Dear STRIVE Friends and Partners,
In the face of extraordinary challenges, the communities at the heart of STRIVE's mission need us now more than ever. STRIVE has mobilized into action, with an unwavering commitment to the success of the people most at risk in this economy, who have motivated us for these past 35 years.
Our STRIVE team, working safely from our homes in cities across the country, has been resilient, creative, positive, and action-oriented. Without the ability to hold in-person classes, hiring events, and career coaching, we have rapidly moved our most vital student services to virtual and remote classes. We are mobilizing a massive effort to connect with our students and alumni, to support them during this time of need by phone, email, text, and video. They are talking to us about the stresses they're facing: jobs ended, reduced hours, delayed job offers, and basic needs unmet, such as childcare and food. STRIVE is helping our community navigate through these many challenges.
We are working closely with our employer partners to understand their changing business conditions and hiring needs. Our solutions-focused team is quickly pivoting to fill immediate positions for employers on the front lines of this pandemic. We recently helped a large New York City hospital system fill critical logistics positions to transport medical supplies across its many hospitals.
Especially during a time of uncertainty, our students tell us they are uplifted to know that STRIVE is here for them, now more than ever. Even in a virtual setting, our students report that STRIVE's trademark spirit of community, connection and support is burning as strongly as ever.
In addition to being a support system for our more than 75,000 alumni, we are also mobilizing to support our team members at our 12 STRIVE sites across the country. By leveraging our national technologies and learning tools, including our iSTRIVE online learning management system, we are able to virtually share best practices and help our team members on the front lines, supporting residents in cities like New York, New Orleans, Baltimore, San Diego, and beyond.
And finally, we're motivated and uplifted by our amazing funders, donors, and government partners, who are showing up for STRIVE in incredible ways, offering support, guidance, and much-needed flexibility to redirect funds to meet the emerging needs of our communities.
Yes, these are extraordinarily challenging times for our team, our alumni, and our partners. Together, we will meet these challenges and overcome them. We teach our students at STRIVE that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. We will emerge from this situation stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Our community is counting on us all, now more than ever.
In partnership and with optimism,
Phil Weinberg
President & CEO | STRIVE