NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans hosted the 12th STRIVE New Orleans (STRIVE NOLA) graduation ceremony yesterday. Launched in March 2015, STRIVE NOLA connects disadvantaged jobseekers to employment opportunities by providing workforce case management, job readiness training and supportive services.
“STRIVE NOLA is focused on connecting the people of New Orleans with the resources they need to win,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “I am proud of the work of the Network for Economic Opportunity and the work it does to ensure that no one is left behind and that every resident of New Orleans, particularly our African American men, is able to benefit from the city’s growth.”
STRIVE NOLA is part of Mayor Landrieu’s Economic Opportunity Strategy—a comprehensive effort to connect disadvantaged jobseekers and businesses to new opportunities by working to ensure that every resident can take part in the city’s economic growth through partnerships with local training providers, social service agencies and community advocates. In 2016, the City announced that the African American male non-employment rate dropped from 52 percent to 44 percent.
Judy Reese Morse, Deputy Mayor for Citywide Initiatives, said, “This administration is committed to investing in our disadvantaged job seekers through STRIVE NOLA. We are grateful for the commitment our partners and their dedication to creating opportunities for the residents of New Orleans.”
STRIVE NOLA prepares and connects local jobseekers, specifically African American males, to career pathways through local anchor institutions, City reps said. During the four-week job readiness training program, participants arrive to work daily dressed professionally from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This cohort includes 19 New Orleans residents.
“STRIVE NOLA plays a major part in creating a solid future for the graduates of Cohort 12,” Ashleigh Gardere, Executive Director of the Network for Economic Opportunity, said. “We look forward to the success of the twelfth cohort of STRIVE NOLA and are excited about continuing to create pathway to prosperity for all New Orleanians.”
