Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Super Nintendo

In August of 1991, with the release of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), kids across the United States squealed with delight as they carefully unpacked that gleaming box to begin their inaugural run of Super Mario World or SimCity. Many parents looked gleefully on, happy to have provided their children with a safe new pastime (then waited for bedtime so they could take the SNES out for a spin themselves!) probably not realizing how much the brand new gaming console would influence their kids’ childhoods. Fast forward to 2016 and at its 25th anniversary, you’ll still find members of the Millennial generation plugging in those old familiar controllers for a nostalgic walk down SNES’s memory lane.

If Voting Were An Olympic Sport, Would America Win?

As our country faces a contentious election, having my nights filled with the Olympics is a welcome distraction. President Obama noted in an interview which aired just prior to the opening ceremony that the Olympics is an event that can unite our country. The event also serves as a way for people to learn about other nations and share in the struggles that are faced by athletes around the world.

Get Ready for the 2016 Olympics

When I hear those first big booms of the Olympic theme song, my heart rate always quickens and I swell with national pride. Every two years when that torch is lit again, I’m reminded of the sense of community that prevails whenever we support one another’s dreams. Today is the day that the 2016 Summer Olympics open in Rio, and because the dream of working hard toward a personal goal is an idea that’s well-known worldwide, I want to celebrate the event with you, too.

What Remains for the 114th Congress?

The major party conventions are behind us and Congress is in recess until after Labor Day. However, when they return, much work still needs to be done, and there will be a push to do so before the lame duck (following the election). Of course members of Congress will need even more time back in the district to campaign closer to the election, thus making the time frame to pass a budget and reauthorize major legislation even shorter – a total of eight weeks to be exact. Learn more about some of the issues that are important to Goodwill and still on the table.

Gilmore Girls Style at Goodwill

With the Gilmore Girls revival expected before the end of this year, I can’t help but head back to Stars Hollow with a little weekend binge watching. Although it originally aired 16 years ago, something about the warmth of small towns, the excitement of academia, and the comfort of steaming mug of coffee just calls me to this heartfelt TV dramedy. If you, too, are a friend of Rory, Lorelai, Sookie, and Luke, then get ready to rekindle your love just in time for the new episodes. Never seen it before? Let me catch you up!

The Democratic National Platform and Goodwill’s Priorities (Part Two)

Last week’s blog highlighted some of the key points of the 2016 GOP National Platform and as the Democrats head out of Philadelphia, take a look at key parts of the 2016 Democratic Platform that pertain to Goodwill’s priorities.

Career and Financial Advice for July 2016

The Goodwill blog’s career and financial advice posts have all moved to GoodProspects, but you can still get great advice on your job search, learn about career fields and connect with virtual career mentors. Here are some recent articles published this month—read each piece, share your thoughts, and join GoodProspects to take advantage of everything at Goodwill’s online career navigation portal!

My Story: Tiarra Barrera

Six years ago, I was a single mother raising two young children while living in a low-income housing community. Determined to support my family, I enrolled in Goodwill’s Certified Nurse Assistant Training Program.

Festival Style with Goodwill

On hot summer days, festival style prevails! That’s because the trend itself was inspired by long days in the sun that necessitated light layers and wide brimmed hats to keep shady and comfortable. Whether you’re actually attending an outdoor concert series this year or just trying to stay cool while looking cool, hop on the boho bandwagon to seamlessly blend summer attire in with summer adventures.

The GOP Platform and Goodwill’s Priorities (Part One)

I watched my first national political convention in 1976. I was in high school at the time, but watching the gavel-to-gavel coverage and listening to speeches and commentary somehow captured my attention. Now it’s 40 years later and with decades of policy and political experience, those speeches come across to me a lot differently, and, for most part, not for the better. Maybe it’s cynicism; maybe it’s knowing that the issues are more complicated than the kind of sound bite, red meat rhetoric solutions you hear at these conventions.

Fixer Upper Style: Farmhouse Chic

The HGTV show Fixer Upper has inspired people across the country to embrace DIY home projects from organizing their own “demo day” to repurposing second-hand goods. I love watching designer Joanna roll her eyes at her husband Chip as they stroll through a thrift shop in search of décor elements to punctuate a recently renovated space. Since she creates such beautifully polished rooms, I often find myself asking “What would Joanna do?” when contemplating a furniture move or bland-looking corner in my own home. The answer that usually pops into mind then is: thrift! If it’s good enough for Chip and Jo, then it’s good enough for me.

Make the Disability Vote Count

This week, a national effort is underway to make the disability vote more influential. The American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD) has designated July 11-15 as National Disability Voter Registration Week. Regardless of one’s political affiliation, people with disabilities play an important role in our democracy and should be able to have as great a voice in the political process as anyone else who exercises their Constitutional right to vote.