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
Congratulations Alvin! Alvin came to the Goodwill Job Connection Center (JCC) on last year with aspirations to change his career and learn new skills. Alvin interviewed for a position with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), as part of its collaboration with Goodwill. He was hired and was preparing to work in transportation. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the start of the project. The good news is, the project resumed this summer and Alvin has been able to work on the project. He drives trucks and heavy machinery on the I-75 Project and at the Bowling Green ODOT office. He has secured his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and other transportation certificates, through ODOT in order to enhance his opportunities. We want to congratulate Alvin and encourage him to continue the great work.
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!
Toledo, OH – Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, Inc. will officially launch its newest workforce development program Good Rides on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Good Rides is a workforce development program designed to help individuals facing transportation barriers getting to and from work. Goodwill purchased a shuttle bus to help with the widespread issue and participants enrolled in the program will work with navigators to identify their barriers. Once identified, the navigators will create plans to overcome the challenges in order to become transportation independent.
Goodwill is currently working with area employers on the program and the launch will involve Whitmer High School interns working at Rosenboom, located in Bowling Green, OH. Students will leave directly from Whitmer High School to Rosenboom and will be returned to school following their shift.
“This really is an exciting program. We have been talking with area employers and people we serve for quite some time and transportation has frequently been mentioned as a challenging barrier to employment”, said Amy Wachob, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio, Inc. “We are anticipating that the Good Rides Program will make a significant impact on eliminating a workplace barrier.” Wachob further states, “It is important to note that this is not a public transportation program, this is a workforce development program. Its design and intent is to work with individuals one-on-one and provide a lasting workplace solution. We are very encouraged by the depth of interest from both the people we serve as well as area employers. We have already been asked to increase our fleet!”
For more information on Goodwill’s Good Rides Program call or email:
Phone: 419-255-0070 ext. 3201
Email: dtakats@goodwillnwohio.org
On December 10th, the Goodwill Mission met the moment in the lower level of the Goodwill downtown building. After a year (with a COVID-19 interruption), the Goodwill I-75 Corridor Project had a reception to celebrate the project’s success throughout our region! Approximately 50 individuals from Goodwill, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Adelante, the Carpenter’s Union Local 351, and local road contractor Kokosing Industrial, Inc. came together to commemorate the program participants and a successful collaboration. This program trained 40 individuals in the construction trades and employed 21 individuals with jobs on the I-75 Project. Everyone enjoyed food, fellowship, fun and participants gave heartwarming testimonials of their experience. A seed was planted for something greater in the future. As a result of the success, ODOT would like to re-engage with Goodwill for 2022 and possibly take the program statewide with other Goodwill organizations! This is definitely one to watch!
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!
They say that “second time’s a charm”, and that’s turning out to be true with Kaniya. Kaniya had a previous job development case through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) and Goodwill where she became employed at the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium. However, the chill autumn weather brought a slowdown in zoo visitors and Kaniya was laid off. Not to be deterred, Kaniya contacted OOD and with the assistance of her Goodwill job developer, Kaniya was able to navigate her way through the Covid-19 pandemic and a virtual job fair which was a new experience for her! A successful interview again brought her the part-time job she had been seeking. Now Kaniya is a Fashion Stocker at the Meijer in Maumee. Her supervisor says that Kaniya does a good job and is really coming into her own. That’s the power of work!
The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is partnering with Goodwill and Adelante on The I-75 Workforce Initiative which will recruit men and women who live in the Old South End Neighborhood. The goal of The I-75 Workforce Initiative is to create an environment that will provide at least 25 residents from the Old South End Neighborhood with the encouragement, preparation, and opportunity to enter positions within the field of construction and related skilled trade fields.
An Informational Session was held at Adelante where ODOT, building trades, and prime contractors were on site to speak directly with the participants and answer specific questions. Thirty-one participants were in attendance and enrolled in the program who will receive Job Readiness and Financial Literacy training. We are grateful to ODOT for this wonderful opportunity!
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