Category: Advocate

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.

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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.

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Learn more about the benefits of voting for voters and nonprofits in addition to how Goodwill® has been engaged in this year's election process.

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October 16 and 17 marked World Food Day and the International Day to Eradicate Poverty, respectively. The commemorative events give us a moment this week to reflect on the tools and policies needed to help more Americans get on the path to safe, stable and successful futures with a goal of ending hunger and extreme poverty by 2030. Both instances have decreased in the past five years – but if we intend to meet the eradication goal, we need to pick up the pace.

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Lack of prior work experience can be a huge hindrance for young people seeking employment. Find out how Goodwill® is working to support the #FirstJob Hiring and Recruiting Compact, a new initiative from the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education, so that youth can gain the skills and experiences needed to advance in their own careers.

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Goodwill® recognizes and commemorates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) this October and urges all employers, including the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to hire people with disabilities. As an advocate, you can explore ideas that can be implemented in your workplace and community to raise awareness.

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This week, I am representing Goodwill® at the Assets Learning Conference, a biennial convening of practitioners, researchers, and advocates (that’s me) dedicated to improving the financial well-being of individuals and families. Goodwill, and you, work every day to expand opportunity and reduce poverty, which is why we’re here. So, where are we, and where do we go from here?

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On November 8, voters will decide who fills 5,920 state legislative seats in 93 statewide offices, including 12 governors, 10 attorney generals, and the secretary of state in 8 states. The outcome of every single one of these elections will have an outcome on America’s nonprofits and the people we serve.

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The saying referenced in today’s headline dates back to 1932, though few remember that it originally appeared in a comic book. If you were born that year you would be 84 years old today, and you might still be working according to the latest data. By 2020, it is estimated that workers 55 and over will make up 25 percent of the U.S. civilian labor force, up from 13 percent in 2000.

READ MORE from Tell Congress, That’s No Way to Run a Railroad

This September is Hunger Action Month, and our friends at Feeding America are working to call attention to hunger, which impacts 48 million people – including 15 million children, in the United States. Organizations like Goodwill understand that food security and nutrition are inseparable from education and career success – families, individuals and children who are struggling to meet their nutrition needs are less prepared to succeed at work and at school. Communities across the country are trying to sustain those in need, and a critical resource in that effort is the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a fundamental program for low-income individuals and families, SNAP provides millions with nutrition assistance. However, something has been changing with this critical program.

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Imagine if a neighbor or family member suddenly found himself or herself without a job, and consequently without a home for his or her family. For Tiarra, this was an unfortunate reality. Without employment, she and her children were homeless and were at one point forced to sleep in a car. Now imagine if everyone in your community had access to job training to put them on a career path that provided financial stability and a secure future for themselves and their families.

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When the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program program (TANF) was created, work and family supports were cited as priorities to provide a safety net and promote work, but over the years flaws in the program’s structure have become apparent. As a result of multiple barriers fewer families in poverty are being helped. In 2014, 23 out of every 100 families in poverty received TANF benefits, as opposed to 68 out of 100 in 1996. Currently, fewer than one in five poor children receive help through TANF. In addition, states spend very little – 8 percent -- of TANF funds on work-related activities that necessary for people to succeed.

READ MORE from 20 Years Since Welfare Reform: The Safety Net Needs Repair