Category: Advocate

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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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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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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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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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).

READ MORE from Getting to “Yea” on SNAP E&T in Congress

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.

READ MORE from Highlights from GII’s Annual Advocacy Event

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.

READ MORE from Virtual Advocacy Day is Here! #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.

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Since April is "Financial Literacy Month", we thought we’d take a break from talking about money in the billions and trillions (as is the norm here in DC) and instead focus on finances in amounts that are more relevant to most of us. One of the goals for our local Goodwill is to help organizations is to help individuals and families reach their full potential through education, skills training and employment. There are significant barriers to education and work for many people and even once they access a local Goodwill service to support, there often lies another hurdle: lack of financial wellness.

READ MORE from Goodwill® Supports Financial Literacy Month

On Thursday April 19, Goodwill Advocates from across the United States will travel to Capitol Hill to advocate for the issues that matter most to local Goodwill organizations. On this day we are calling on all Goodwill Advocates to send messages to Congress, either through a letter or a social media post, about the important Goodwill issues and to support our colleagues advocating in person. In today’s social media driven world virtual advocacy is becoming a powerful tool to communicate with our elected officials. According to the Congressional Management Foundation, 98% of lawmakers view this communication as extremely important and effective.

READ MORE from Join Us for the 2018 Goodwill® Virtual Advocacy Day

Once again, I find myself writing a blog where by the time you read it, the government could be shutdown. Yesterday the federal government was closed for a snow day on the first full day of Spring, and if Congress doesn’t pass the recently released Omnibus bill by midnight on Friday, March 23rd, the government will be closed due to lack of funding…again.

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Every March I put my hopes and dreams (and a little cash), in the hands of college basketball players. My bracket is complete and I’m excited to see which teams make it to the final four. It’s not just March Madness in the sports world, but it’s also March Madness on Capitol Hill. Congress has until March 23rd to pass the fiscal year 2018 (FY18) funding bill to avoid another government shutdown. It’s maddening that we’re six months into FY18 and we still don’t have a federal budget. It is likely that Congress will be able to pass one massive spending bill known as an Omnibus, yet negotiations have been slow due to debate over policy riders.

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