STRIVE New Orleans Celebrates 27 Graduates While Honoring a Life and Strengthening Community Partnerships

STRIVE New Orleans graduation, July 2026

STRIVE New Orleans proudly celebrated its latest cohort of 27 graduates at the July 2026 graduation ceremony, recognizing 14 individuals who earned their Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) credential and 13 individuals who completed the Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) program.

While the ceremony celebrated perseverance, achievement and new career opportunities, it also served as a heartfelt tribute to Bruce Jones, a member of the CLA cohort whose life was tragically taken by senseless gun violence before he could cross the graduation stage with his classmates.

Bruce's absence was deeply felt throughout the ceremony and reminded everyone in attendance that workforce development is about more than employment. It's about creating hope, opportunity and safer communities.

Many STRIVE graduates describe the program as their safe haven, a place where they feel supported, encouraged and seen. While that is something we are proud of, it also highlights the reality that too many individuals leave our doors each day facing violence, instability and uncertainty.

In Bruce's memory, STRIVE New Orleans reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ending gun violence and ensuring that graduates and community members have access to critical resources beyond the classroom.

Following the graduation ceremony, attendees were invited to connect with several community organizations that provide services focused on violence prevention, family support, housing assistance, workforce readiness, mentorship and community healing. Community partners included Bright Steps, Training Grounds, and Ubuntu Village NOLA, whose representatives were available to answer questions, connect families with services and provide valuable resources. Ubuntu Village NOLA also distributed free gun safes to community members while supplies lasted.

The event reflected STRIVE New Orleans' mission of empowering individuals through workforce development while strengthening the communities they call home. By combining graduation with access to life-changing community resources, STRIVE demonstrated that success is measured not only by careers launched, but by lives supported and communities united.

Every conversation matters. Every resource matters. Every opportunity matters. And gun violence is not prevented by silence. It is prevented when people have support, guidance, safe places, stable housing, positive intervention and real opportunities.

STRIVE New Orleans congratulates all 27 graduates on this significant achievement and remains committed to building pathways to employment, fostering hope, and partnering with organizations that make New Orleans safer and stronger for everyone.

With gratitude and solidarity,

Danielle Jones
STRIVE New Orleans Outreach & Admissions Specialist

About STRIVE

STRIVE is a national workforce development solution for people ready and motivated for a new start. We offer tuition-free skills and job-readiness training, one-on-one support and lifetime personal coaching. We create partnerships with employers that result in pathways to life-changing careers while helping employers close critical gaps in their workforce.