After separating from her husband of 10 years, Samantha Russell turned to drugs in an effort to cope with the stress and anxiety she was experiencing.
Finding Meaning Through Employment
[fa icon="calendar'] Jun 24, 2022 4:18:35 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Success Story, Criminal History, Retail, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Mission Coaches
How Goodwill Changed Education in Indiana
[fa icon="calendar'] May 5, 2022 9:00:00 AM / by Jennifer Wade posted in The Excel Center, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, Education, Parents, Mission Awareness, Multi-gen impact
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.
Join Us In Celebrating Goodwill Industries Week
[fa icon="calendar'] May 3, 2022 10:30:00 AM / by Kent A. Kramer posted in Employment, Success Story, The Excel Center, Education, Mission Awareness, Goodwill Week
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.
Empowerment Through Education
[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 21, 2022 9:00:00 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Success Story, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, Education, Retail, COVID-19, Mission Awareness
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.
Excel Center Grad Beats the Odds
[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 15, 2022 10:16:38 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Success Story, The Excel Center, Education, COVID-19, Mission Awareness, Mission Coaches
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.
“Building the Life I Deserve”
[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 8, 2022 10:30:00 AM / by Kari Podany posted in Success Story, The Excel Center, Education, Mission Awareness
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.
Supporting Communities Through Strong Partnerships
[fa icon="calendar'] Apr 6, 2022 9:00:00 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Community Partners, Employment, TalentSource, The Excel Center, Education, Mission Awareness
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.
Goodwill LEAP helps program participants move forward
[fa icon="calendar'] Mar 21, 2022 9:00:00 AM / by Nathan Simpson posted in Mission Awareness, LEAP, Mission Coaches
A criminal record in Indiana can follow you past any time served, creating barriers to securing housing, finding employment, obtaining custody of children, achieving professional licensing, and more. In 2011 Indiana passed an expungement law allowing those with a criminal record who meet qualifying criteria to get those records sealed, but the eligibility requirements and process to file for expungement can be a challenge.
Promoting the Future of Work at Goodwill
[fa icon="calendar'] Mar 18, 2022 2:12:19 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Education, Mission Awareness, Multi-gen impact, Strategic Plan
The next three years have the potential to be among the most important in our more than 90-year history. Although the COVID-19 pandemic created obstacles, Goodwill remained vigilant, working with our employees, board members and other supporters to make decisions that have put us in a place of strength. We are excited to deliver a Strategic Plan that expands and leverages existing opportunities, while also identifying, exploring and developing new ones.
Shawn Basore Celebrates Three Decades of Employment at Goodwill
[fa icon="calendar'] Mar 1, 2022 11:53:49 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Disability, Success Story, Goodwill Commercial Services, Disability Services, COVID-19, Mission Awareness
In 1989, upon graduating from high school, Shawn Basore joined Goodwill’s Commercial Services division. He had no work history or job skills and participated in Goodwill’s Work Experience Program, which provided job training and employment services to persons with disabilities, preparing them for successful employment.