The Door Named NRF Foundation’s 2026 RISE Up Partner of the Year

The Door is honored to be named the National Retail Federation (NRF) Foundation’s 2026 RISE Up Partner of the Year, presented by Old Navy, during the NRF Foundation Honors event. The recognition celebrates The Door’s implementation of the NRF Foundation’s RISE Up curriculum within This Way ONward, our long-standing workforce training program in partnership with Old Navy. 

We were proud to be honored alongside Old Navy, with whom we have partnered for more than 20 years to support thousands of young people taking their first steps into the workforce, and to share a commitment to expanding opportunity in ways that are practical, supportive, and built to last. 

Since 2007, The Door has partnered with Old Navy through This Way ONward. Together, we have supported thousands of young people with retail career training, paired with our signature wraparound support to help them stay engaged and grow. 

This Way ONward has shaped how The Door approaches employer-connected workforce programs. It is employer-informed and outcome-driven, aligning training directly to real workplace expectations. Young people enroll through trusted relationships at The Door, often after connecting with other programs or services, and receive an intensive training in transferable skills, including: 

• Professional communication 

• Resume and interview preparation 

• Time management and workplace norms 

• Technology proficiency 

• Training tailored to Old Navy’s culture and customer service model 

And the support continues. Throughout a young person’s first year of employment, they receive ongoing coaching, mentorship, and check-ins to help them navigate challenges, build confidence, and identify opportunities for advancement. 

What RISE Up added and why it matters 

This year, we embedded the NRF Foundation’s RISE Up Customer Service & Sales curriculum into the This Way ONward model.  

Through a visually engaging, interactive learning experience, young people build industry-relevant skills such as customer service, sales, workplace professionalism, brand standards, and retail operations. Afterwards, they complete the program with the opportunity to earn the NRF Retail Industry Fundamentals Certificate, a nationally recognized credential that can open doors to new and exciting opportunities in retail. 

By combining RISE Up with The Door’s holistic, youth-centered model, we’re ensuring that young people don’t just gain skills; they gain the stability, confidence, and support needed to thrive on the job and beyond. 

One of the most immediate impacts we see from integrating RISE Up and Old Navy–informed training is confidence through preparation.  RISE Up builds concrete, transferable skills, and Old Navy reinforces those skills in a real workplace setting.  

We’re grateful to Monica Davila, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Old Navy, who serves on the NRF Board and has shown meaningful leadership in this space. Over the summer, Monica spoke with one of our young people, Mykael, as part of an all-staff panel about This Way ONward and Old Navy’s commitment to expanding opportunity, an example of what it looks like when employer partners invest not only in hiring, but in listening and learning alongside young people. 

The Door’s role: making opportunity sustainable 

Employment outcomes don’t happen in a vacuum. The young people entering today’s workforce are often navigating housing instability, food insecurity, mental health stress, caregiving responsibilities, and limited professional networks. Talent and motivation are not the issue; access and stability are. 

That is why The Door’s model is essential. For more than 50 years, we’ve been a trusted place for teens and young adults ages 12–24 across New York City to show up as they are and access what they need to thrive. Through our centers in Manhattan and the South Bronx, we provide coordinated support across health care, mental health services, education, workforce development, legal services, and basic needs, all in one connected system. 

What makes our approach different isn’t only the range of services; it’s how they work together. Our teams collaborate across departments so that when a young person comes to us for one reason, we can support the full picture of their life. That integrated approach is what allows workforce pathways to translate into real, lasting outcomes. 

This work is a reminder that the strongest workforce partnerships are built on shared responsibility. The Door provides preparation, stability, and ongoing support. Employers like Old Navy provide real jobs, supportive supervision, and pathways for growth.  

Thank you to the NRF Foundation for recognizing the impact of this work, and to Old Navy for nearly two decades of partnership and for their continued leadership in creating accessible, values-aligned career pathways. 

We were proud to celebrate this achievement alongside an inspiring group of honorees, including Fran Horowitz, e.l.f. Cosmetics, Brooklinen, American Eagle, Walmart, Pacsun, NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship finalists, and top teams in the 2026 NRF Foundation University Challenge. 

Learn more about The Door’s jobs and internship programs here.