As 2020 winds down, we held the Virtual STRIVE Institute for our network to learn, reflect and connect. 115 STRIVE network members from across the country dedicated time to the best practices of workforce development.
For two days of completely virtual panels, discussions, and workshops, all of STRIVE’s 12 sites, including our flagship in New York City, and the new STRIVE Atlanta, came together to share ideas, learn, and build our community. We were joined by our partners MDRC and Thrive NYC, along with special guests Abby Marquand from JPMorgan Chase, Jane Oates from WorkingNation, and Errika Moore from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
A common principle unites all of STRIVE: belief in the power of employment to advance broader equity. We know that our work has far-reaching effects on economic opportunity, social mobility, building strong families, and creating second chances. The panel “Race, Equity, and Workforce Development” speaks to STRIVE’s commitment to Equity for All. In particular, the panel focused on the digital skills gap seen primarily and unfortunately in Black and Brown communities. STRIVE sees the opportunity here to bolster digital skills and help Black and Brown individuals close the gap.
STRIVE is proud to say that our affiliates have been agile and effective during the pandemic. Across all sites, 1000+ students have enrolled in programs, we have contacted 5000+ graduates, and secured 1000+ job placements for our students. Our national network strengthened individual local sites. With guidance, webinars to adapt to technology, iSTRIVE, and Apricot, we came out of the pandemic stronger.
Mindful of the pandemic and the stress that comes from once in a century events, the Institute included a presentation by our partner, ThriveNYC. Mental health professionals explained what trauma and mental illness are, and how we can all process the collective trauma of COVID-19 in a healthy way. They also gave insight into how workplaces can foster better mental health for their workers.
STRIVE has done more than survive 2020. We remained focused on the needs of our students and graduates, providing better service through the strength of our network. STRIVE Institute provides a moment to dive in deeper on important areas, including lessons learned from accomplishing our strategic priorities such as the launch of STRIVE Atlanta, developing a national sectoral strategy, and creating a roadmap to evidence-building with MDRC and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. MDRC hosted a panel during the institute to foster better problem solving across our network. Their Center for Applied Behavioral Science (CABS) offered key insights and split participants into breakout rooms to test these innovative concepts.
We ended the Institute with a Big Picture discussion about the current landscape of workforce development, featuring special guests Abby Marquand from JPMorgan Chase, Jane Oates from WorkingNation, and Errika Moore from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. They discussed the current spotlight shining on racial equity issues:
“Organizations who say they want to give people a chance, really don’t know the people they’re talking about, and you [STRIVE] do,” said Jane Oates.
Errika Moore agreed, asking, “What are now the opportunities that [philanthropists] didn’t want to fund before, that they now have enlightenment and awareness to?”
On the future of workforce, Abby Marquand emphasized the importance of equipping people “with the skills that will make them more nimble in any economy.”
Looking to the future, STRIVE will be focusing on blending in person and virtual learning, continuing to improve and innovate in our programs, creating robust evidence-building, continuing our racial equity work, and continuing to grow.
In his closing remarks, STRIVE CEO Phil Weinberg said it best: “I do believe, particularly in times of crisis, that we’re going to be stronger.” As a community, we are stronger together, and this institute was a celebration of that.
#TogetherWeSTRIVE to celebrate our strength as a network with social media posts. Check out our social media and all the work our affiliates are doing as well!
