Category: The Goodwill Blog

While many of you have been focused on turkey this past week, the Goodwill Industries International Government Relations team has focused on duck – lame duck, that is. Lawmakers briefly returned to Washington the week of November 14 before taking a recess for Thanksgiving. Now they are back and trying to wrap up priorities before adjourning. Any bills that don’t pass by the end of this Congress will have to be reintroduced during the new 115th Congress.

READ MORE from Encourage Congress to Protect Funding for Employment Programs

So you’ve decided to apply to a degree or training program—congratulations on making the commitment to improving your long-term career and financial stability! One of the next steps to take after applying for the program is to seek out financial aid opportunities.

READ MORE from Where to Find Financial Aid for School

When it comes to holiday cheer, the people around us will vary from one end of the spectrum (i.e. Buddy the elf) to the other (the Grinch before he discovers the real meaning of Christmas). As we go about our lives at home, at work, and anywhere else our routine takes us between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, we ourselves may even drift between delight from the tinkling of sleigh bells and misery when that one. annoying. song. comes on the radio yet again. So today I wanted to mention three quick tips that will help you get the most out of the upcoming season by enjoying its generous spirit and spreading holiday cheer.

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Having been unable to finish the FY 2017 appropriations before October 1, Congress left town after approving a short-term continuing resolution (CR) through December 9, 2016. Now congressional leaders are seriously considering another CR—through March 2017. If this is how they proceed then the 2017 fiscal year will be half over before federal agencies truly know what their real funding levels will be for rest of the fiscal yearand it will make Congress look like a bunch of turkeys.

READ MORE from Tell Congress Not To Be A Bunch of Turkeys

Checking to see if this populates in web.

READ MORE from Test Social Good Blog

"I relocated to Clarksville, TN a little over a year ago and needed to find work immediately. I had no resume, no high school diploma or GED, no transportation, needed updated computer skills and was unsure what to do or where to turn."

READ MORE from My Story: Gina Moore

When starting a new job, most people expect that they’ll have a bit of a learning curve before getting comfortable and eventually excelling. But the learning doesn’t end there. Growing on the job is part of having a job—the trick is to grow quickly, developing to fit the position and performing its duties as accurately and thoroughly as possible.

READ MORE from Techniques to Grow on the Job

In 2015, President Obama proclaimed the week of November 2 as the first annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW). Between November 14-20, 2016 the U.S. Department of Labor will celebrate the second annual National Apprenticeship Week. NAW offers registered apprenticeship sponsors the opportunity to showcase their programs, facilities, and apprentices, and gives employers, education, industry associations, labor, elected officials and other critical partners the opportunity to highlight how registered apprenticeship meets their needs for a skilled workforce.

READ MORE from Apprenticeship Week Celebrates Opportunities for Workers and Businesses

Each month, the Social Good Blog highlights news and resources on a specific topic. In November, we’re resources on how nonprofits can keep citizens engaged during periods of transition in addition to a few ways that individuals can help.

READ MORE from Good Links for November

I love the utilitarian look of industrial interior design. It seems like peppering my home with sturdy, durable pieces somehow grounds the space so I love to add pipes, cement, and wood accents when I can. For that worn look that adds authenticity to industrial pieces, buying or creating your own décor in this style from second-hand goods is really the best way to go. Don’t you think that one of the best aspects of industrial décor is that everything seems to have a story? Why not start with items that have already lived before you bought them then do some updates to make them your own?

READ MORE from Industrial Interior Design at Goodwill®

Regardless of the outcome, this year's election was hard on our country. There are a number of unknowns concerning what the results at the federal, state, and local levels will mean for the interests of Goodwill®, the charitable sector, and those we serve. What we do know is that there is an abundance of opportunity.

READ MORE from Beyond Election 2016: Opportunities for Advocacy Success

There are a great number of issues that Congress and a new Administration will have to address – issues that affect local Goodwill organizations and the people they serve. Yet, it could be argued that the majority of the three Presidential debates focused on delivering one-liners that were played over and over again by major news networks, rather than focusing on substantive issues.

READ MORE from This Election Year, What Matters Most?