As STRIVE enters our growth plan to expand into new locations annually beginning with recently announced New Orleans in 2024, we are excited to share three new roles that will elevate and support STRIVE’s ambitious goal to grow from serving 2,000 people per year to 10,000 by 2033.
MONIQUE BAPTISTE, STRIVE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER
As STRIVE’s inaugural Chief Program Officer (CPO), Ms. Baptiste will lead all aspects of STRIVE’s national workforce programming, including program strategy and design, program support for STRIVE’s national network of sites, performance management and evidence-building. She will guide a rigorous, collaborative approach to program development and implementation as STRIVE continues a fast-paced growth trajectory and work closely with regional Executive Directors to ensure that STRIVE’s programs continue to have high impact at scale while they are evaluated and improved. Monique will be a critical representative for STRIVE with key funders and external partners.
“I’m excited to be joining STRIVE at this pivotal time and am ready to hit the ground running. It’s been my life’s work to move the needle on economic equity by driving intentional, strategic approaches to helping people who have been failed by the system. Opening doors to opportunity is one of the most effective ways to implement change, and I look forward to building upon the phenomenal impact that STRIVE has in every community they enter,” says Monique Baptiste, STRIVE Chief Program Officer
Ms. Baptiste brings over two decades of talent development and global philanthropy expertise that will richly inform STRIVE’s innovation and national growth as an industry-leading workforce agency. Ms. Baptiste comes to STRIVE from JPMorgan Chase where she held key leadership roles in global philanthropy and the development of corporate talent diversity strategies firmwide. She helped launch a $350 million global investment in education and workforce training systems to promote economic opportunity and reduce labor market inequality and launched an award-winning Second Chance hiring initiative for justice-impacted individuals. Prior to her tenure with JPMorgan Chase, Ms. Baptiste served as VP of Programs of the Greater Newark Workforce Funders Collaborative at the Newark Alliance.
“Monique is an extraordinary and inspiring social purpose leader who will contribute incredible insight and vision to STRIVE as we launch into this next stage of national expansion. Her expertise in creating high-performing workforce development and reentry employment initiatives and her ability to partner strategically and effectively in big, impactful ways is a perfect match for STRIVE as we drive toward new levels of innovation, impact and growth,” says Phil Weinberg, STRIVE President & CEO
JONATHAN BONAIUTO, STRIVE VP OF STRATEGY & GROWTH
In this new executive leadership role, Jonathan will be responsible for shaping and executing STRIVE’s strategic direction while ensuring the successful achievement of our mission and goals. He will lead the development and implementation of innovative strategies, partnerships and initiatives to drive impactful change to allow STRIVE to achieve its ambitious growth and expansion goals into new communities. Jonathan will lead the overall strategic planning for STRIVE, establish a sustainable organization-wide project management infrastructure and will build and lead the team responsible for the identification, cultivation and project management of new sites. He will play a key role in implementing the organization’s goal of achieving more sustainable funding focused on the public sector and represent STRIVE in a variety of workforce and reentry coalitions.
Jonathan is an experienced executive dedicated to empowering underinvested communities with innovative, human-centered solutions to mobility. He has a background in strategy, business development and operations across the social enterprise, technology and healthcare industries. Before STRIVE, Jonathan served as VP of Strategy and Business Development at Honest Jobs, facilitating connections between companies and talented individuals with justice involvement barriers. Early in his career Jonathan worked as a strategy consultant in the corporate sector. His career journey spans Fortune 500 corporations, venture-backed startups and leading national nonprofits including The Center for Employment Opportunities and The Fortune Society. After experiencing his own involvement with the criminal justice system, Jonathan has been committed to helping multi barrier justice impacted individuals gain access to quality employment and a second chance.
VAN FREEMAN, STRIVE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC POLICY & INVESTMENT
As Director of Public Policy & Investment, Van will build and lead our short and long-term policy influencing efforts around driving more local, state and federal investment in economic mobility though occupational skills training, supporting both our own programming and our wider mission to increase the proportion of workforce development funding available to those who need it the most. He will play a key role in implementing the organization’s goal of achieving more sustainable funding focused on the public sector. Van will provide expertise and targeted technical assistance to STRIVE leadership and employees on a wide range of topics, with specific emphasis on criminal justice and workforce development policy. He will also assist in building relationships with public officials and their staff in order to educate stakeholders about STRIVE and our evidence-based programs.
Van has a passion for solving problems at the intersection of business and government, particularly in economic opportunity and workforce development. Over two decades Van has been pivotal in elevating minority businesses and refining diverse workforce strategies. Previously the Principal Consultant at QED Solutions, a Government Affairs Consulting firm, Van steered the creation of Government Engagement Strategies for various clients. At Opportunity@Work he served as the Regional Head for the Washington DC vicinity. Early in his career Van was an appointee in the Obama Administration, holding key roles at the Minority Business Development Agency as Senior Advisor and Deputy Director in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of Commerce.
These roles were developed on the heels of major investments from MacKenzie Scott, Ballmer Group and The Justice and Mobility Fund of Blue Meridian Partners, to help drive STRIVE’s ambitious 10-year growth plan.
Read more about Leadership at STRIVE.