My Story: Raquel Hernandez-Gonzalez

By Rhiana Sherwood, Sr. Manager, PR Storytelling & Crisis Communications, Goodwill Industries International

Goodwill is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and recognizing the impact and significant contributions of the Hispanic community as well as their unique cultures and heritage. Your donations and purchases help make stories like Raquel Hernandez-Gonzalez’s possible.

Raquel Hernandez-Gonzalez is focused on navigating the new changes in her life. Having moved from the Dominican Republic, she often faces language barriers, but she is committed to adjusting to her new life in Georgia.

Upon arriving in their new community, Raquel and her husband found a support system through their local church, which provides services dedicated to the local Latino and Hispanic community. It is there that Raquel was connected to career services through Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers (Columbus, GA).

When Raquel visited her local Goodwill Career Center, she was taught how to look for jobs online. She also received interview coaching and learned skills that helped her to ace her interviews. In addition, she was matched with valuable resources within her community to help with healthcare, ESL classes, and GED certification.

After using the resources and services Goodwill provided, Raquel found a permanent, full-time job. She received on-site training that will help her succeed in her employment. She now has the stability she needs to help her provide for her family.

Raquel is thriving in a new culture and is making great progress in improving her English language skills.