Filed under: Career Services | Tags: Community Resource Center, JOTO, Mission, Motivation
Recently while shopping at Target, I couldn’t help but wander to the corner of the store where signs everywhere scream – Back to School! Kids with parents were picking-out new notebooks, pencils, glue sticks, markers, and I couldn’t help but look at the shelves of school supplies and try to justify why I should buy a 64-box of Crayola crayons!
Just as kids are dealing with mixed emotions of a new school year, with new teachers, the occasional new student, and new lessons to learn, I’m getting adjusted to my new life working for Goodwill Industries. With 30 days under my belt, I’m still meeting someone new in the hallway or a training session, learning about a new program that Goodwill offers, and finding files on my computer that I inherited from the former marketing specialist. I’m fortunate to work with great people who are willing to take the time and give me background on a program, before launching into what next steps need to take place.
Years ago, with already a few jobs on my resume, I decided to look at a new job as truly a new opportunity to be embraced. This shift from fear to hope has made all the difference for every job since.
Having spent some time recently in the Career Development office, I listened to Gale Murphy talk about the programs offered through this department. More often than not, she has said that for program participants to be successful much of their learning hinges on their attitude. This sentiment was echoed again by Chuck Hinsley, director for our Jobs On The Outside (JOTO) program, in a recent sit-down I had with him. I sat-in the first day of a class for ex-offenders getting job training. The case workers and Mr. Hinsley stressed to the participants how much attitude will dictate their ability to interview and get a job. As I sat there looking around the room, I wondered how many of them will take this opportunity to make a new, healthier, happier life for themselves?
Leaving Target without the box of 64 crayons, I realized that first day jitters and fear of change happens every day that someone steps foot into one of Goodwill’s Resource Centers. He may be taking those first steps to writing a resume. She may have decided to finally learn basic computer skills. Everyday it’s a person trying to make a better life and each one of them are very fortunate – on the other side of the desk is one of my co-workers who recognize first day anxiety and are willing to share their pens, paper and knowledge.
Every ten years, the government conducts a census of our population. The results will help determine how federal funds are spent in our community on things like roads, parks, and other public services, as well as how our community is represented in the government. As you can see, it was extremely important that during the 2010 everyone was counted. And making sure everyone gets counted takes a lot of work as well as a lot of workers. 
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. It was the first-ever civil rights law for people with disabilities. As Americans, we take pride in our nation’s commitment to equality. As such, we celebrate this landmark civil rights law, which was a collaborative effort of the U.S. government, federal and state agencies, people with and without disabilities, and many others.
On that day 20 years ago, President Bush said, “Let the shameful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling down.” The ADA guaranteed better access to goods, resources and services, such as employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and prohibited employment discrimination. The legislation aimed to ensure equal opportunity, as well as independence, full participation in society and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.
Though individuals with disabilities have made great strides since the ADA was signed into law, Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina believes that more needs to be done to help people with disabilities find jobs and become independent. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, people with disabilities have a more than 14-percent unemployment rate compared to 9.4 percent of people without disabilities. People with disabilities make up approximately 22 percent of the U.S. workforce, compared to nearly 71 percent of people without disabilities.
Goodwill has served people with disabilities in the Triad since 1963. The organization provides the job training and career support people need to find jobs, earn paychecks and take care of themselves and their families. Goodwill helps individuals build their careers so they can feel the pride and independence that comes from a hard day’s work.
People with disabilities shouldn’t be defined by what they can’t do but instead by the skills and talents they bring to the workplace. Contrary to popular belief, many workers’ disabilities go unnoticed in the workplace because those workers need little or no accommodations to perform their jobs.
On this anniversary of the signing of the ADA, Goodwill reminds people that the law was intended to do much more than requiring wheelchair ramps and assistive technology. People with disabilities are making enormous contributions to the community, and Goodwill urges employers to think about how people with disabilities can be an asset to their organizations.
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Article courtesy of Goodwill Industries International.
Filed under: Career Services | Tags: Community Resource Center, Mission, Services
I’m the kind of girl who gets excited for Mondays. I’m also the kind of girl who loves the first days of a new month. Goal setting is one of my favorite things to do, and the beginning of a new week, a new month or even a new season are perfect times to review past accomplishments and prepare a new set of goals.
This might explain why I also adore New Year’s and new fiscal years. I am always filled with a renewed sense of purpose when I review everything I have accomplished, both personally and professionally, during the past year. I also get giddy about planning the new year’s upcoming objectives. Even though I’m about 5 months away from New Year’s, I’m lucky that Goodwill started a new fiscal year on July 1. This essentially means I get to experience the “new year high” twice each year.
So what am I so excited about this year? Besides the fact that we get to sit down as a department and as a company to plan our strategies for the upcoming year, we also get to revel in the wonderful strides we’ve made in serving our community. Last year Goodwill Industries of Central NC served over 9,500 people in our Community Resource Centers. We also helped place over 1,700 people into competitive employment within the Triad. These numbers not only beat our previous year but also exceeded our planned goal for last year. Now that’s fulfilling our purpose. And nothing makes you feel more empowered than knowing that you’re making a difference. Here’s to a successful upcoming year.
Hi! I’m Deanna, the new girl at Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina. As I meet people within Goodwill, I continue to hear the same words – we’re here to get people back to work. And for me, being back to work is pretty important.
As the economy plunged in 2008, my husband called me at work to give me the news we had been expecting – he was getting laid-off effective December 19. The housing market had slowed and the company he worked for was no longer getting sales of lighting fixtures for new home construction. We tightened our belts and fully expected him to find a new job soon, preferably using his degrees in public health.
I kept plugging away at my job working for a PR and advertising agency, until April 1, 2009, when I was called into a managing partner’s office and was told they had to let me go. WHAT ON EARTH WAS I GOING TO DO? As I cried the entire drive home, I truly did not know what was going to happen to us. I’ve had a job since I was 16, sometimes two jobs at a time, and now I was unemployed. UNEMPLOYED!
Fast forward 454 days, four boxes of resume paper, countless hours of online job searching, and here I sit at my new desk at the central office for Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina. (I actually didn’t bring in a single photo my first week out of fear that they were going to change their mind and ask me to leave.)
So as I learn about the organization, I keep thinking about what Otis Robinson, Director of Workforce Development said to me as we talked in his office, “Goodwill is about helping people reach self-sufficiency.” See a job isn’t just about a paycheck and health benefits, it’s about what that paycheck does – pay bills, save for retirement, buy a car, get groceries, see a movie every once in a while. A job can provide self-worth and pride in your own abilities and talents. When I lost my job at the agency, my identity as a person was bruised and my self-esteem was pretty banged-up. I didn’t know if I could take care of myself, and that’s a scary feeling.
As I learn about all the services Goodwill Industries offers, from resume review to career coaching to interview skills, I wish I had known back on April 1, because I would have taken advantage of the free services. I would have met with a Career Counselor to get feedback on what was working and what wasn’t. I would have asked for suggestions on my resume. I would have looked into Excel classes to sharpen my computer skills more. I would have (fill in the blank), so that I would have had fewer sleepless nights worried about my job search.
Job searching is a scary and daunting task, but I would tell anyone to not be afraid to ask for help. On the back of my new business card it states the mission – “Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. promotes the value of work through the provision of work opportunities for people with special employment needs.” For me, the mission of Goodwill is simply to get people in jobs that use their skills and abilities. And as the new marketing specialist, I’m happy to be one of those people!
Filed under: Retail and Donations | Tags: Donations, Job Training, Mission
I’ve gotten lazy since I moved to Greensboro. On the few mornings that I wake up with ice on my windshield, I don’t actually scrape it, I crank up the defroster and the volume on NPR. I was doing just that this morning while I listened to some altruism experts (yes, that’s a real thing) debating the value of charitable giving.
If you receive recognition, get a tax benefit or make a business deal as a result of your good deed, is it really a good deed? This issue isn’t limited to the altruism experts — I’ve heard the debate at middle school lunch tables, on TV shows like Friends and around the Christmas tree. If you get to borrow my car because you scraped the windshield, do I still love you for saving me from the morning chill? Yes. It’s good for me, it’s good for you. Scrape away.
People in the community need your help. Goodwill helps people develop the skills they need to find and keep and good jobs. When you donate clothes to Goodwill, you help someone find a job. You also get a tax break. So what? Without your donation, Goodwill couldn’t provide career development services to more than 8,000 people every year.
If you want to hear what the real experts have to say, listen to the story on NPR.
Selfish Giving: Does it count if you get in return?
Last year Goodwill launched a new community program targeted at providing ex-offenders with skills training, job search assistance and other services. On Tuesday, December 8 the Jobs on the Outside (JOTO) program celebrated their one year anniversary by hosting an open house.
During the open house Charles Hinsley, JOTO program manager, shared some of highlights from the year. While the fact that the program has served over 750 participants in the past year is impressive, one of the greatest accomplishments is that JOTO has assisted 57 participants in receiving employment.
A few of those program participants were on hand to share their stories with the crowd. One participant talked about his transition from receiving employment to then starting his own business. An audience member spoke about how JOTO had instilled a new sense of self confidence in her sister, a program participant. There was even a man who asked to share a poem he had written discussing his journey of self discovery after taking the JOTO Career Development class.
The staff at the JOTO office put together an event that was not only moving but also showcased some of the work Goodwill continues to do for the community everyday. If you’re interested in finding out more about Goodwill’s JOTO program you can visit our website.
Every year WFMY News 2 features local non profits for their Season of Caring morning show segments. This year Goodwill was selected to be one of the featured organizations.
Our Goodwill Graduate of the Year, Pamela Allen, told the very inspiring story of her journey with Goodwill. Her story not only outlines the different services and classes that Goodwill provides to the community but also shows how Goodwill literally changed her life.
You can watch the video and read the full article about Pamela’s journey here.
This is one success story from just one of the over 8,000 people Goodwill served in the past year. And it’s because of the support of our donors and shoppers that we can continue to change lives in the Triad every day. During this Season of Caring please remember that when you give to Goodwill you give the gift of independence.
Filed under: Retail and Donations | Tags: Donations, Girl Scouts, Mission
Yesterday, a Brownie troop came to Goodwill — and not to sell cookies. Every October, the Girl and Boy Scouts hold a “Good Turn for Goodwill” donation drive. Scouts collect clothing and household items, donate them to Goodwill, and earn a patch. This troop came to take a tour and learn more about how Goodwill takes their donations and turns them into job opportunities.
How does that work exactly? When you donate to Goodwill, we sell those gently used items in our stores. Then we take the money earned in our stores and use it to fund job training programs such as computer classes and work experience. More than 88¢ of every dollar earned in Goodwill stores supports career development services.
These Brownies were some of the smartest ten year olds I’ve met. They asked great questions and walked away with a good understanding of how their donations help the community. They also brought cookies to give to all the staff people they met. Smart girls.
Filed under: Career Services | Tags: Employers, Hiring, Job Placements, Job Training, Mission
Today, Goodwill job coaches hosted a very important group of people: community employers. Representatives from staffing agencies, school systems, retailers and care giving services attended a breakfast to learn more about Goodwill’s career development services and the job candidates we train.
Our Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) helps individuals with emotional, mental and physical disabilities accomplish vocational and personal goals. Goodwill helps individuals set goals and create a plan to meet those goals. That plan might include computer training, customer service training, food service training, cash register training or forklift training. After individuals complete the necessary training, they transition into work adjustment training, either at Goodwill or another community employer. Job coaches emphasize the importance of punctuality, responsibility, efficiency, open communication and fulfilling expectations. Once participants have grasped these important values, they are ready so seek permanent employment.
That’s where community employers come in. Companies build a qualified, committed workforce when they hire individuals who have trained at Goodwill. In addition, companies give individuals the opportunity to lead independent, productive lives. If you want to learn more about this program, please contact our corporate office and ask to speak with a job coach.
