‘More than career development,’ local nonprofit celebrates 60 years in the Peninsula

JobTrain CEO Barrie Hathaway listens to a speech by state Sen. Josh Becker at the nonprofit’s breakfast event on April 30, 2025. Courtesy of Esmeralda Cerrato

JobTrain, a career development nonprofit based in East Palo Alto, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, marking six decades of empowering individuals across the Bay Area through workforce training and support services. Founded in 1965, the organization has grown from a local initiative into a regional force, offering programs that help people—particularly immigrants, low-income residents, and those facing employment barriers—gain the skills and confidence needed to enter or reenter the workforce.

At the helm of JobTrain is President and CEO Barrie Hathaway, a Class of 2008 East Bay Fellow with the LeaderSpring Center. Hathaway brings nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership experience, including his prior role as executive director of The Stride Center, a workforce development nonprofit that prepares low-income adults for professional careers in technology.

Under Hathaway’s leadership, JobTrain has expanded its reach across the Peninsula, opening new career centers and launching initiatives like the “homegrown tomatoes” program, which hires former clients who have completed JobTrain’s training programs. These individuals, such as Christopher Luna—who arrived in the U.S. as a university teacher and journalist and now serves as an employment services specialist—embody the organization’s mission of transforming lives through opportunity and support.

As JobTrain looks to the future, Hathaway envisions continued growth and deeper regional impact, building on the organization's legacy of fostering economic mobility and community resilience.

Learn more about Job Train: https://www.jobtrainworks.org/