Our Journey to Launch
Earlier this year STRIVE announced plans to expand, bringing its dynamic workforce model to support individuals and families in Atlanta. In a city of so much progress, prosperity and purpose, there remains the daunting reality that for some, economic mobility is out of reach. STRIVE provides effective, strategic and innovative solutions for individuals seeking a change for themselves and their families. We have set a goal to graduate 350 people within the first three years of full operations, offering a pathway toward family-sustaining careers.
Next month, STRIVE Atlanta will open our [virtual] doors, writing a new chapter as the first STRIVE-operated site outside of NYC. This would not be possible without an amazing group of supporters and early investors, including The Annie E. Casey Foundation and countless partners. A special and most heartfelt thank you to our Steering and Advisory Committee for providing such strong leadership, counsel and support over the last 18 months.
Time and time again I have seen the power of collaboration to affect change. I invite you to join me on this journey as we STRIVE to build the Atlanta we all want to see, one where employment and opportunity are inextricably tied.
Best,
Jomal Vailes
Executive Director, STRIVE Atlanta
The Strive Career Path
STRIVE is a workforce development leader that has been successfully providing services to populations facing significant barriers to employment for over 35 years. Our model is a solution that works.
The STRIVE Career Path program uses a five-pillar model that has successfully supported more than 75,000 graduates enter and advance in the workplace, including: Career Coaching | STRIVE START - Job Readiness Training | Occupational Skills Training | Job Placement | Lifetime Supportive Services
In Atlanta, our tuition-free Certified Logistics Technician program offers all the skills and coaching needed to jumpstart a career in the supply chain industry, mastering the basics of Logistics with real world application. Graduates will receive industry-recognized credentials, on-the-job technical training, mentoring from industry veterans and an opportunity for career entry with competitive wages.
Through a special partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia, Chattahoochee Tech and Atlanta Technical College will provide technical instruction and hard skills training for the 2020-2021 Career Path program.
STRIVE Atlanta Receives Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Workforce Grant
“Our region's workforce challenge is not solely about a skills gap; it is more gravely about access, alignment and the intention of a coalition of partners committed to creating a pathway to upward mobility.” -Jomal Vailes, Executive Director STRIVE Atlanta
STRIVE Atlanta joins CobbWorks, Inc., Georgia Building Trades Academy, Inc., Per Scholas (Atlanta), ReImagine ATL, and a collaboration between First Step Staffing and the City of Refuge as a 2020 recipient of the Atlanta CareerRise Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Workforce Grant, providing training scholarships for Atlanta residents.
Together We Go Further!
STRIVE Atlanta is partnering with the Atlanta BeltLine to provide access to quality training and employment for residents along the Southside corridor and other BeltLine neighborhoods. The in-person portion of our fall 2020 Career Path training program will be offered at the Atlanta BeltLine Center, its state of the art headquarters facility at the historic Atlanta Stoveworks on the BeltLine Eastside Trail.
Team Highlight
Bridging the Divide
In August, STRIVE Atlanta received a COVID Relief Fund grant to provide free Chromebooks, hotspots, noise-cancelling headphones and virtual job readiness workshops to a group of Atlanta residents engaging in virtual training, interviewing and employment.
Executive Director Jomal Vailes and Program Director Keren Cadet distributed the new devices to program participants, alumni and residents at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta.
Special thanks to Partnership for Southern Equity, United Way of Greater Atlanta and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
STRIVE Atlanta is pleased to welcome Keren Cadet as Program Director. Keren has over 15 years experience in the nonprofit field, specializing in social services, program management and community engagement. Keren has served the Atlanta community in key roles with several local agencies including The Center for Working Families, Partnership Against Domestic Violence and Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice.
Keren received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Georgia. A frequent presenter and speaker, she has a passion for working with diverse populations including women and girls, low-income communities, and communities of color.