Attention Goodwill followers and shoppers!
Goodwill has been nominated for the 2022 Best Of Toledo for Best Thrift/Resale Store in the Shops/Stores Category! Help us win! You can vote 1x a day through Dec. 15th. Follow this link to vote today; https://bit.ly/3UiFo5M_BestOfToledo
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!
A total of 163,260 pounds of donations were donated and $7,500 in scholarships were given to the schools in the 2022 season. Three schools joined the program this year and 2 more schools participated that haven’t been involved in a few years. The proceeds from these donations help fund job training and job placement for individuals with barriers to employment
Two schools, Clay Eagles and Swanton Bulldogs, broke their own weight records this year! Clay filled up two semi-trailers, top to bottom and we had to send an extra truck to Swanton to pick up what was left over that couldn’t fit in the trailer!
There will be an awards reception at 13abc studios in November to present the school’s with their scholarship checks and certificates.
If you would like your high school to participate in next years program, call 419-255-0070 Ext. 3202.
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!
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.
Pam L. had been a participant with the Goodwill Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) since 2019. SCSEP is specifically designed for participants age 55 and older. Pam trained with different Host Agencies in order to sharpen her employment and training skills. Host Agencies partner with Goodwill in order to provide participants with real time work experience. SCSEP Program Manager, Cyndie Lombardo had worked with Pam and watched her develop since the summer of 2021, she noticed that Pam had very good administrative skills. Since Cyndie was new in her role, she needed someone to assist her in her duties and Pam was a perfect fit. Pam was hired, in December as Cyndie’s assistant. She has proven herself to be very valuable assisting with day to day training of participants and learning the workings of the SCSEP Program. Welcome aboard Pam!
On Wednesday, February 16th Goodwill Industries of NW Ohio’s CEO, Amy Wachob, hosted the newly selected Executive Director of Ohio Association of Goodwill Industries (OAGI), Prince. During his visit, he attended a Staff Meeting of Executives and toured the Administration Office as well as one of the Job Connection Centers, located at 1120 Madison Ave. in downtown Toledo.
OAGI is an association of 16 Goodwill Industries in Ohio. We work together to identify and monitor important issues and for OAGI members, engage in public policy discussions, and facilitate collaboration among autonomous Goodwill Industries.
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