Bea Sweet joined the Goodwill retail crew at our Columbus location in November 2021. Although she has the support of a few friends and her co-workers at Goodwill, Bea has experienced the judgment and stigma associated with coming out as a transgender person. She began living as a woman almost seven years ago, when she was 41 years old. 

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana proudly operates 15 Excel Center locations that support Hoosier adults returning to school to achieve their educational and career goals. The adult high schools provide onsite child care, transportation assistance and life coaching - all at no cost to the student.

When Tenera Lloyd enrolled in the Nurse-Family Partnership program, she was in an abusive relationship and struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder. A pregnant mom with limited outside support, she felt hopelessly stuck in her situation but knew she wanted better for her daughter. After going into labor three weeks early due to a domestic situation, she knew it was time to take action.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2 - 6), Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana celebrates its staff of over 360 education professionals, including teachers, guidance coaches and administrators throughout the entire month. 

Since 1951, Goodwill® organizations throughout the United States and Canada have come together to recognize Goodwill Industries Week and highlight the defining principle of our mission — to change lives. For 120 years, the Goodwill network has worked with people experiencing barriers to employment by helping them secure a job, increase their education and access resources critical to achieving independence.

Indianapolis Metropolitan High School is a best-fit school for teenage students experiencing circumstances that may present a barrier to education. In 2020, those circumstances included a pandemic that entirely uprooted education across the globe, but our students adapted and persevered, and our faculty did an amazing job at ensuring we could continue to provide high-quality, rigorous instruction and individualized support. 

There are more than 447,450 working-age Hoosiers who lack a high school diploma. Prior to The Excel Center, Goodwill’s unique high school for adults, there were few options for people like Dontre Smith who wanted to earn one.

Meet Dakota McLaughlin. Dakota is a proud graduate of The Excel Center® and is working towards earning a Master’s degree in Social Work. Just a few years ago, however, he was in a very different situation.