NEW ORLEANS—The City of New Orleans hosted the 13th STRIVE New Orleans (STRIVE NOLA) graduation ceremony Tuesday, April 11. 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 prepares the men and women of New Orleans with the tools they need to succeed professionally,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “Too many of our residents, particularly young African American men, are unemployed or underemployed. Thorough the work of STRIVE NOLA and the Network for Economic Opportunity, we are working to ensure that every resident has an opportunity to access the pathway to prosperity.”
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, City reps said. In 2016, the City announced that the African American male non-employment rate dropped from 52 percent to 44 percent.
Deputy Mayor Judy Reese Morse said, “With 13 successful cohorts, we remain committed to investing in disadvantaged jobseekers through STRIVE NOLA. With the commitment of our partners, we are creating real opportunities for the city’s residents.”
STRIVE NOLA prepares and connects local jobseekers, specifically African American males, to career pathways through local anchor institutions, 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 10 New Orleans residents.
“STRIVE NOLA plays a key role in developing solid opportunities for New Orleans’ residents,” said Network for Economic Opportunity Executive Director Ashleigh Gardere. “We are excited to celebrate the hard work and growth of the 13th cohort of STRIVE NOLA and look forward to doing more work to create pathways to prosperity for the people of New Orleans.”
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, reps said.
