History and Accomplishments

Click here to see a timeline of our development!

StreetWise Partners was born from the desire of three professionals to find ways to connect low-income, motivated individuals who had few positive role models to opportunities they otherwise would not have. In 1997, Matt Gorin, Rahul Advani and Erica Skala Napach were young financial professionals who witnessed an unmet need in their communities and did something about it. At their corporate firms, they noticed that most people entering roles across the organization often knew someone who could make introductions and help position them for success within the company. Matt, Rahul and Erica were struck by the fact that many low-income individuals working at hourly wage jobs with no benefits were just as motivated to establish meaningful careers as corporate new hires. They realized that these individuals were often hindered by their lack of role models and professional networks to help them move along a desired career path. Using their own networks, Matt, Rahul and Erica launched an innovative job skills training and mentoring model that became StreetWise Partners.
 
In 2005, when two volunteers relocated to Washington, D.C., they expressed an interest and witnessed a need for a Career Ventures program in their new city. Under their leadership, with the guidance of the staff, StreetWise Partners Washington, D.C. was established in 2006. It has since flourished, operating at two locations and serving an average of 50 participants per year.

Several years later, volunteers at a Career Ventures program in New York City communicated their desire to start a program in their own offices in Jersey City, New Jersey. Planning and execution moved forward, and the Jersey City program launched in fall 2008.

Career Ventures now runs twice a year at seven locations in New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. – a total of 14 annual programs.

Our program couldn’t survive without the help of the mentors and volunteers who give their time and talent, the board who give leadership and guidance and the corporations who continue to provide space and materials for StreetWise Partners to run its programs.