Goodwill's Chief Diversity Officer Discusses the Great Migration

    [fa icon="calendar'] Feb 16, 2024 11:15:00 AM / by Sam Stockman posted in Leadership Spotlight, Strategic Plan, DEI, Black History Month

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    Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana continues its celebration of Black History Month by spotlighting African American leaders across the organization. Ivan P. Cropper, Vice President of Marketing and Communications and Chief Diversity Officer at Goodwill, sees February as a pivotal time to set the tone for the rest of the year – an opportunity to reflect on the influence of African Americans and those who paved the way for future generations.

    "Black history is American history, and although we emphasize it in February, it’s no less important throughout the year," Ivan said.

    Black History Month provides a space to recognize Black people’s contributions to America’s successes, which have had an enduring impact. Ivan recalls being influenced by figures such as Jesse Jackson running for president in the 1980s and being drawn to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. From Spike Lee’s thought-provoking films to Oprah Winfrey’s journey from actor to executive producer in "The Color Purple," Ivan acknowledges the challenges these individuals faced to achieve success.

    Ivan's family history is intertwined with the Great Migration – a period of time between 1910 and 1970 when African Americans left the Jim Crow south behind in pursuit of opportunities up north. His mother, father and grandmother left Virginia and North Carolina in the 60s and 70s, with his grandmother selling her established corner store to join her son in Connecticut, where Ivan was later raised.

    In response to the events surrounding George Floyd in the summer of 2020, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana looked inward to determine its role in fostering a better and more equitable world. The organization appointed Ivan as Chief Diversity Officer, entrusting him to lead the effort in championing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) throughout the organization. Under Ivan's guidance, Goodwill incorporated DEI into its strategic plan, encouraging all departments to develop their own equity work plans that complement the organization's plans.

    "Being the Chief Diversity Officer is understanding the broad spectrum of where people find themselves,” Ivan said. “It's about ensuring that programs and learning opportunities are in place to meet people where they are and allow them to continue their education within that space."

    Ivan remains committed to collaborating daily with people from all walks of life. Similar to his parents and grandparents who sought to create opportunities for their futures, Ivan strives to create opportunities for the individuals we employ, educate and serve at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana.

    "People of color have been on this continent for centuries, making contributions to American life,” Ivan noted. “I genuinely appreciate the people we work with day-to-day and what they bring to the table. Their open hearts and minds for people of all walks of life are evident every day. I’m happy to be a part of it."

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    Reflecting on 2023: A Year of Mission Growth

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jan 26, 2024 1:32:26 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Community Partners, Employment, Nurse-Family Partnership, The Excel Center, Education, Foundation, Retail, mental health, Multi-gen impact, Strategic Plan, Goodwill Education, DEI

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    Last year was a big year for Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana as we educated, employed and served more individuals than ever before. Since launching our new Strategic Plan two years ago, we’ve made significant progress on our objectives and goals.

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    Building Our Communities One Donation at a Time

    [fa icon="calendar'] Jul 18, 2023 1:30:00 PM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Employment, Nurse-Family Partnership, Disability, The Excel Center, Goodwill Commercial Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School, Education, Foundation, Criminal History, Retail, Former Addiction, Mission Awareness, Strategic Plan, Goodwill Education, LGBTQ

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    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. 

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    Top 3 Things You Might not Know About Cinco de Mayo

    [fa icon="calendar'] May 23, 2023 3:00:00 PM / by Noelle Gray posted in Strategic Plan, DEI

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    Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are top priorities outlined in Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s 2022-2024 strategic plan. In an effort to create a virtuous cycle of communication that inspires belongingness and ensures all voices are heard, respected and valued, Goodwill will be highlighting stories to further increase readers’ learning and understanding of current issues in the DEI space.

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    Keeping the Good Going: One Year Strategic Plan Update

    [fa icon="calendar'] Mar 17, 2023 9:00:00 AM / by Sheila Dollaske posted in Education, Retail, mental health, Strategic Plan

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    One year ago, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana launched its 2022-24 One Goodwill strategic plan, and we're proud to share some of the highlights after a year of collaborative work.
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    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

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    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. 

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