In the spirit of Goodwill Industries Week, a time when Goodwill® celebrates the power of work, I’d like to take a break from my usual focus on the week’s pressing issues in order to consider important lessons we can learn from Goodwill’s origins. Just as it did for Progressive Era pioneers like Helms, today's success depends on vision, faith, luck and leadership.
READ MORE from Empowering People to Work Depends on Inspiring Change
Goodwill, Serving the People of Southern Los Angeles County (Long Beach) is now in the seventh year of its Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide training program. Between 2008 and 2012, nearly 900 people have been trained through this program, an 11-week program combining classroom instruction with hands on clinical training. These students in cohorts of 10-20 people receive the clinical training by Long Beach School for Adults instructors with weekly tests. They then attend an employer’s breakfast — set up “speed dating” style — that allows them to meet one-on-one with employers looking to hire.
READ MORE from Health Care Industry Training Enables Path to Self Sufficiency in California
On Spring Break, University of Texas football player Tyres Dickson was in a car accident that left two-thirds of his body paralyzed. He decided he was going to do something positive with his life. His journey brought him to Goodwill where he works as an auto donor coordinator and dispatcher.
After 18 years in prison, J. Jhondi Harrell was looking for work. He connected with Goodwill, where he was treated with respect and kindness. They helped him finish his education and connect him with counseling positions where he was able to give back. He now runs his own nonprofit and transitional housing program helping people with criminal backgrounds re-integrate into society.
Every time I happily enter a Goodwill store, I think, “I should be blogging for Goodwill® so that I can show people how many fabulous home furnishings they can create from all of these goodies!” I guess I hounded them long enough, because now I get to do just that! Through the years, Goodwill has been my main source for supplies of all kinds. Since we’re all thinking about Mother’s Day, I thought I’d show you a piece of rescued and reupholstered furniture that most people would pass up.
READ MORE from This Mother’s Day, Get Creative with a One-of-a-Kind Gift from Goodwill®
Every time I happily enter a Goodwill store, I think, “I should be blogging for Goodwill® so that I can show people how many fabulous home furnishings they can create from all of these goodies!” I guess I hounded them long enough, because now I get to do just that! Through the years, Goodwill has been my main source for supplies of all kinds. Since we’re all thinking about Mother’s Day, I thought I’d show you a piece of rescued and reupholstered furniture that most people would pass up.
READ MORE from This Mother's Day, Get Creative with a One-of-a-Kind Gift from Goodwill®
Jed from Columbus, OH, asks, “So, I registered for the career fair, but saw something that said you were doing Google Hangouts? I’ve never done that before and am a little confused. Can you explain how I do that?”
READ MORE from Join Goodwill® for Job Seeker Google Hangouts
I’m Marisa Lynch and I’m the blogger behind newdressaday.com and author of New Dress A Day: The Ultimate DIY Guide to Creating Fashion Dos from Thrift-Store Don’ts where I turn lots of not-so-hot thrifted and garage sale-d garments into fashion beauties. I’m thrilled to be a part of Goodwill’s blogging community and bring fab fashion finds your way all through the magic of Goodwill and its mission. I owe many thanks to Goodwill for allowing me a place to sift and sort through racks of color-coordinated goodies as well as for being my go-to spot to donate things that I’m just not using anymore.
When Congress failed to avert automatic spending cuts, otherwise known as “sequestration,” in early March, it felt like a non-event for many. While the airwaves were littered with the news and predictions of its impact, for people on Main Street USA, life went on pretty much as usual. This week, however, the airwaves and headlines were full of content about automatic spending cuts, causing air traffic controllers to be furloughed, resulting in flight delays.
READ MORE from Goodwill Urges Policymakers to Protect Job Training Investments
Ryan from Columbus, OH, asks, "I'm really in need of a job and feel like I've exhausted my options. I've looked in the papers, on online job sites and through social media with little luck. Is there anything I'm overlooking? I'm close to giving up."
