The Power of Partnership

By Laura Walling, Vice President of Government Affairs, Goodwill Industries International, Inc.

Meaningful change rarely happens alone. Progress happens when organizations come together around a shared purpose—and at Goodwill®, we see that every day. Over the past two weeks alone, collaboration has been the center of our advocacy efforts.

Last week, the Goodwill Industries International Government Relations team joined members of the Campaign to Invest in America’s Workforce on Capitol Hill to advocate for continued investments in workforce development programs. Together, coalition partners made the case that workforce training and employment services are critical to expanding opportunity and strengthening the economy.

This week, we returned to the Hill with partners Reju and WM, alongside a local Goodwill representative, to raise awareness about textile circularity and the role nonprofits can play in reducing waste, increasing reuse, and creating economic opportunity. The conversations highlighted how business, nonprofits, and policymakers can work together to build a more sustainable future.

Partnerships extend beyond meeting with lawmakers. Goodwill leaders from across departments attended the JFF Horizons conference, engaging with innovators and employers shaping the future of work. A local Goodwill CEO shared insights on quality jobs—an issue central to our mission of helping people achieve economic mobility.

The spirit of collaboration was also reflected in a recent The Hill opinion piece co-authored by Steve Preston, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, and Shaun Donovan, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Their article highlighted the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and the importance of partnership in turning policy into meaningful results for communities.

Whether advancing workforce development, addressing textile waste, discussing quality jobs, or tackling housing affordability, the lesson is the same: lasting solutions require collaboration. Partnerships create momentum, amplify voices, and help turn ideas into action.

For advocates, that means your voice matters—but it becomes even more powerful when it joins with others. Advocacy is not about who gets the credit. It’s about bringing people together to make a difference. And when we work together, we can accomplish far more than any of us can alone.