The last full week of September is National Employ Older Workers Week, a period to recognize and increase awareness about the essential older workers in our workforce. Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is proud to highlight the older workers who contribute to our mission of changing lives through education, health and employment daily.

Indianapolis Metropolitan High School is Goodwill’s best-fit school for grades 9-12, supporting teenaged students experiencing barriers to education and ensuring graduates can either enter college or the workforce. These outcomes are met through a number of wraparound services Indy Met offers for its student population, including transportation, child care and family empowerment coaching.

Finding the right child care provider can be daunting for parents. Luckily, Goodwill’s Children’s Learning Center has served families in southern Indiana since 1980 by providing high-quality care and educational services.

Tammi Burrus had her high school experience cut short when she became pregnant at the age of 16.

Khalilah Palmer, school development director for The Excel Center national office, has had a busy summer supporting the opening of two new locations of The Excel Center, Goodwill’s high school for adults. Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, located in Baltimore, Maryland, and Palmetto Goodwill, located in Charleston, South Carolina, will open The Excel Center this fall.

When Damiyah Lawrence enrolled at Indianapolis Metropolitan High School during her freshman year, she struggled with a learning disability.

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana announces The Excel Center's and Indianapolis Metropolitan High School’s first day of school for the 2023 - 24 year. Doors open on July 31, 2023, for all 17 central and southern Indiana campuses. 

Thanks to your support, lives are being changed in your community. In addition to significant growth in our Retail, eCommerce and Commercial Services divisions over the past year, we currently employ nearly 5,000 Hoosiers – 61% of whom have barriers to employment, like a disability, criminal history or lack of a high school diploma. 

In 2012, Carlton Foster enrolled at The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s high school for adults, to earn his diploma and expand his career possibilities. He would go on to be the first graduate of The Excel Center’s Anderson, Indiana, location while also earning multiple industry-recognized job certifications.

Lizbeth Cruz Gonzalez, 36, has constantly been striving for the best opportunities in her life, even at a young age. Originally from Mexico, Lizbeth wanted to pursue her education, but it came with challenges.