A Call to Think and Act: Empowering Georgia’s Hispanic Population with Disability Services

WHO: Goodwill Industries International and four Georgia-based Goodwill organizations will host a forum for leaders of community-based organizations, disability service providers, educators and faith communities to come together and identify how to help Hispanic people with disabilities find jobs and build their careers. Attendees will identify the resources Hispanic people with disabilities need and pinpoint successful outreach methods and ways to connect this population with career opportunities.
Special speakers include Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez and Goodwill Industries International president and CEO Jim Gibbons.
“Hispanic people with disabilities have a higher unemployment rate than the general population and face unique challenges to finding jobs,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Goodwill believes in everyone’s ability to work and contribute to their communities. We look forward to identifying solutions that will help Hispanic people with disabilities find jobs.”
WHAT: A variety of employment programs exist to support people with disabilities in the United States. However, studies show Hispanic people are not participating in them or experiencing success at the same rates as other groups (see Latinos with Disabilities in the United States, the World Institute on Disability.)
The following will be addressed by participants in the one-day forum:

  • Build awareness of opportunities to equip and empower Hispanic people with disabilities to obtain employment and increase self-sufficiency.
  • Enhance accessibility to disability services for people from the Hispanic community.
  • Engage the Hispanic community in including people with disabilities.

WHEN: Thursday, August 23, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. ­­– 3:30 p.m. Eastern
WHERE: Goodwill of North Georgia’s Cartersville Career Center
929 Joe Frank Harris Parkway SE
Cartersville, GA  30120
VISUALS:  Attendees will listen to speakers during the forum and have opportunities to network during the event.
CONTACT: Charlene Sarmiento
Senior Public Relations Specialist
Goodwill Industries International
Phone: (240) 333-5590 and Mobile: (240) 620-7703
[email protected]