Partner with helping-Brands entities and efforts

Proposal for Partnership Between Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA and the local County         Workforce Development Board
helping-Brands – A Community Impact Social Enterprise
Partnership License Agreement
Effective Date: August 1, 2025

Overview

Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA (NhNUSA)
Website: www.nhnusa.org
NhNUSA is a nationally recognized, peer-led job search support and networking organization. Founded in January 2011 by John R. Fugazzie, NhNUSA has helped over 1,200 individuals successfully re-enter the workforce.

The organization hosts weekly meetings designed to support adults in active job search, career advancement, or transition—including the unemployed, underemployed, recent graduates, veterans, small business owners, and those seeking part-time or volunteer work.
NhNUSA meetings are held in local communities and reflect the demographics of the neighborhoods they serve. The model emphasizes peer support, leadership development, and community engagement, and has been proven to accelerate job placement for active participants.

Partnership Opportunity

This license agreement establishes a partnership between Helping-Brands, led by NhNUSA, and the County Workforce Development Board (LWDB) and its local One-Stop Operator.
Goal: Implement the NhNUSA job club model within the local workforce area to enhance existing services, reduce costs, and improve employment outcomes.

The program will supplement current workshops, training cohorts, and boot camps by providing post-training continuity through weekly peer-led support meetings. These meetings foster ongoing motivation, skill development, and networking opportunities for job seekers.

National and Local Impact

NhNUSA has a proven track record of successful partnerships, including:
​

• Federal H-1B Ready to Work Grant (2014–2018) – Recruited over 300 long-term unemployed individuals in NJ through outreach and weekly meetings at community colleges.
• Madrid, Spain – Partnership with a university and foundation using a cohort model with an 85% success rate (85 job placements).
• Women’s Rights Information Center (Englewood, NJ) – Women-focused job search support and mentoring.
• Prince George’s County Workforce Board (Maryland) – Licensed to operate weekly groups through their community partner network.
• Bergen County Workforce Board (Hackensack, NJ) – Licensed to operate meeting groups through their community partner network using the NhNUSA program model.

Emergency Rapid Re-employment Initiatives

• February 2025 – Rapid response for federal workers transitioning to private sector. Created LinkedIn group and resource page:
  Helping Federal Workers
• January 2020 – Emergency effort for supermarket employees who lost jobs. 193 joined group; many landed jobs quickly. Transitioned into ongoing LinkedIn networking group for food industry:
  Food Industry Networking Group
• February 2019 – Assisted Marcal Paper Plant workers after devastating fire.

​Message from CEO Rob Baron:
“Thanks John. I appreciate you helping our associates. They are a great workforce and deserve employment.”
— Rob Baron, CEO, Soundview Paper Company

• March 2018 – LinkedIn and Facebook groups established for Toys R Us employees after mass layoffs.
• July 2017 – Rapid Reemployment Initiative launched for laid-off Bergen Police via Facebook page.

Deliverables

The license agreement includes the following:

• Defined market and population area for NhNUSA program implementation.
• Technical assistance and leadership training by John R. Fugazzie, founder.
• Web-based training sessions for staff and partners.
• Support in building collaborations with local stakeholders.
• Development of customized group materials.
• Membership access to NhNUSA national LinkedIn and Facebook groups.
• Creation of local NhNUSA/Partnership LinkedIn and Facebook groups.
• Dedicated partnership page(s) on NhNUSA website and social media.
• Access to all NhNUSA free online resources.
• Coordination of periodic expert guest speakers (in-person or virtual).
• Customized operations manual for the partnership.

Licensing Fee

One-time License Fee: $4,000
This fee covers materials, programming, professional consulting, and technical assistance.

Conclusion

This partnership represents a powerful opportunity to transform lives through community-driven support and workforce development. By combining NhNUSA’s grassroots approach with LWDB’s institutional resources, we can create a sustainable model for empowering job seekers and building a stronger Country.

​Proposal for Partnership Between Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA and the local County Workforce Development Board
helping-Brands – A Community Impact Social Enterprise
Partnership License Agreement
Effective Date: December 1, 2025

​Overview

Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA (NhNUSA)
Website: www.nhnusa.org

NhNUSA is a nationally recognized, peer-led job search support and networking organization. Since its founding in January 2011 by John R. Fugazzie, NhNUSA has helped over 1,200 individuals successfully re-enter the workforce. The organization hosts weekly meetings designed to support adults in active job search, career advancement, or transition—including the unemployed, underemployed, recent graduates, veterans, small business owners, and those seeking part-time or volunteer work.

NhNUSA meetings are held in local communities and reflect the demographics of the neighborhoods they serve. The model emphasizes peer support, leadership development, and community engagement, and has been proven to accelerate job placement for active participants.

Partnership Opportunity

This license agreement establishes a partnership between helping-Brands, led by NhNUSA, and the County Workforce Development Board and its local One-Stop Operator. The goal is to implement the NhNUSA job club model within the local workforce area to enhance existing services, reduce costs, and improve employment outcomes.

The program will supplement current workshops, training cohorts, and boot camps by providing post-training continuity through weekly peer-led support meetings. These meetings foster ongoing motivation, skill development, and networking opportunities for job seekers.

National and Local Impact

NhNUSA has a proven track record of successful partnerships, including:
​

• Federal H-1B Ready to Work Grant (2014–2018) – Recruited over 300 long-term unemployed individuals in NJ through outreach and weekly meetings at community colleges.
• Madrid, Spain – Partnership with a university and foundation using a cohort model with an 85% success rate (85 job placements).
• Women’s Rights Information Center (Englewood, NJ) – Women-focused job search support and mentoring.
• Prince George’s County Workforce Board (Maryland) – Licensed to operate weekly groups through their community partner network.
• Bergen County Workforce Board (Hackensack, NJ) - Licensed to operate meeting groups through their community partner network using the NhNUSA program model..

NhNUSA also implemented several local emergency rapid re-employment initiatives:

February 2025

This is a focused effort of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA as a rapid response to help federal workers who need to transition to the private sector. Created a LinkedIn group and web page of resources on my community portal to connect volunteers in my network and organizations to help Federal Workers who were suddenly laid off.  https://www.askprofessorjohn.com/helping-federal-workers.html

​January 2020
​
Set up an emergency effort to connect supermarket employees who suddenly lost their jobs. 193 joined group, connected with other chains in my network, many landed jobs quickly. ​ This effort then transitioned into the continuing LinkedIn group as networking group for all of food industry both people needing a new job or career advancement and those looking to hire.
Currently with 279 members.

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12360321

February 2019 
                                                    Marcal Paper Plant  

Fire burned down factory, set up effort to help reconnect them to new employment and connect with state benefits.

Message from CEO  Rob Baron
From: Rob Baron 
To: John R. Fugazzie <[email protected]>
Sent: Sun, Feb 10, 2019 12:28 pm

Thanks John. I appreciate you helping our associates. They are a great workforce and deserve employment. 

Rob
Rob Baron
Chief Executive Officer 
Soundview Paper Company
One Market Street
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407-1401
 
Article  ​ Job fair held for Marcal Paper Mill workers after devastating fire

March 2018

LinkedIn and facebook group established to help the laid off workers find new employment 

Nearly 1,200 Toys R Us Wayne Employees Are Losing Their Jobs
 
July 2017

Rapid Reemployment Initiative Launched   
For Laid-Off Bergen Police
​
facebook page

Deliverables
The license agreement includes the following deliverables:

• Defined market and population area for NhNUSA program implementation.
• Technical assistance and leadership training by John R. Fugazzie founder.
• Web-based training sessions for staff and partners.
• Support in building collaborations with local stakeholders.
• Development of customized group materials.
• Membership access to NhNUSA national LinkedIn and Facebook groups.
• Creation of local NhNUSA/Partnership LinkedIn and Facebook groups.
• Dedicated partnership page(s) on NhNUSA website and social media.
• Access to all of NhNUSA’s free online resources
• Coordination of periodic expert guest speakers (in-person or virtual).
• Customized operations manual for the partnership.

Licensing Fee
One time License Fee: $4,000
This fee covers materials, programming, professional consulting, and technical assistance

​Conclusion
This partnership represents a powerful opportunity to transform lives through community-driven support and workforce development. By combining NhNUSA’s grassroots approach with LWDB’s institutional resources, we can create a sustainable model for empowering long-term welfare recipients and building a stronger County.

Feb. 2025

Jan. 2020

Feb 2019

Mar. 2018

Jul. 2017

2014-2018

Nov. 2014 - Jun. 2019

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