NEW ORLEANS — Mayor Mitch Landrieu hosted the STRIVE New Orleans (STRIVE NOLA) graduation ceremony for Cohort 16 Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Launched in March 2015, STRIVE NOLA seeks to connect disadvantaged jobseekers to employment opportunities by providing workforce case management, job readiness training and supportive services.
“STRIVE New Orleans is a major part of the City’s Economic Opportunity Strategy connecting real people with real opportunities,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu. “I am proud of the work that the Network for Economic Opportunity is doing to create pathways to prosperity for the people of New Orleans, particularly our African American men. STRIVE NOLA is proof of this work in action.”
STRIVE NOLA is in line with 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. This year, the City announced that the African American male non-employment rate is down from 52 percent to 44 percent.
Deputy Mayor for Citywide Initiatives Judy Reese Morse said, “This administration remains committed to the lives of disadvantaged jobseekers through STRIVE NOLA and the Network for Economic Opportunity. Additionally, we are grateful for our partners who remain committed to the work of creating opportunities for the people of New Orleans.”
STRIVE NOLA prepares and connects local jobseekers, specifically 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 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
“STRIVE NOLA plays a major part in creating real opportunities for Cohort 16,” said Ashleigh Gardere, senior advisor for economic opportunity and executive director of the Network for Economic Opportunity. “We are excited to celebrate the success of Cohort 16 and look forward to continuing to do the work of creating 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.
