The Whole Person Project

Achieving Success by Meeting People Where They Are

What if workforce development wasn’t just about getting people into jobs but about ensuring they thrive once they’re there? What if the supports needed for success—housing stability, childcare, mental health services, and financial coaching—were fully integrated into workforce strategies rather than treated as separate issues? At NOVAworks Launch Lab, we believe that the next evolution of workforce development demands this kind of shift in thinking.

Our Whole Person Project is an experiment, a proving ground to explore how we can better support workers in an economy that is changing faster than ever before. We know traditional workforce programs have done great work in connecting people to jobs, but now is the time to think bigger. What does it take to ensure people don’t just get hired but actually build sustainable, fulfilling careers? Early results from our pilot indicate that this approach is working—participants are staying in jobs longer, reporting increased stability, and feeling more supported in their career paths.

The Next Evolution of Workforce Development

The Gates Foundation’s Mobility Experiences research underscores that economic mobility is not a straight line—it is shaped by key life experiences and access to critical supports.

Similarly, the Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility Framework highlights that housing, health, and financial security play fundamental roles in shaping a person’s ability to stay and advance in the workforce. If we take these insights seriously, what should the workforce system of the future look like?

Source: Urban Institute Upward Mobility Initiative

Reimagining Workforce Development Through a Whole Person Lens

If we allow ourselves to imagine the possibilities, what would a fully supportive workforce system look like? Here are some key ideas that our Whole Person Project is helping to test:

Deeper, More Holistic Assessments: We’ve learned that taking the time to understand a participant’s full context—housing situation, financial stability, personal responsibilities, and long-term goals—at the outset leads to better outcomes. Workforce development can no longer be a one-size-fits-all process.
Meeting People Where They Are—Literally and Figuratively: Instead of expecting people to come to us, we are embedding workforce services where people already go—libraries, airports, Colleges and Universities, and other community spaces. Rather than only funneling individuals into traditional American Job Centers, we are making warm referrals to existing resources while ensuring immediate, tangible support.
Supporting the ‘Small’ but Critical Needs: Economic stability isn’t just about wages. It’s also about having the ability to pay a phone bill, keep the internet on, repair a car, or cover back rent. Under our Whole Person model, we have directly provided support for these essential expenses—things that can make or break a person’s ability to show up for work and stay employed.
Giving People the Time They Need: Traditional workforce programs often operate on a fixed timeline. We’ve learned that true mobility takes as long as it takes. Our model allows people to progress at their own pace, removing the pressure of arbitrary deadlines and instead focusing on real, lasting outcomes.
‘Forever Follow-Up’ Services: Workforce development doesn’t end when someone gets a job. We are committed to long-term, ongoing engagement—checking in, providing continued support, and ensuring that individuals have the stability they need to keep moving forward in their careers. Already, we are seeing participants who were once struggling now helping others navigate their own workforce journeys, reinforcing a cycle of support and success.

What We Are Learning

Our initial work in the Whole Person Project is offering early insights that could inform the broader field:

People Need More Than Just Jobs: In our pilot, job seekers have cited housing stability, childcare, and financial stress as just as significant as job access for workforce success.
Employers See the Value of Holistic Support: Many businesses we’ve engaged with understand that investing in worker well-being directly impacts retention and overall productivity.
A One-Size-Fits-All Model Won’t Work: Job seekers’ needs vary widely, and a more customized, wraparound approach is essential to long-term success.

Where Do We Go From Here?

We see the Whole Person Project not just as a pilot, but as a starting point for a larger conversation. How do we take what we’re learning and push our workforce system to be more responsive to the realities of today’s workers? How do we build a system that truly supports economic mobility, not just employment?

This is where we invite you to join us. Whether you’re an employer, a policymaker, a funder, or someone passionate about building a more equitable workforce system, we want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on these ideas? What’s working in your community? What barriers are preventing these innovations from scaling?

The future of workforce development is still being written, and we believe it’s time to think boldly. Let’s build something that works—not just for today but for the evolving world of work ahead.

(Want to stay engaged? Subscribe to our updates and be part of the conversation at NOVAworks Launch Lab.)

The Whole Person Project

Info

Contact