It’s been two years since Pete Yonkman, CEO of Cook Medical, a medical device manufacturing company based in Bloomington, Indiana, approached Goodwill’s leadership about partnering on a unique project. Those conversations came on the heels of the murder of George Floyd and pandemic-related racial disparities and included questions about social justice and the role we play as employers in helping to strengthen our communities.
In summer 2019, Goodwill’s Excel Center partnered with Tom Wood and Ford Motor Company to implement an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification program at our Shadeland and University Heights locations. Tom Woods’ sponsorship of The Excel Center provides students with access to the curriculum at no cost; in return, Tom Wood has access to a pipeline of qualified service technicians—each with a path to a well-paying career.
Indiana University’s Public Policy Institute (PPI) estimates that the new medical device manufacturing facility at 38th and Sheridan in Indianapolis, built in partnership with Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana and Cook Medical, will have an estimated economic impact of $25.9 million.
Every day, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana empowers thousands of Hoosiers with
health, education and employment opportunities. For example, over 7,000 people have
graduated from our high schools since 2009. But this life-changing work simply would not be
possible without the support and collaboration of community partners.
The benefits of walking during pregnancy are unending. Access to an outdoor space and fresh air provides a great low impact cardio opportunity that can contribute to better sleep, relief from stress and physical discomfort while delivering an energy boost for expecting parents. For the majority of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) clients, however, walking outdoors in their own neighborhoods is not an option. The reasons for this are directly related to various neighborhood factors, including railroads, poorly draining areas, industry, close proximity to interstate highways and freeways and more.
Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana and Mount Paran Church partnered to host a drive-thru turkey giveaway event for Indianapolis’s far eastside on November 22 from 12 - 3 p.m. Over 350 turkeys were distributed to community members in the Circle City Prep parking lot located at 4002 N. Franklin Road.
When you write an article about Riana Dozier, your hope is that you can accurately convey at least a small portion of the passion, positivity, and energy she exudes during the interview. (Somehow she makes algebra sound fun!) It almost feels like an injustice to only get to experience her personality through printed words.
Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) has remained steadfast in finding innovative ways to provide valuable learning opportunities to its participants. Through a partnership with Five Star Technology Solutions, SCSEP participants are able to attend weekly computer classes in a socially distanced computer lab to help build their digital skills.