On Monday, March 19, the City of New Orleans’ JOB1 Business and Career Solutions (JOB1) hosted its first graduation ceremony for participants using the STRIVE CORE Curriculum. This graduation marks the first demonstration of key City partner agencies scaling a shared job readiness curriculum that meets the demand for a quality workforce. 

STRIVE CORE curriculum prepares and connects local job seekers, particularly African-American males, to career pathways through local anchor institutions. During the four-week job readiness training program, participants arrive to work daily dressed professionally from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The STRIVE employment model ensures that every client is not only ready to find a job, but also ready to keep it through five components: CORE Attitudinal and Job Readiness, Skills Training, Workforce Case Management, Job Placement, and Job Retention and Ongoing Follow-up.

“Watching our first cohort of graduates walk across the stage in their caps and gowns was a special moment for us at JOB1,” said Rachelle Defillo, Project Director for the JOB1 Career Center.  “Being able to couple our efforts with other workforce partners to help change the lives of our participants is something that we expect will be a great benefit to them, their families and our community.”

New Orleans is the first city in the country to expand the program to multiple community organizations to develop best standards for citywide workforce development.

“STRIVE is proud to play a role in the pioneering vision of Mayor Mitch Landrieu to create pathways of opportunity for all New Orleanians,” said Phil Weinberg, STRIVE’s President & CEO. “We congratulate these newest STRIVE graduates, and together with our partners at the New Orleans Business Alliance, are excited to support the success of many more graduates in the years ahead across all Opportunity Centers.”

Hosted at the Gallier Hall Ty Tracy Theatre, there were nine graduates. Additionally, the keynote speaker was Carter & McKee Managing Partner and Former City Councilman James Carter.

“Since March 2015, the STRIVE NOLA program has developed great talent in New Orleans,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “It is exciting to see partner agencies adopt this model to help us in our mission to strengthen our local workforce and ensure that every resident can be prepared for real career opportunities.”