It’s graduation season, a rite of passage for students around the country. In my own family, my five year old niece graduated from pre-school, my eighteen year old cousin graduated from high school, and my thirty nine year old brother graduated from his plumbing apprenticeship program. Within the Goodwill® network, hundreds of graduates are exiting the Excel Center, an alternative adult high school started by Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana and now replicated in around the country.
Category: Advocate
The Value of Advocating for our Values
When Reverend Edgar Helms founded what became Goodwill Industries® at the turn of the century, many of the families he served in south Boston were immigrants. For decades, many local Goodwill organizations have supported immigrants as they integrate into their new communities.
Celebrating and Working with Fathers
This Sunday children (both young and old) across the country will pause to celebrate the influence their fathers have or had in their lives. Goodwill Industries International (GII) joins with these kids across the country to recognize the important role fatherhood can have in the lives of a young child and we also recognize the work that organizations nationwide are doing to help struggling fathers gain the job skills and stability they need to support their children and families.
Creating a Culture of Advocacy
What would take for you to have a culture of advocacy in your work place? Do people feel empowered to speak up? Are team members at all levels educated about the impact of public policy? Are your leadership and board members leveraging their relationships to strengthen the organization’s public policy influence – or even making introductions to policymakers? Have you invited your lawmaker and their staff to see your organization and connect with their constituents (you employees, volunteers, supporters, and people served)?
Cautious Optimism Prevails at TANF Conference
I have the honor of attending the Research Evaluation Conference on Self-Sufficiency (#RECS2018) this week – a conference that brings together researchers, policy wonks, practitioners and leaders in human services to present information, data, opinion, debate and geek out on the latest strategies to help propel people out of poverty. We weren’t an hour into the first plenary before sparks began to fly – and lucky for us, this is a group that enjoys the discussion.
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Older Americans Month 2018: Engage at Every Age
For 55 years, Older Americans Month (OAM) has been observed to recognize older Americans and their contributions to our communities. Led by the Administration for Community Living’s Administration on Aging, every May offers opportunity to hear from, support, and celebrate our nation’s elders. This year’s OAM theme, “Engage at Every Age,” emphasizes the importance of being active and involved, no matter where or when you are in life. You are never too old (or too young) to participate in activities that can enrich your physical, mental, and emotion well-being.
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Farm Bill Does Not Pass House of Representatives
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training (E&T) remains as-is for now as a several-day process attempting to pass a new Farm Bill (H.R. 2) finished with a “no” vote from the House of Representatives.
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Lend Your Voice During Goodwill Industries® Week
Goodwill Industries Week is May 6-May 12 and this year we are “Celebrating Our Communities”, highlighting the many ways in which we support, and are supported by, the communities in which we exist. Without them, we could not provide employment, job training and placement, and other community-based programs for people with disabilities, those who need education
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Getting to “Yea” on SNAP E&T in Congress
If you’ve seen the news lately, you might have heard about the Farm Bill currently in Congress. The House Committee on Agriculture passed a proposed bill out of committee and expects a vote sometime in May. Meanwhile on the Senate side, lawmakers are still in discussion about what their proposal will entail. Many in workforce development are paying attention. Why? Because the next Farm Bill may significantly change the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training provisions (SNAP E&T).
Highlights from GII’s Annual Advocacy Event
On Thursday, April 19, more than 100 representatives from local Goodwill® organizations across the United States — including executives, board members, program participants, and other advocates — met with Members of Congress and staff for Goodwill’s annual Advocacy Day. Advocates discussed three key topics including: protecting federal funding for job-training and workforce development programs; expanding the charitable giving deduction to all taxpayers; and opportunities for Goodwills involved in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training program.
Virtual Advocacy Day is Here! #GoodwillOnHill
More than 100 Goodwill Advocates from across the country, including CEOs, staff, board members and program participants, will meet with nearly half of Congress as part of Goodwill’s advocacy efforts. These advocates will be asking Congress to protect funding for workforce development and job training programs, to expand charitable giving incentives, and to reauthorize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. more than 100 Goodwill Advocates from across the country, including CEOs, staff, board members and program participants, will meet with nearly half of Congress as part of Goodwill’s advocacy efforts. These advocates will be asking Congress to protect funding for workforce development and job training programs, to expand charitable giving incentives, and to reauthorize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. Along with their efforts you have the opportunity to add your own voice by being a virtual advocate.
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One Week until #GoodwillOnHill
This time next week Goodwill® Advocates from around the country will visit Capitol Hill and meet with hundreds of lawmakers to advocate for the things important to the Goodwill family and the communities they serve. For over 10 years Goodwill Advocates, including CEOs, staff, board members and program participants, have traveled to Washington D.C. to share their stories and to continue to fight for Goodwill’s efforts to help people find good paying careers.
