2025 marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark law that was designed to protect persons with disabilities from discrimination and ensure they have access to different areas of public life. One of those major areas is employment; before the ADA was signed into law in 1990, people with disabilities could be denied an opportunity to work.

The Goodwill Young Leaders Board recently wrapped up another successful Gather for Goodwill event. This year’s theme, All Star Games, brought together more than 200 community members and supporters for an evening filled with friendly competition, great food and an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Lexi Mullins came across Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) through a chance phone call from a health care agency. Not exactly knowing what she was signing up for, but eager to please, she enrolled in the program.

Blog support by Noelle Gray and Glenda Nivar. Video below produced by Sam Stockman.

At Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, sustainability is built into everything we do. From our retail stores to schools to manufacturing facilities, sustainability remains a top priority for Goodwill.

The Children's Learning Center (CLC) by Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana opened in June 1980 as BridgePointe Children’s Academy in response to a growing need for child care services for children with disabilities. Today, The Children’s Learning Center provides quality child care for over 100 families a year – and as of June 2025, Goodwill is proud to announce that the CLC has helped all children, at every ability level, develop their full potential for 45 years.

For Moussa Ibrahim, opportunity often wears the disguise of need. Whether it’s a student trying to budget for tuition or a community seeking financial literacy, Moussa shows up ready to serve and stretch each opportunity into something greater. A mission-driven professional and passionate relationship builder, he’s spent the last few years using his skills to uplift others – both in his role at Old National Bank and as a dedicated member of the Goodwill Young Leaders Board, a board of professionals formed to engage a new generation of leaders to further the mission of Goodwill.

Brittany Hart joined Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s reentry program, New Beginnings, in 2022. She knew she’d be able to take advantage of the many tools and resources the reentry program offers to help those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. 

When enrolled in the program, participants can receive assistance in securing health care, reinstating drivers’ licenses, addressing legal challenges and more. Through barrier removal and wraparound support, they can also work toward transitioning from entry-level work at Goodwill to a skilled, in-demand career within their community. 

On March 14, 2024, a series of storms swept through eastern Indiana, tearing through several towns and severely impacting homes and businesses. In Winchester, Indiana, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s recently opened retail store was heavily damaged and had to be temporarily closed. 

For more than 25 years, Sonjaki Alvies has been part of the Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana family. Sonjaki is an AbilityOne employee,  where she continues to excel in her career working as a janitor at the Federal Aviation Administration Tower (FAA) at the Indianapolis International Airport.

Goodwill is an implementing agency of AbilityOne, a federal program that provides employment opportunities to those who are blind or have other significant disabilities. AbilityOne not only empowers participants by offering meaningful, stable employment, but also helps foster workplaces where unique talents and abilities are valued. Sonjaki has seen firsthand just how impactful Goodwill and AbilityOne has been for her life, both professionally and personally. 

She is proud of her work at the FAA Tower and playing her part in running a smooth operation. She credits on-the-job training opportunities at Goodwill for preparing her to succeed in this role.