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Workforce Development

Tooling U

By community, Goodwill News, Mission Services, News For You, Workforce Development

Classes Start

On Tuesday August 29, Goodwill started our Tooling U Manufacturing Training Program at our DeVeaux Job Connection Center. The classes are Tuesday- Thursday 10-12, and all students are provided a laptop where online modules and instructions are given. When students successfully complete the program they will have an Advance Manufacturing Certificate. Program Manager Candace Odenweller and JCC Navigator Melody Godwin are facilitating the class and helping each participant successfully make it through the program.  

Congratulations to all the participants and way to go Candy and Melody!

Mission Moment: Meet Philip

By community, Mission Services, Testimonials, Workforce Development

Meet Philip L.

Philip came to Goodwill following incarceration looking to better his life and gain employment opportunities. “Goodwill has provided assistance with getting my driver’s license, work clothes and boots. I am currently residing in Toledo and am employed part-time at Expresso Carwash, and I am a part-time student at Topp of the Line Barber College. Since having been incarcerated I’ve gotten a closer relationship with my family and children. My future goals are getting my barber’s license, obtaining my LLC, and opening up my own barber shop.” Congratulations Philip, Goodwill looks forward to seeing the wonderful things you accomplish!

Mission Moment: Mission Services Team Visits Lucas Metropolitan Housing Property

By community, Goodwill News, Mission Services, Reentry Program, Workforce Development

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!

Mission Moment: Meet Terrell

By community, Goodwill News, Mission Services, Reentry Program, Success Stories, Workforce Development

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.

Mission Moment: Meet Andrew

By community, Mission Services, Reentry Program, Success Stories, Workforce Development

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!!

Career Path Program

Career Path Program: “Bring Your A Game to Work”

By community, Goodwill News, Grants, Mission Services, Workforce Development

Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, Inc. recently had its Career Path Program renewed by Lucas County Job & Family Services for another year.  This program provides job development services to individuals that qualify for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). 

Part of the process involves participants receiving character development training to provide them with the skills to have successful work careers.  Twice each month, the participants have a training session where they receive a class taught by Tisha Carroll and her team, a curriculum entitled “Bring Your A Game To Work”.  The participants receive instruction on the “7 values that will make every employer want to hire them and fight to keep them.”

The classes are a prerequisite to moving forward in the Career Path Program.  The participants have open discussion on such topics as Attitude, Attendance, Appearance, Ambition, Accountability, Acceptance and Appreciation.  The participants openly discuss the topics and learn the importance of each topic and the practical application at work.  The classes have been extremely popular and successful.  Good training team Goodwill!

Mission Moment: Meet Tracy

By Goodwill News, Success Stories, Workforce Development

Tracy first entered Goodwill’s services in Summer of 2021, during which he successfully participated in the Summer Youth Program. For both his junior and senior year, Tracy participated in Toledo Public School’s job training program. His most recent experience was working at St. Vincent’s hospital, where he worked in the dish room, completed housekeeping tasks, and fulfilled food orders for hospital staff. His teachers have noted that Tracy is a hard worker that has been observed to go above and beyond the assignment.

Recently, Tracy reentered Goodwill services, this time with the goal of non-permanent job development- which is a placement based on his status as a student. Tracy attained a job at McDonalds in the Southland shopping center. Tracy is doing fantastic in his new role. He has been trained in many areas- including preparing fries, cooking on the grill, and cleaning the restaurant. He is known to be a great teammate and his boss Ruby speaks very highly of him.

Impressively, Tracy continued his responsibilities as a student worker at St. Vincent’s, while also working at McDonalds after school. In May Tracy graduated from Bowsher High School in Toledo.

Good job and congratulations, Tracy!

Goodwill Presents – A Parking Lot Party Resource Fair

By Goodwill News, Job Openings, News For You, Reentry Program, Workforce Development

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!

Mission Moment: Ohio Dept. of Transportation and Goodwill’s Collaboration

By Goodwill News, Job Openings, Reentry Program, Success Stories, Workforce Development

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!