STRIVE Wentworth Training Program
Supported Training to Reach Independence Through Vocational Experiences
The STRIVE Wentworth Training program provides vocational opportunities for Boston Public School students, ages 18-22, who receive special education services. This community-based vocational training program leads to internships, externships, employment and postgraduate opportunities in the fields of Facilities Management, Hospitality, Customer Service, Business Management, and Public Works (recycling).
STRIVE's Mission & Goals
Mission
STRIVE's mission is to support the Boston Public Schools' commitment to equity and deepening community partnerships with families and students. STRIVE provides inclusive pre-vocational, vocational, and transitional services to high school students, ages 18-22, with unique physical and learning needs, as they transition from high school to adulthood.
Goals
- Facilitate and support career planning, job placement, and transitional services
- Utilize functional, age-appropriate employment training models
- Facilitate collaboration among students, families, schools, social service agencies
- Foster self-determination through informed goal-directed decision-making
- Assist and motivate students to develop their potential as successful employees
- Align the appropriate adult service agencies before the students exit high school
- Empower students with transferable employ ability skills
STRIVE's History & Who We Serve
STRIVE began as a grant-funded program over 35 years ago where special education teachers provided vocational experiences and transitional services to high school students with significant disabilities. As a result of the program's success, STRIVE currently receives district funding. To this day, STRIVE continues to develop and expand the vocational and transitional opportunities it provides to students.
STRIVE students represent the diversity of backgrounds and neighborhoods in Boston and each student comes with a wide variety of unique learning needs. Many students participate insubstantially separate educational settings or have been identified as at-risk. This may include students who are not diploma-bound, students who have not met graduation requirements, and students who have not passed state required achievement tests after multiple attempts. All of our students need assistance with the transition from high school to their individual post-secondary options.
Career Pathways
The following inclusive pathways are supported by the Wentworth Institute of Technology and take place in multiple locations on the university campus. Under the supervision of a STRIVE a Community Connection Facilitator (Special Education Teacher), and two Community Field Coordinator , students participate in one or more of four areas:
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Emphasizes the recycling skills necessary to collect, sort, prepare materials and navigate 25 buildings across the Wentworth campus.
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Emphasizes custodial skills such as stripping of floors, shampooing furniture, and general detailing of dormitory buildings. Students learn to utilize a variety of maintenance equipment and machinery to perform these tasks.
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Emphasizes laundering skills such as sorting, operating washers and dryers, and folding linens and uniforms.
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Emphasizes the landscaping skills required to perform general grounds maintenance throughout the college campus.
STRIVE Spotlights
STRIVE Training Program
STRIVE's mission is to support the Boston Public Schools' commitment to equity and deepening community partnerships with families and students. STRIVE provides inclusive pre-vocational, vocational, and transitional services to high school students, ages 18-22, with unique physical and learning needs, as they transition from high school to adulthood.
STRIVE Training Program
The students of BPS STRIVE Wentworth Training Program take pride in their work and value the skills they are taught by their supervisors. These students are not only motivated to work hard everyday but motivated to help everyone in the program succeed.
News
Mayor Wu Applauds Wentworth's STRIVE Program for Boston Youth
Empowering Futures: STRIVE Program at 35
Mayor Walsh Sings Praises of Wentworth’s STRIVE Youth Program
Meet the Staff
Brenda Tanon Jackson
Wentworth Training Program Liaison
BPS | Community Connection Facilitator
617-989-4854
btanonjackson@bostonpublicschools.org
Wendy Perez
Go Green Recycling Program Supervisor
BPS | Community Field Coordinator
617-989-4570
wperez@bostonpublicschools.org
Daelon Austin
Facilities Management Program Supervisor
BPS | Community Field Coordinator
617-989-4852
daustin2@bostonpublicschools.org
Donna Hannon
Document Imaging Service Center Supervisor
BPS | Community Field Coordinator
617-989-4852
dhannon@bostonpublicschools.org
STRIVE Job Placements
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View All Job Placements
- Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
- Boston College (Cafeteria)
- Boston Medical Center (Custodian)
- Boston Public Schools (Custodian)
- Boston Teachers Union (Custodian)
- Bunker Hill Community College
- Captain John F. Williams
- Coast Guard Building
- Community Work Services-Boston
- Curry College Essence of Thyme Inc.
- Federal Court Building (Custodian)
- Goodwill Industries
- ICS Inc. @ Home Depot (Plant management & Maintenance)
- Job Corp -Maine (Mechanic Training)
- John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse
- John W. McCormack Post Office and U.S. Courthouse
- Mass Rehab Commission Training Program
- Massport Logan Airport
- New Bridge on the Charles (Culinary)
- Rose Kennedy Greenway (Maintenance & Landscaper)
- Roxbury Technologies (Manufacturing line & Custodian)
- Stop and Shop (Clerk, Deli, Custodian)
- The Godfrey Hotel Boston
- Thomas P. O’Neil Jr. Federal Building
- Tufts Medical Center
- Wegmans Food Market
- Wentworth Institute of Technology
- Work Inc.