History

Established in 1997, StreetWise Partners was born of the desire of three professionals to find ways to connect low-income, motivated individuals who had few positive role models to opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t find.  Rahul Advani, Erica Skala Napach and Matt Gorin were young financial professionals who witnessed an unmet need in their communities and did something about it. At their corporate jobs, those who were entering roles across the organization, both in operations and services, were most often doing so because they knew someone who could connect them with the team. In their neighborhoods, Rahul, Matt and Erica would meet individuals who wanted successful careers, but were often hindered by their lack of role models and networks to help them move forward on their desired path.  Using their own networks, the three organized relationships to help make StreetWise Partners a reality. 

Career Ventures now runs twice a year at seven locations in New York, New Jersey and Washington, DC. Core programming began in NYC, initiated and completely run by volunteers. Organizations generously donated corporate space to house the first group of 22 mentees and 45 volunteers.  In 2005, when two volunteers relocated to Washington, DC, they expressed an interest and witnessed a need for a Career Ventures in their new city. Under their leadership, with the guidance of the staff, StreetWise Partners Washington, DC was established in 2006. It has since flourished, running at two locations and serving an average of 50 participants per year.  Several years later, volunteers at a Career Ventures program in Manhattan communicated their desire to start a program in their own offices in Jersey City. Planning and execution moved forward, and the Jersey City program launched in fall 2008.   Our program couldn’t survive without the help of the mentors who give their time and talent, the board who give leadership and guidance and the corporations who continue to provide space for StreetWise Partners to run its programs.