Category: The Goodwill Blog

With beach and park season upon us, basking in the sun with a good book is a given. There’s no better time to dive into the world of books and restart a love of reading than the summer, where relaxation suddenly seems that much more possible. Through the magic of second-hand books, you can embark on your summer reading journey in the most affordable way – letting you immerse yourself in captivating stories and travel through the pages, while saving for that weekend getaway you’ve been thinking about.

READ MORE from Diving In: How Second-Hand Summer Reading Inspiration Can Make an Impact

Congress returned to DC following a two-week recess around the 4th of July and there are few legislative days left before they break again for the August recess. Both chambers have long lists of priority legislation that they would like to advance before they depart.

READ MORE from Congress Returns for a Hectic Few Weeks

This blog covers informational interviewing and its benefits. Informational interviewing is a great way to find out the specifics surrounding a particular job. If you are interested in learning more about what this skill is and how to utilize it, keep reading!

READ MORE from Informational Interviewing: what is it and how can you use it?

When Taylor Devenport was young, she says she was a fearful little girl who was afraid of her own shadow. Born two months premature, she faced developmental delays that led to struggles in reading, writing and math. While in high school, she needed extra time to complete class work and was enrolled in special education classes to address her learning challenges. In recognition of how far she’s come from seeking Goodwill services to happily providing assistance to others as a senior job coach, Taylor recently received the Goodwill Industries International 2023 Achiever of the Year award.

READ MORE from My Story: Taylor Devenport

Through grit, determination and tenacity in taking full advantage of professional development opportunities at Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana (Indianapolis), Katie Reigelsperger overcame tremendous obstacles in her path to become an entrepreneur focused on helping others succeed. This June, Katie was recognized for her growth and achievements with the Goodwill Industries International Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year award. The award recognizes an outstanding person with a disability or disadvantaging condition who completed a Goodwill career services program and is competitively employed by a non-Goodwill employer.

READ MORE from My Story: Katie Reigelsperger

Backyard barbeque season is finally here! Kicking off with the Fourth of July, there’s no better way to celebrate summer than hanging out with friends and family with some deliciously grilled food. Whether you’re gearing up for a relaxing day outdoors or are looking to dress to impress for a fireworks show, Goodwill has you covered when it comes to amazing statement pieces for your outfit.

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The House Education and Labor Committee recently held a hearing titled “Competencies Over Degrees: Transitioning to a Skills-Based Economy” that examined how federal policies could help facilitate skills-focused education and hiring. In her opening statement, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) argued for building up alternative pathways for learning and skills attainment, as well as prioritizing skills-based hiring across industry sectors and occupations.

READ MORE from House Committee Examines Skills-based Pathways to Good Jobs

It’s never too late to head back to school. Carla earned her high school diploma and a pharmacy technician certification when she enrolled in the Goodwill Memphis Excel Center. With industry-recognized training programs and dual college credit, adults looking to level up their skills can get their diploma and set their career path back on track just like Carla. Read her story and learn more about our Excel Center at the link below.

READ MORE from My Story: Carla Thomas

In part 2 of our blog series on stackable credentials, we will delve deeper into the world of stackable credentials with an overview of Google’s IT certificate programs. IT stackable credentials have become prevalent as individuals seek to enhance their skills to enter or advance their careers in the industry. Google's four IT certificate programs, IT Support, Cybersecurity, UX Design, and Automation with Python, are fantastic opportunities to stack IT credentials. This blog will provide an overview of these four certificates and best practices for completion. Join us for part 2 of this 3-part blog series as we further explore the stackable credential world and see how they can be essential to new opportunities.

READ MORE from Start or Advance Your Career With Stackable Google Career Certificates: Google IT Certificates – Part II

The summer solstice, or the long-awaited first day of summer, marks a time of warmth, growth, and renewal. As the sun shines brighter and longer, there’s a perfect opportunity to embrace new beginnings in our lives. The arrival of summer can mean so much more than bonus time spent outdoors.

READ MORE from Summer Solstice Brings a Welcome Shift Towards New Beginnings

Goodwill Industries International (GII) representatives joined other stakeholders for a Nonprofit Partnerships Summit at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Officials from the Commerce Department and other federal agencies shared information about their programs, resources, technical assistance, and funding opportunities for nonprofit partners to explore.

READ MORE from Nonprofit Partnerships Summit Highlights New Federal Funding Opportunities

Dakota McLaughlin experienced significant challenges growing up. His mother passed away when he was young, and he was also bullied at school, especially when he came out as gay, which often left him feeling alone. After experiencing domestic violence from a family member, Dakota felt safer leaving home, even though he had nowhere else to go. “I dropped out of school and ended up homeless,” Dakota said. “I fell in with the wrong crowd and started using methamphetamines. My life quickly spiraled out of control.”

READ MORE from My Story: Dakota McLaughlin