Goodwill’s Mission Services Department visited Birmingham Terrace, a property owned and managed by Lucas Metropolitan Housing (LMH). The Mission team went at the invitation of LMH and The Zepf Center and conducted outreach and intake. Approximately 30 residents attended and listened to the presentation and a number of individuals signed up for the Goodwill Career Path Program, the Goodwill Reentry Program, the Stay the Course Program and the Good Tech Program. It was a great atmosphere and the team provided individualized, one-on-one services. Everyone left the venue with a positive attitude and the natural questions was, “When are you guys coming back? We need you here.” Way to go Mission Services Team! We did some good!
Congratulations, Terrell, on your steadfast tenacity in accomplishing the task. Terrell first learned about Goodwill from Ohio Link, where he was a resident as a returning citizen. He was on the path to reentering to society from incarceration. The process was not easy. He knew that he had many barriers that needed to be resolved in order to seek employment, which is why he initially came to Goodwill.
The initial thing that Terrell did was to connect with the Stay the Course Program. This program assisted him with paying his reinstatement fees in order to obtain his driver’s license. While he was getting that barrier removed, Terrell became familiar with the other programs that Goodwill’s Mission Services Department had to offer. The Stay the Course team introduced Terrell to Tisha Carroll, program manager of the Career Path program, where he was able to get his birth certificate and social security card and received referrals outside agencies to obtain housing and other wrap around services. Terrell then learned that Goodwill had a connection to the building trades (through the I75 Project), where he could pursue his main employment goal of skilled trade construction labor.
Terrell obtained his driver’s license and received training, through Goodwill’s collaboration with the Carpenter’s Union training facility in Rossford, Ohio. The training led to his employment at Spieker Construction, working on the Goodwill Warehouse construction project. Once he obtained the job at Spieker, Goodwill assisted Terrell with getting his work clothing, work boots and tools. This reflects a full circle event. Furthermore, transportation was a barrier to going to different construction sites, so Terrell applied to the Tool Belt/Good Rides program for a vehicle to get him back and forth to work. This removed a barrier and allows Terrell to accept jobs around Northwest Ohio. Once again, great job, Terrell. Well done.
Andrew came to us from Ohio Link and has been working with us since May of 2021. As a result, he was able to obtain meaningful employment, however upon his release from the halfway house he faced new barriers when it came to getting his driver’s license.
With assistance from Goodwill and Andrew’s continued patience he was able to obtain his driver’s license. Now, Andrew is enrolling in the carpentry program! Great job Andrew!!
On June 16th, join us for a parking lot party at the Madison Ave location! There will be fun, food and other activities! Goodwill’s community partners will be there with information for you to start your journey to job skills and job opportunities. Need assistance with work clothes and boots? Stop out and learn what Goodwill and our partners can do for you! For more information contact Tisha at tcarroll@goodwillnwohio.org or call 419-255-0070.
Hope to see you there!
On April 25th and 26th in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) had its 5th Annual Civil Rights Transportation Symposium, downtown at COSI. It was a special event, led by Jack Marchbanks, Ph.D., Director Ohio Department of Transportation. Specials guests were Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose. The symposium had a number of workshops on diversity and inclusion along with workforce development of disadvantaged populations. Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, Inc. was represented at the symposium by Eric W. Slack, Director of Mission Services. Eric was invited to be a speaker and panelist to address the issue of “Initiatives to Increase Diversity in the Construction Workforce”, where the Moderator was Myron Pakush, Ohio Turnpike Corridor Administrator.
One of the main topics covered was Goodwill’s coordination of the I-75 Corridor Project in 2020-21, where in collaboration with ODOT; contractors such as E. S. Wagner Company and Kokosing Industrial, Inc.; Local Union 351 and Adelante worked together to recruit 50 individuals to receive job training and barrier removal; 35 of those individuals were placed in construction jobs on the I-75 project. These participants were from the 43609 zip code area, which is one of the sections of the city, most impacted by the construction. The success of this project has provided a template to use to recruit, train, develop and place minorities, women, returning citizens and other marginalized individuals in skilled trades and construction jobs, funded by ODOT. The presentation was well received and the project will be replicated around the state of Ohio, utilizing other Goodwill’s and ODOT. This will be transformation in so many ways!
Are you in the 43604 or 43607 zip code area? Goodwill is teamed up with The Junction Coalition and LISC Toledo to provide FREE training in skilled trades! Call Creyona to get more information at Goodwill’s Job Connection Center: 419-255-0070 ext 3104
Dontae came as a referral from the local Volunteers of America (VOA) at the beginning of January. He had been released from prison for 6 months and he was a transitional control. He was job searching and he was referred to Goodwill Industries from his case manager at the VOA. Dontae obtained employment with the help of the Goodwill Reentry Navigator at the Toledo Mobis of North America production facility in the Chrysler Jeep industrial complex. Once he obtained the job, the Goodwill Reentry program assisted him with purchasing some work clothing and work boots for him. Dontae is very happy and pleased with his job and the services he received at Goodwill. Nice work Dontae!
The Lucas County Metropolitan Housing Authority (LMHA) requested Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, Inc. to come to the Ravine Park Village Community Center in order to share the services that Goodwill performs. Two team members went to Ravine Park Village on Friday, December 3rd. The team members were expecting to speak to 30-40 residents, however, to their surprise, they were met by 140 residents that were eager to hear about the services that Goodwill has to offer, including job training and development, Reentry, the Stay the Course Program, the Toolbox Program and the Community Employment Program. The energy in the room resulted in interest for all of the programs!
Team members spoke to as many residents they could. To their surprise, when they arrived back to Madison Ave, about 30 residents were waiting, ready to sign up with the Job Connection Center (JCC), the Reentry Program, Community Employment and barrier removal services. It was such a success that LMHA has requested that Goodwill return to do another presentation in February 2022. The entire Mission Department will attend this presentation to do intake to those participants that attend in order to bring Mission to the Community. We can’t wait!
Jose came to Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, Inc. in the fall of 2020 for Job Development services as a referral from the State of Ohio Office of Opportunity for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). In addition, Jose was a returning citizen to the Toledo community after a long prison sentence. This allowed him to be placed in the Goodwill Reentry program as well. Jose performed well in job training and began the portion of job development in early 2020. His job search was paused because of Covid-19 during the winter and spring of 2020.
Once services resumed, Jose applied for a position in the Goodwill Contracts Division as a Driver. His job duties are to drive a team of Goodwill janitors to a designated job site and return them to the Goodwill office at the end of their shift. He also performed janitorial duties at the site as part of the team. Jose has performed his job in an exemplary manner. A driver position is extremely important because the entire janitorial team is dependent upon his attendance, timeliness, and consistency. His supervisor always speaks well of him and he has been a welcome addition to the Goodwill family. The position has allowed him to become a productive member of the community as well as giving him the resources to take care of his family.
The Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) recently gave the 2020 Community Reentry Award to Willie Knighten. NABCJ states that “This award is given to a person or group who works tirelessly in the community to bring about justice for all. They work with persons who are recently released from incarceration and are struggling with their reentry. They show an unwavering commitment to helping others regardless of the cost.”
Willie has been a Reentry Navigator with Goodwill since 2016. In that time, he has worked with countless returning citizens to help guide them through the process of getting their license reinstated, obtaining industry-recognized credentials, and securing gainful employment. He has definitely displayed “an unwavering commitment” and is most deserving of this prestigious award. Congratulations, Willie!
