The Stride Center

Background

Forty years of automation and overseas competition have driven well-paying, low-skilled manufacturing jobs to the brink of extinction in this country. At the same time, conventional wisdom suggests that the divide between low-skilled and high-skilled jobs is impossible to bridge without a college degree and a strong social network. According to a study conducted by Karen Chapple at the University of California, Berkeley, community-based IT training programs that combine rigorous instruction with a strong job placement network are proving the conventional wisdom wrong. The majority of program graduates interviewed for this study remained in IT three years after graduation, and their average wage gains were almost 60 percent. In other words, with the right training and support, the IT sector provides a path to upward mobility and career transition that doesn't require a college degree.

Mission

The Stride Center's mission is to help low-income men and women in the Bay Area gain economic self-sufficiency by preparing them for well-paying professional careers in information technology. Stride offers beginning- and intermediate-level technology courses, using teaching methods that respond to the unique circumstances of its students. In addition to the technology coursework, Stride gives students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience through internships at ReliaTech, Stride's tech support and computer refurbishing social venture enterprise. At the completion of every course, students have the opportunity to test for an industry-recognized certification (e.g. A+, MCDST, Network+, Linux+). Finally, students receive career skills and life skills training, as well as job placement assistance.

Full Circle Fund Role

Full Circle Fund helped the Stride Center develop a value proposition, a multi-level business partnership matrix, promotional materials, and an outreach strategy for their corporate partnership program. On May 15, 2009 the Stride Center and Full Circle Fund launched the Corporate Partner Program with a breakfast meeting at Hitachi Data Systems in Santa Clara. This successful event was a celebration of the ground-breaking progress made by the Stride Center and its current slate of corporate partners, including Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Chevron, Charles Schwab and others.

Full Circle Fund helped build momentum and public awareness for the ways in which the corporate sector can engage in meaningful and productive partnership with the Stride Center. Together, Full Circle Fund's Project Team and Stride Center helped bridge their power and potential to the benefit of under served neighborhoods, individuals and families around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Impact

During the first four months of engagement with the Stride Center, Full Circle Fund's project team made significant headway. The team drafted a value proposition, and held several strategic brainstorming sessions in planning for the "Stride Center Opportunity Partners Program" launch event, which was a major team milestone. In planning, the team reached out to Full Circle Fund members and existing Stride Center partners. They received amazing insights into the Stride Center's business model, the value it offers to corporate partners, and the qualities that corporations look for in nonprofit partners. The event, held May 15, 2009 and Keynoted by California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, highlighted the Stride Center's phenomenal programs, showcased the incredible public/private partnerships that the organization has built with Hitachi Data Systems, Microsoft, Chevron, and Wells Fargo, and set the stage for the future as the Stride Center works to build essential new alliances in the work force development field that will benefit local communities for years to come.

Additional Resources

Watch the Stride Center Digital Story


View Photos from the Opportunity Partner Program Launch Event

NAME: The Stride Center
LOCATION: San Francisco Bay Area
WEB: Stride Center
GRANT TERM: 2008-2009
TEAM LEAD: Chris Peters