STRIVE Taps Donnell Hill Jr., respected leader in workforce development, as founding Executive Director of STRIVE North Jersey
DATELINE: Newark NJ – June 24, 2025 - STRIVE, a national leader in workforce development solutions, is expanding its services to North Jersey.
After more than a year of exploration and engagement with government, businesses, philanthropic and community leaders in New Jersey on the demand for entry level talent in high-growth business sectors, STRIVE North Jersey is launching with its signature Career Path job skills and training program.
The new site will be led by Donnell Hill Jr., a seasoned expert in workforce development, who returns to STRIVE after leading workforce reentry programming at the Urban League of Essex County and building national and local initiatives that improved employment outcomes and scaled evidence-based training models across multiple cities. From 2014-2019 at STRIVE, Hill served as Career Skills Instructor in New York City, and then as the organization’s National Training Manager, where he supported affiliate programming across the country.
Donnell Hill in class with students at STRIVE New York.
“Donnell is a passionate advocate for STRIVE and our mission,” said Phil Weinberg, STRIVE president and CEO. “He has built a reputation and a track record that distinguished him from a crowded field of talent, with his strong network of public and private partnerships and tireless leadership on behalf of justice-impacted youth and adults and underserved communities. His strong roots in the greater Newark and surrounding areas will be a boon to our ability to deliver first-class programming to the community.”
STRIVE’s Career Path offers on-ramps to careers with opportunities for advancement for individuals who face systemic barriers to employment, including those who are impacted by the justice system. Over time, STRIVE North Jersey will follow the national strategy to provide dedicated programs and support for individuals re-entering the workforce after incarceration, with its Fresh Start program. All students and alumni benefit from STRIVE’s holistic, evidence-based model focusing on growing business sectors where demand is high and customized skills training are critical to prepare graduates for success and day-one-readiness for employer partners.
Donnell Hill and Phil Weinberg with STRIVE New York graduates.
STRIVE North Jersey will start with a career pathway in nonclinical healthcare, to serve the high concentration of healthcare employers in the region. Over time additional career pathways in logistics and construction will be added to broaden the opportunities for people ready for a new start.
STRIVE North Jersey is the national organization’s fifth site, with headquarters in New York, and sites in Birmingham, Atlanta and New Orleans. Through these major hubs, as well as nationwide affiliate partners, STRIVE now has a presence in 15 locations. Since launching in Harlem in 1984, STRIVE has served more than 85,000 people with career readiness and job training programs and lifelong support. STRIVE North Jersey will serve Essex, Union and Hudson counties, specifically Newark and Jersey City. Leading national funders including Blue Meridian Partners and Ballmer group are investing in STRIVE’s growth to meet the national goal of serving 10,000 students annually by 2033.
“I am truly honored to be leading STRIVE’s expansion to North Jersey,” Hill said. “We are grateful to the many local leaders and organizations who have provided invaluable guidance and support for STRIVE, as we bring our proven pathway to life-changing careers and self-empowerment to a community that is close to my heart. Our unique approach to job skills training and holistic support will be critical for those who face societal barriers and seek upward mobility and economic prosperity.”
Donnell Hill with Jamaul Webster (STRIVE Chief Development Officer) and Monique Baptiste (STRIVE Chief Program Officer).
Local New Jersey leaders shared their enthusiasm for this new collaboration with STRIVE.
“There could not be a better time for STRIVE to bring its proven workforce training services and expertise to the northern New Jersey community” said Ferlanda Fox Nixon, Newark Regional Business Partnership. “In today’s challenging environment, it is vital to collaborate with organizations that focus on creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals facing societal barriers to good-paying jobs and sustainable careers. STRIVE’s approach complements the efforts of other workforce development organizations, and together we can make a significant impact in empowering our community.”
Jorge Sam Cruz, Executive Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) New Jersey added:
“As a life-long New Jersey-ite, I am very eager for STRIVE to bring its proven approach to workforce training and development to our neighboring communities. Our area’s growing businesses have a need for job-ready employees, and we know that STRIVE graduates not only bring the right skill sets and work-related proficiencies, but a tireless work ethic to add immediate value for their new employers. We look forward to partnering with STRIVE to lift our New Jersey residents through life-changing career opportunities and upward mobility, while collectively contributing to advancing community-level economic conditions.”
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.