Thrifting from Here to Maternity
There’s a little news to share with all of you this month– there’s a new little thrifter on the way! I have a whole new section of the thrift store to delve into! If there’s one thing you learn from others really quickly when you find out you’re expecting, it’s that you’re going to need a whole lot of stuff for the little one. So my first trip to the thrift store after getting the news, I made a point to start looking early. Off to Goodwill I went, having done some online research first into some items that might eventually need purchasing for me and the little one.
Action or Inaction in Congress Will Impact the Lives of People Goodwill Serves
Congress’s plate of must do legislation is full as we head into the fall. Spending bills, debt limit increases, and resolutions on Syria, are big bites to swallow in the short time between now and the end of the year. A number of other issues, pending decisions in Washington, will have real impact on many […]
Make Goodwill a Shopping Source for Dorm Room Décor
When I first spotted these three items at a Goodwill near my studio, I thought I’d have two projects to share. I was going to paint the lamp base a shiny silver, add the magenta shade and call it a day. Then, when I thought about painting the walnut lamp base, it didn’t seem right; nor did it seem like it would improve the lamp in any way.
After consulting with my next door studio neighbor, who happens to be a talented stylist and designer, we decided on a project that included all three items in a high-impact bedside table arrangement that anyone would be proud to show off.
Building a Skilled Workforce Is Crucial to Economic Recovery
A recent column, “Building America’s Workforce,” appeared in a publication commonly read by Congressional members and staff alike. The author, Thomas Hilliard, a senior fellow in workforce development policy at the Center for an Urban Future, discusses the pressures that obstruct our nation’s job training system from producing a workforce with the skills that businesses need to compete in the global economy. These pressures include the skills gap; a disjointed, multi-piece skills-building system; and underfunding.
Tips for Finding a Job When You've Been Unemployed
Frank from the Greater Cleveland area asks, “I have been out of work for more than six months and have had no luck finding a job. I am not even having any success in getting an interview. What do I need to do to get noticed?”
Tips for Finding a Job When You’ve Been Unemployed
Frank from the Greater Cleveland area asks, “I have been out of work for more than six months and have had no luck finding a job. I am not even having any success in getting an interview. What do I need to do to get noticed?”
Tea Leaves Reveal Significant Obstacles for Job Training Bill
As discussed in last week’s blog, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee recently cleared legislation (S. 1356) that would reauthorize federal investments in the nation’s core job training programs. With the House having passed its Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reauthorization bill on March 15, the HELP Committee’s action sets a new high-water mark in the decade-long effort to pass a reauthorization bill. Yet two significant obstacles remain before final passage.
Senate Panel Advances Job Training Bill
Yesterday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 18-3 to advance bipartisan legislation (S. 1356) to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). WIA was enacted in 1998, and has not since been reauthorized. As a result, the law is long overdue for an update. Goodwill supports the bill as written and is urging the Senate to quickly bring the bill to the Senate floor.
Five TED Talks That Will Change the Way You Work and Think
Caitlyn from Boston, MA, asks, “I like my job, but I do the same things every day, exactly the same way. My colleagues don’t seem particularly interested in how to think or do things differently. I need to get the lead out and get inspired again. Can you help?”
A Bevy of Craft Projects to Complete with Cigar Boxes
Every so often, I find a beautiful cigar box poised patiently on a thrift store shelf. It’s hard to pass up, knowing that these classic boxes have so much potential! I love their unique utility and aesthetic – they work so nicely in any shabby-chic or traditionally styled home. Plus, they cost next to nothing thanks to the low prices.
Senate Committee Vote on WIA Expected Next Week
News of the newest addition to Britain’s royal family has been the most anticipated event since we wondered who shot JR. This week, we learned of yet another much anticipated, if somewhat less newsworthy, event—the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s plan to consider the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act of 2013 (WIA) – S.1356 — next week.
My Story: Donald and Jennifer McGrath
Diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, OCD and a mild intellectual disability, Jennifer McGrath had limited job skills when she was referred to Goodwill. Her father, Donald, shares how she blossomed in the program and. “To see my daughter working at Goodwill has been like a miracle. I didn’t expect that she would be able to come so far, so fast.”