Every October, the United States Department of Labor recognizes National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This period celebrates the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy.

Every year, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana hosts Goodwill’s Education and Mission Conference (GEM), a one-day professional development event. Mission and education professionals throughout Goodwill’s central and southern Indiana network have the opportunity to learn from one another and share best practices in their work through presentations and panel discussions.

Every year, thousands of Lilly employees volunteer at community-centered organizations worldwide for Lilly Global Day of Service. This year, the global pharmaceutical company, headquartered in Indianapolis, had over 500 employees volunteer at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana.

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana recognizes and celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), a period to commemorate the contributions, histories and cultures of Latino and Hispanic Americans.

Goodwill is proud to recognize National Employ Older Workers Week, a commemorative week to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older workers. Older workers not only bring years of skill, experience, and work ethic to their jobs; they’re also becoming a greater part of the workforce. As of 2022, the older adult population was increasing at over five times the rate of the younger population in central Indiana alone. 

Indianapolis Metropolitan High School is a free public school offering a high school education to students in grades 9-12. Indy Met is a best-fit school for teens experiencing circumstances that may present barriers to achieving an education, with an emphasis on ensuring students have a college or career pathway after graduation. The school’s model motivated Bruce Odom to pursue a postsecondary education and become a lifelong learner.

In the last year, Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP), an evidence-based maternal health program, has been able to expand into 62 Indiana counties thanks to state and philanthropic investment. A wider service area across Indiana’s diverse urban and rural communities means more first-time parents can be paired with registered nurses and receive the support needed to provide the very best start for their children.

This July, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s reentry program, Goodwill New Beginnings, held its sixth annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Every year, this highly anticipated event connects the community with Indiana law enforcement and the Indiana Department of Corrections through an afternoon of friendly competition, camaraderie and fun.

Since 2021, the United States has observed Juneteenth annually on June 19. On that date, in 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that all enslaved African Americans were finally free. This was over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, issued under President Abraham Lincoln, went into effect.

For over 10 years, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s New Beginnings program has helped those who have been previously incarcerated reenter their communities. The program is designed to offer Hoosiers the resources to address the barriers they encounter after being released from the criminal justice system.