Poverty Reduction: A Tough Row to Hoe for Policymakers
This week, representatives from numerous national human services groups in the United States, including Goodwill, participated in a discussion about a complex challenge that Americans have struggled to address for generations – how do we improve opportunities for people who have economic disadvantages?
While the language we have used over the years has evolved from “poverty reduction and safety nets” to “economic mobility and opportunities,” such conversations inside the Beltway often visit and revisit the following two persistent challenges and implicated federal- level policy recommendations.
1) Programs and resources are fragmented, often overlap, and operate in silos; therefore, policymakers should enact legislation that fosters increased collaboration.
2) Public funding is limited and dwindling for programs that aim to lift people and families out of poverty; therefore, policymakers should protect funding for these programs.
Let’s set the politics aside for a moment to look at Congress from a systemic perspective in order to examine why it enacts laws that perpetuate an underfunded and fragmented poverty-reduction system.
Seven Ways to Sabotage Your Next Job Interview
We’ve covered steps to make your job interview a success, but what about what NOT to do? Avoid these missteps to present yourself in the best possible light to your potential employer.
Cozy Up for Fall with These Goodwill Projects
Autumn is hitting us hard in the Northeast. In typical New England fashion, our weather was sunny and 80 degrees one week, then we were surprised with frost warnings the next. The chill now lingering in the air and the already-colorful leaves are putting me in the mood for hibernation. Someone please tell me I’m not the only one! Let’s all just settle in and ready our homes and ourselves for the cooler days ahead. Of course, that means we’ll have to start with a trip to Goodwill! Here’s what I’ll be looking for.
Goodwill Celebrates the Contributions of Older Workers
National Employ Older Workers Week, held annually the last full week of September, recognizes the vital role of older workers in the workforce. It also showcases the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which provides on-the-job skills training to individuals 55 or older with limited financial resources. Since its inception in 1965, SCSEP has helped more than one million older Americans enter the workforce.Goodwill agencies in 14 states are providing services under the SCSEP program, and last year they helped more than 2,700 seniors put their years of experience and reliability to work in today’s workforce.
Five Steps to Make Your Next Job Interview a Success
It’s an exciting moment. After working on your résumé or application and doing everything perfectly, you get the call—the company wants to have you in for an interview. You have a foot in the door, but how do you go from getting the interview to getting the job? You’ll want to make the best impression that you can; here are just a few suggestions of things that you can do to have a successful interview.
Revitalize the Classroom with School Supplies from Goodwill
By now, educators are noticing voids in their classroom supplies or annoyances regarding the organization of their space, yet the annual budget has probably already been spent or allocated for later purchases. It’s no secret that most teachers end up paying for many (if not most) of their classroom needs out-of-pocket, so costs need to be low. Cue Goodwill!
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Many from Goodwill, including myself, are attending the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) Assets Learning Conference in Washington DC. The timing couldn’t be better, or more ironic. Six years ago this week, the world was hurtled to the brink of an economic precipice it hadn’t seen in nearly 80 years when Lehman Brothers, one of the oldest investment firms on Wall Street, announced it was filing for bankruptcy.
Today, we still face challenges caused by the Great Recession. Too many are still unemployed; many more are working, but earning far less than in 2006 or 2007. And while the stock market has rebounded and stands 2,500 to 3,000 points over its pre- Recession high of 14,100, the middle class has significantly declined.
Three Social Media Sites to Use for Networking and Job Searching
Traditionally, searching for a job meant face-to-face networking, going through classified ads in print publications, and attending job fairs. Today, using social media to network and find job opportunities can give you a big advantage over individuals who are only using print and in-person approaches to landing a job. Each social network has its particular advantages, but there are three sites that deserve special consideration from job seekers.
Goodwill: The Ultimate Collection Resource
If you’re looking to spruce up that one wall of your living room, or to extend a certain decor theme throughout your home in order to tie every room together, displaying a collection can be an easy and effective way of doing that. Creating your own gallery can be as easy as setting up some shelves and showing off your favorite treasures.
Coming Together to Ignite Change
Recently I attended a discussion on citizen activism and coalition building. In order to advance the public policy priorities of Goodwill and the people we serve, I often have to work within coalitions made up of broad interests. I also wanted to learn more about what motivates citizens to become engaged. Little did I know that the conversation would lead me to reflect on not only how the lessons learned can be attributed to my work and the work of Goodwill, but also my own personal experiences.
How to Include Education in Your Career Plan
Putting together a career plan means more than just thinking about what jobs you want to have. It requires you to think about your interests, values, skills and preferences; explore the life, work and learning options available to you; and ensure that your work fits with your personal circumstances. Learn more about how to include education in your career planning efforts in Goodwill’s latest career advice post.
Vintage Goodwill Finds: The Possibilities Are Endless
When it comes to buying vintage at a reasonable price, you can’t do better than Goodwill. Although antique shops and curated secondhand stores may be more obvious places to browse when you’ve got vintage on your mind, their for-profit markups can be disappointing. Goodwill’s mission, on the other hand, is not to make a profit, but to better the local community. That means you will be able to get much more bang for your buck when shopping at Goodwill (and you can feel good about your purchases, too)!