On November 16, 2011, Goodwill will release its new white paper "From Deployment to Employment: Goodwill’s Call to Action on Supporting Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families" at a briefing on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, as Veterans Day approaches, policymakers have been unveiling proposals that aim to support veterans who are struggling to find civilian jobs.
READ MORE from Goodwill®, Policymakers Make Veterans Employment a Priority
Lisa from Ft. Knox, KY, asks "My spouse is in the military. We move around every one to three years, and it is tough getting a job, much less advancing my career. What resources are available to help me?”
READ MORE from Job Resources to Help Military Families Succeed
In what is believed to be the first such project of its kind in the country, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, Habitat Charlotte and Lowe’s Companies, Inc., are collaborating to transform a vacant home in Charlotte's Villa Heights community into a model of energy efficiency.
READ MORE from Goodwill® Goes Green for Affordable Housing in Charlotte
Jerry is a Vietnam with more than 20 years of service in the Marine Corps and Army National Guard. After retiring from service in 1995, he was unable to find work due to physical ailments. The VA suggested he find a training program to get back into a routine, which led him to Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA. There, staff helped create a customized curriculum for Jerry that taught him how to use a computer, the Internet and a digital camera. He now uses these skills in his everyday life and is thankful for the training he received.
Action is needed to prevent Congress from drastically cutting funding for job training programs that support Goodwill’s efforts to help people with employment challenges in your community to find jobs and advance in careers. Send a letter to your members of Congress and ask them to support the Senate version of the FY 2012 spending bill that funds the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
READ MORE from Stand with Goodwill® in Supporting Funding for Job Training Programs
Justin from Irving, TX, asks, "What can I do if I've been unemployed for an extended period of time?"
READ MORE from How to Get a Job If You Have Been Out of Work for a While
Goodwill Industries International is partnering with the Together Foundation to expand the Goodwill Industries® mission and social enterprise model in South Korea, establishing a social welfare model that creates jobs and support for people with disabilities. The plan includes opening up 100 stores, serving 3,000 people with disabilities and creating 1,000 jobs for people with disadvantages over the next five years, specifically within the network of Goodwill affiliates in the cities of Busan, Seoul and Suwon.
READ MORE from Goodwill® to Help People with Disabilities in South Korea Go to Work
After ending her 30-year career in the loss prevention industry due to health issues, Jackie decided to focus her attention on working on her ranch and training racehorses. However, because of her physical limitations, she was having a hard time staying active and independent. Goodwill Industries of Denver's AgrAbility Program helped connect her with the equipment she needed to perform all of the tasks on the farm, including a utility task vehicle and a manure vac, and keep her farm running.
Fresno State University students jump-started their campus-wide donation drive on Monday, October 24, with a flash mob and rally (video below). Working alongside the Goodwill of San Joaquin Valley (Stockton, CA), service learning students from the Craig School of Business teamed up with Fresno State’s University Student Union and the Break the Barriers community organization to support the Donate Movement.
READ MORE from Fresno State Kicks Off Goodwill® Donation Drive with Flash Mob
On Tuesday, October 25, President Obama announced two executive actions that aim to help veterans find jobs. Goodwill® commends efforts to create more jobs for service members, veterans and their families in light of the continuing challenges this population faces in transitioning to the civilian workforce, and plans to release a white paper next month to help stakeholders understand the current employment situation and support systems for this population.
READ MORE from Finding Jobs for Veterans Is a High Priority for White House, Goodwill®
Tara from Albuquerque, NM, asks, "I am stuck trying to write a résumé and worried it won’t stand out with the hundreds of résumés I’m sure the employer is receiving. Do you have any suggestions for how I can make mine stand out?"
READ MORE from Six Strategies to Make Employers Read Your Résumé
Helping people succeed financially means more than helping them find jobs; it means giving them all the tools they need to build financial security and independence once they have a job, including resume-writing assistance, skills assessment, career counseling, access to computer and high-speed internet, and help with interviewing skills and financial counseling. Goodwill prosperity centers are a new model of financial education and assistance that are helping people build a safety net for themselves.
READ MORE from Goodwill® Helps Job Seekers Go Forth and Financially Prosper
