Neighborhood Career School (Launch My Career stipend program)
Neighborhood is a faith-founded career and community development nonprofit in Chesapeake, VA that runs a tuition-free, 6-month 'earn while you learn' job training program. Participants (ages 18-55 with a high school diploma/GED) complete a leadership lab and an industry certification/apprenticeship track while receiving a performance-based stipend paid every two weeks. The program is aimed at low-income Hampton Roads residents seeking to move into living-wage skilled careers (maritime/industrial trades, welding, ship repair).
Workforce development, Earn-while-you-learn stipend, Job training, Faith-based nonprofit, Career certification
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Neighborhood
- City
- Chesapeake
- State / Province
- Virginia
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 757-204-1425
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 30
- Funding type
- Government, Nonprofit, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 4,200 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 700 USD
- Payment frequency
- Biweekly
- How long the program lasts
- 6 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit
- Benefit details
Participants receive a performance-based stipend described on the program's own FAQ as '$350 every two weeks, or UP TO $700/month,' paid by direct deposit every other Friday; a bank account is required to receive payments. In addition to the cash stipend, the program covers a fully-funded certification/apprenticeship (valued at up to $18,500) at no cost to the participant. The seed record's 'Up to $350' figure appears to reflect the per-payment (bi-weekly) amount rather than a program total.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants must be 18-55 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED (Education factor), have stable housing, desire full-time work, and have a minimum of 6 months' sobriety from hard drugs/alcohol. Because the stipend and free training are only available to enrolled participants, recipients must actively use Neighborhood's services - attending weekday classes, checking in weekly with an assigned Career Coach, and attending required biweekly Community Gatherings (the 'Use Org Services' eligibility factor). A felony conviction for a sex offense disqualifies applicants; other felonies are evaluated case-by-case. Two cohorts (~20-30 people each) are enrolled per year, spring and fall.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Maximum age
- 55
- Education level
- High School
Financial
- Banked status
- Banked
Geography
- US states covered
- Virginia
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Chesapeake
Participation
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Leadership Lab (6-week leadership/soft-skills training), Career Lab (funded professional certification or pre-apprenticeship course), Career Coaching, and biweekly Community Gatherings are all required, bundled components of the same program.
Application Process
- How to apply
Complete the free online application (Salesforce application form) at thisisneighborhood.com/launch-my-career; upon submission, applicants complete an admissions phase including a Math & Reading Assessment and schedule a ~20-minute phone 'Career Conversation' interview with an Admissions Specialist. Accepted applicants also complete an in-person Pre-Coaching session with a Career Coach before the cohort begins.
- Selection process
Applicants are screened through the online application, required admissions assessments, and a phone interview with an Admissions Specialist; decisions are typically communicated within two weeks of application submission. Because classes run twice a year (spring and fall) with only 20-30 seats each, applicants may be placed on a waitlist for the next cohort once a class fills.
