramps to Good Jobs," featuring STRIVE's career pathways program as a model which boosts skills, employability, and earnings for adults without a degree.
CREATING CAREER PATHS FOR RE-ENTRY ADULTS IN FIVE CITIES
With funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, we are proud to have launched STRIVE Fresh Start , a comprehensive adult re-entry career training program. Drawing on the expertise at STRIVE as well as evidence-based interventions, STRIVE Fresh Start ensures that men and women leaving incarceration have the training and support they need to thrive in the workforce. STRIVE is serving 650 students across five cities through this program.

185 of these students trained with STRIVE San Diego , whose participation in the Fresh Start program has allowed them to serve more people, more deeply. One construction employer, Performance Contracting, Inc., was so pleased with our STRIVE San Diego graduates that they requested referrals to fill 70 jobs with our graduates.
DANIEL'S JOURNEY TO SUCCESS: A STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
"I need to get my life together."

Daniel said this when starting at STRIVE. When he was in high school, his life turned upside down, taking him from his comfortable life in Harlem to homelessness. He could only find short-term work to provide for his wife and child, and he was dissatisfied with the path he was on.

When he found STRIVE, something in Daniel changed. As he trained for a career in health and office administration, he saw his talents come alive and began to dream bigger for himself. He even invited his wife to join the program with him.

Daniel and his wife have now both celebrated a year of work at Northwell Health and are looking to advance their careers further. He has become a leader at STRIVE, giving back through the mentoring program and speaking at the May 2019 graduation. Having overcome poverty and homelessness, Daniel is now proud of how he supports his family and is a leader in his community.

You can learn more about our students in our student success blog.
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