Jim Gibbons

Goodwill and the Power of Work: Helping People With Disabilities Find Employment

2013-05-17T15:11:38-04:00

In America, 80 percent of people with disabilities do not have jobs. This shameful statistic should encourage all of us to help people with disabilities earn employment. Fortunately, there are organizations dedicated to doing just that, including Goodwill Industries International, a 111-year-old social enterprise that places someone in a good job every 33 seconds of every business day. At Goodwill, our mission is to help people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.

Goodwill has recently been unfairly singled out in a misinformed campaign regarding the Special Minimum Wage Certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. This certificate is an important tool that is used by more than three thousand four hundred employers nationwide to help individuals with significant and multiple disabilities to gain and maintain employment. For thousands of people with the most significant disabilities, it means the difference between reaching their full employment potential and having no job at all.

The certificate is issued under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and it allows employers to pay commensurate wages to employees whose disabilities significantly impair their productivity; sometimes this means that they are paid less than the federal minimum wage. While it is quite easy to look at this provision quickly and ask why people with disabilities should be paid less than other workers, the truth is the certificate allows Goodwill and many other employers to provide opportunities for people with severe disabilities who otherwise might not be a part of the workforce. It helps many people find the best possible employment for them and it is a highly regulated and vital component of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Often people with disabilities are employed under the certificate and are then able to learn the skills they need to receive pay raises and earn competitive wages. It is just one of the many tools that Goodwill uses to provide opportunities for people with significant disabilities.

The certificate has led to the creation of jobs for hundreds of thousands of people with multiple physical and mental disabilities who report to work each day, flourish in friendships with their supervisors and co-workers, delight in mastering new tasks and learning new skills, and take pride in jobs well done. Seven thousand of these Americans work at Goodwill agencies across the country. While only a small percentage of Goodwill's 113,000 team members are paid under the certificate, we believe it is an essential tool to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities and to help every employee reach their personal employment potential, whatever that might be. The Special Wage Certificate is immensely helpful for those people who choose to use it as a path to employment.

While some have called for this program to be eliminated, let's be clear about exactly what that would mean. It would mean that many hard-working people would be out of their jobs. It would mean that even more than 80 percent of people with disabilities would be out of work. The people protesting the certificate's use are not offering solutions or sustainable models to help those people find work should the certificate be eliminated.

As anyone who has ever enjoyed the satisfaction of achieving a professional goal understands, there is an intrinsic value to working that cannot be denied. As individuals, we innately crave purpose, a sense of accomplishment, self-respect fostered by accomplishment, and acknowledgement for our contributions to life around us. As the one of the largest employers of people with disabilities in the United States, Goodwill is honored to help thousands of people earn this self-respect and sense of accomplishment every year.

Upgrading the Online Job Search

2013-05-03T08:22:07-04:00

If you ask job seekers whether their strategies involve searching and interacting online, most would likely say yes. But how a person uses the Internet for these searches is ever evolving. As companies are increasingly using software to sift through overwhelming numbers of job applications that come their way, it's clear that a job seeker cannot rely solely on posting their résumé and application online or sending the same items to 100 or more companies.

A study published April 4, 2013, shows that young, unemployed job seekers who used the Internet in their job searches from 2005 to 2008 were able to find employment 25 percent faster than similar workers who did not search online. Meanwhile, a recent Wall Street Journal article outlines the benefits of relying on an offline-only job search approach.

In fact, many job placements are currently stemming from a hybrid job search approach: part in-person networking and part online searching, coupled with unique virtual and in-person events. Searching online for jobs can be efficient, but job seekers must be mindful not to hide behind their computers. Neglecting the wealth of information online, however, could be detrimental to a person's job search or career advancement.

As the head of an organization dedicated to helping people find work, I am acutely aware of the need to continually evolve job search strategies. It is not about sheer volume nor is it ever a one-size-fits-all approach. It is about facilitating the best match between employer and job seeker to avoid missed opportunities and help both parties advance their goals.

To this end, from May 6 to 8, Goodwill Industries International will hold its second annual Virtual Career Fair, which is designed to enable these types of mutually beneficial interactions. This free event is similar to an in-person career fair, but its online environment allows job seekers to attend from anywhere for free. Hosted through Monster.com, attendees can navigate a virtual reality-style job fair complete with an information desk, vendor booths and more. Some 7,500 job seekers across the United States and Canada participated in the 2012 fair, and nearly 10,000 are expected to participate this year.

Representatives from a diverse array of employers like AT&T, C&K Systems, Creative Artists Agency, Dell, Dreamworks Animation, Sprint, Goodwill and others will be online to speak with job seekers about employment opportunities. Attendees can apply on the spot or talk with the representatives during one of the scheduled chat windows. This virtual environment is designed to facilitate real-time, personal connections in a unique way. Not only do job seekers get an alternate avenue to finding employment, but employers can to reach candidates nationwide with whom they might not otherwise be able to connect.

I invite you to participate in this unique event. In conjunction, Goodwill Industries International will also hold three career-related Google+ Hangouts. These online chats to discuss employment challenges and strategies will connect job seekers in various locations through a video and voice chat targeted toward three populations: veterans, youth and women. All of this is mapped to coincide with Goodwill's more than 130 on-the-ground career fairs that will be taking place during Goodwill Industries Week, May 5 to 11.

At the end of the day, whether the methods used are virtual or face-to-face, landing the perfect job is not just about computer algorithms or the perfect social networking keywords. At its core, the job search is about meaningful relationship building. Let's continue to enable these crucial relationships to help people find dignity through the power of work.

On Earth Day, Don't Forget to Think Small

2013-04-22T13:01:22-04:00

Earth Day used to be simple: Plant a tree. Pick up litter. Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Recycle.

Back in 1970, when the first Earth Day encouraged people to be mindful of these small acts, it was considered ample progress. The same cannot be said today. With Earth Day marking its 43rd outing today, the environmental movement has become an increasingly complex landscape -- one filled with the intricacies of climate change, carbon offsets and emissions guidelines.

This, of course, is good news. But one result of the increased focus on these big-picture global issues is that the success or failure of the environmental movement can often seem far removed from everyday life. We expect our politicians to address global climate change and we expect corporations to pursue eco-friendly initiatives. But when the challenges we face are so immense and global in nature, it becomes increasingly difficult for us to feel we can make a real impact merely by small, individual acts like recycling a number 2 plastic container or replacing the light bulbs in our homes with energy efficient ones.

To be clear, we need big thinkers and major changes on this issue. But we also need to remember that small acts of environmentalism can still make a difference -- a very large difference. Consider this: since January 2012, people who donated used clothing and household goods to Goodwill have helped divert more than three billion pounds of usable goods from landfills. In the process of these donations, they have also helped to create jobs and other employment opportunities for people in need of work. How's that for small acts making a difference?

In addition, Goodwill has a partnership with Dell known as Dell Reconnect, which allows people to donate electronics donations knowing they are good for people and the planet. People can simply drop off used electronics (any brand in any condition) at a participating Goodwill location, and the trained staff will inspect the equipment and either reuse, refurbish or recycle it. More than 253 million pounds of computer electronics have been responsibly recycled since the partnership began in 2004.

So, yes, on Earth Day and throughout Earth Week, we should all think big and call on our leaders in Washington and in statehouses to make a serious commitment to meaningful environmental leadership. But we cannot let the big be the enemy of the small.

In 2010, Goodwill Industries International launched the Donate Movement, a corporate social responsibility platform and public awareness movement that encourages consumers to think of donating used goods as just as essential to environmental responsibility as recycling paper and plastics. Via the Donate Movement microsite, individuals can track exactly how much of a difference one jacket, one old laptop, or one used bike can make. The Donate Movement microsite also offers consumers a step-by-step guide on how to organize a donation drive at a campus, school or other location, gives bloggers the opportunity to raise awareness by joining the Donate Movement network, and provides resources on where to bring used goods for donation.

This Earth Day, whether you choose to make your impact by recycling, reusing or donating (hopefully all three!), don't forget the importance of thinking small.

Thrifting Across America

2013-04-19T17:15:48-04:00

Now is the time of thrift. As the economic paradigm is shifting rapidly toward reuse and repurpose, more individuals are frequenting thrift establishments like Goodwill for bargains. What has always been a financially conscious and environmentally friendly choice is now becoming cool, as evidenced in part through Macklemore's Billboard-topping song, "Thrift Shop."

The numbers support this trend. According to USA Today, approximately 20 percent of consumers regularly shop at thrift stores, compared with 14 percent in 2008. And, according to the Association of Resale Professionals, the industry has grown 7 percent each year for the past two years.

Many thrift shoppers are teenagers looking for affordable and unique finds to fill their closets. Instead of running the risk of wearing the same department store outfit as a classmate, teenagers are instead turning to thrift stores like Goodwill to maintain fashionable looks without high-fashion price tags. My son is a prime example. As I have previously mentioned, he's an avid fan of thrifting and enjoys scouring the racks for one-of-a-kind items. Some teenagers also enjoy the hunt for that perfect item, turning the trip into an activity with friends.

Although 60 percent of teenagers receive money from their parents, 27 percent earn money from odd jobs and others from gifts. According to the American Press Institute, shopping at thrift stores also allows teenagers to stretch their money while growing their wardrobes. Some of our local agencies have even partnered with local schools to host fashion shows using goods found at Goodwill stores.

But these goods are much more than just items on store shelves. According to Jenna Isaacson -- independent visual journalist, Goodwill blogger and lover of all things thrift -- second-hand shopping not only helps the environment while offering bargains, it also helps tell the story of America's communities by observing things they once owned.

From now until April 30, 2013, Isaacson will travel across the country as part of her documentary photo project, All Thrifty States: A Visual Journey through America's Collective Closets. She took her first trip in June 2011, traveling 10,200 miles and visiting more than 60 thrift stores, including 32 Goodwill stores in 30 states. During this year's trip, she will complete 48 of her 50 thrifty states.

I am proud to say that Goodwill Industries® is an educational partner and a sponsor along with BALCON Enterprises, Inc. of the project and upcoming book. Isaacson intends to highlight the positive aspects of second-hand shopping in local communities while also demonstrating how donating used items helps shrink landfills, reduce clutter, save money for municipalities and boost the economy.

I'm looking forward to learning more about the life-cycle of these used goods and how they showcase the lives of those who donate them, and I hope you are too.

Follow Isaacson's journey at http://allthriftystates.com or Twitter: @AllThriftyState and Facebook.

Pop-Up Nation: 5 Reasons Why the Temporary Shop is Here to Stay

2013-03-08T09:05:57-05:00

Over the last decade, "pop-up" retailing -- in which a brand or company shows up at a physical location for a limited period of time -- has gone from a holiday novelty to a year-round retailing solution. Some have been quick to dismiss the pop-up phenomenon as a trend that is problematic for business, given the short-term nature of the model. But recent years have shown the opposite, with pop-up shops proving to be a long-term strategy for businesses, communities and nonprofit organizations alike.

Here are 5 reasons why pop-up shopping is here to stay:

1) Pop-Ups Encourage Creativity: As anyone who has sat in an office chair for eight hours a day can tell you, getting up and moving around is good for the mind. It's also good for business. Companies can get set in their ways, too, and picking up and moving can have beneficial effects. Opening a pop-up location for a day, a week or a month can be a low-cost, high-return method to rethink the way the business operates. Every brand, large or small, can benefit from shaking things up.

2) Pop-Up Shops Help Reach New Audiences: Take Goodwill, for instance: We're a 110-year-old business, but in recent years we've revamped our business strategy to include boutiques, trunk shows and pop-up venues that help us connect with younger audiences. This week, our pop-up shop at the SXSW: South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX, during the interactive portion, will sell vintage clothing and accessories, allowing us to reach a younger audience who are beginning their lifelong relationship with Goodwill. In addition, many folks have come to resonate with the recent hit, "Thrift Shop," by Macklemore, and the pop-up shop will provide the opportunity to "pop some tags."

3) The Shops Re-energize Communities: Even though the economy is showing signs of recovery, Main Streets across America are still hurting, and retail vacancy rates are high. Pop-ups not only help put revenue in landlords' hands, they can also serve to revitalize communities, bringing shoppers out to locations they might not ordinarily visit and serving as a catalyst for growth.

4) Pop-ups are Good for Business: This one should be clear by now. Pop-ups were responsible for more than $8 billion in sales in 2010, according to Specialty Retail Report -- a figure that has since climbed to new heights. Consumers enjoy them because they're fun and new; businesses like them because they allow companies to move lots of product quickly; property owners like them because they fill space that would otherwise remain empty.

5) The Shops are Good for Nonprofits, Too: While many big brands like Target and eBay have taken advantage of the pop-up economy in recent years, the trend is also catching on among social enterprises and nonprofits. While the Goodwill POP! shop is open at SXSW, for example, revenue raised will support the Goodwill Industries of Central Texas mission of generating lifelong connections to work.

Now that sounds like an idea with staying power.

Bridging the Digital Divide

2013-03-05T09:17:53-05:00

How are you reading this blog right now? Are you at home or work? Are you on your phone or a computer? Unfortunately, many people don't have such luxuries. In a job seekers' world that is heavily reliant on the Internet, a lack of digital access means a job seeker must jump through extra hurdles to access up-to-date job listings, career development information, free online classes and other content that can help them find jobs and advance their careers.

As CEO of an organization dedicated to helping people find work, I see firsthand how important technology has become to the job search. Yet the digital divide -- differences in opportunities for people who have access to computers, mobile technology and the Internet and those who do not -- is still creating an uneven playing field in the job market.

This divide stems from a variety of socioeconomic factors, including age, gender, education level and income. According to the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project, 96 percent of American adults who graduated from college and 72 percent of those with high school diplomas use the Internet, compared with only 47 percent of those without high school diplomas. We see a similar discrepancy when looking at income levels: 95 percent of people making $50,000 to $74,999 use the Internet, compared with only 68 percent of those who are making $30,000 a year or less.

To this end, Goodwill provides in-person and virtual career services across the country, and we continually train our trainers about digital literacy and inclusion. In fact, in one of our train the trainer courses, participants read a story about a woman who doesn't have a computer in her home and has to visit libraries to access the Internet to search for and apply to jobs. She shares her family's one car with a son who uses it to get to his two jobs, so this woman relies on public transportation. Unlike many of us, she can't respond immediately to emails or casually browse the Internet for job postings.

Bridging the digital divide requires improved access to digital technology and digital literacy classes.

Another part of Goodwill's portfolio of career services is GoodProspects -- an online community for career explorers originally funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. On this site, users can learn how to prepare for careers in fields from customer service to health care to information technology by accessing the knowledge of our online career mentors, other job seekers on the site, countless audio webinars and many group discussion boards. Users can also opt to receive job alerts on their phones via text message in lieu of emails that may require access to the Internet.

I invite you to visit the GoodProspects site or to volunteer as a mentor at your local Goodwill. Together we can help even the playing field for job seekers previously held back due to the digital divide.

Invest in Veterans

2013-01-23T14:22:12-05:00

As the country wrestles with the budget crisis, there is one thing on which we agree: just as we are committed to the country's security and defense, we are committed to our veterans and military families. Without them, we would have no defense. They are proven leaders and community assets.

For the men and women who defend our country and their families, the battle doesn't end once their tours of duty are over. More than a million service members will transition back into civilian life over the next five years. As veterans return home, both they and their families will face challenges. Of particular concern, the stubbornly bleak job market translates to high unemployment for veterans, especially young veterans, who face an unemployment rate of nearly 30 percent, more than three times the national average. In addition, military families are frequently relocated during the member's service, making it difficult to build credentials and careers. The fight to earn employment is often further complicated for the many veterans who return home with service-related physical disabilities or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Considering everything these veterans have done for us and the value they add to our communities, there should be no greater national priority than ensuring that they receive all of the services they need to successfully transition into civilian life. In 2011, Goodwill answered First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's call to action to help veterans and military families train for the workforce. The result, Goodwill for America's Heroes and Their Families, has helped thousands of veterans and military families receive training and find employment. In 2012, Goodwill joined Got Your 6, a nationally-focused collective campaign led by the entertainment industry and nonprofits with the mission of creating a new conversation in America -- one in which veterans and military families are recognized as both leaders and civic assets. In addition, Goodwill launched Operation: GoodJobs, with the support of the Walmart Foundation, to assist both veterans and their families in three geographic areas with job training and placement, and long-term financial stability.

To build on our success with Operation: GoodJobs, we recently launched an initiative with the support of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation -- Vested in Veterans -- which will help even more veterans and their families secure educational opportunities, find jobs and build careers. Bank of America is proud to partner with Goodwill to support job training and placement for veterans. Four Goodwill headquarters were chosen by Bank of America based on their impact and their relationships with the community. Each participant in the Vested in Veterans program will receive an individualized career and financial plan designed to support a comprehensive set of personal goals related to employment, finances, assets, leadership and service. Participants will have access to community college courses, job search and placement services, and holistic career development tools designed to ensure long-term financial success and create a roadmap for their civilian careers.

We invite you to join us in making sure Vested in Veterans is one of the first of many dedicated initiatives to connecting military veterans and their family members with career and financial success. If there is one thing that all of us, regardless of political affiliation, can agree on, it is that America's heroes and their families deserve all the support they need to succeed. For more information, contact 1-800-GOODWILL or www.goodwill.org.

Remembering Dr. King Through Service

2013-01-18T10:45:47-05:00

"Life's most persistent and urgent question," Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once stated, "is, what are you doing for others?"

As we mark the 84th birthday of Dr. King this weekend, Americans across the country will honor his legacy by coming together to serve their neighbors and communities during a national day of service.

In 1994, Congress declared that the federal holiday marking Dr. King's birthday should be a "day on" rather than a "day off," and they officially designated it as a national day of service. Since then, millions of Americans have honored his legacy by giving up their "day off" and turning it into a "day on" to serve others. I'm proud to note that this year Goodwill® will join hundreds of other organizations in organizing service events across the country, from sorting donations for people affected by Hurricane Sandy in New York to organizing clothing drives and youth mentoring programs.

This year's day of service will take on added significance as it also coincides with President Obama's inauguration. This Saturday, as part of the inaugural events, thousands of Americans will fill the National Mall in Washington, D.C, for the Service Summit, where attendees can find opportunities to volunteer with organizations both during the national day of service on Monday, and throughout the year.

As President Obama stated,

This year's inaugural will reflect our belief that working together, we can keep moving our country forward and fulfill the promise of the American Dream for all families. The Service Summit will use the momentum of the inauguration to expand this vision to a 'year on' for community service by calling on the public to pledge to serve throughout 2013. After all, Dr. King's vision included us all working to better our communities throughout the year, not just for one day.

Goodwill will join Chelsea Clinton, Eva Longoria, Iraq War veteran Rep. Tammy Duckworth and others on the National Mall for a day of promoting service opportunities. Anyone who is interested can join, and you can RSVP for the event via the National Day of Service website.

Those who can't make it to Washington can find a local service project below:

Volunteer on MLK Day - 300pxgreat free widgetsWidgetboxMore info

Top 10 Things to Donate Before the End of the Year

2012-12-14T20:36:46-05:00

In a season when many of us are focused on gift buying or a tax deduction, December is a good time to think about another kind of giving: donating.

Even if you are tapped out financially, you can still give back by donating clothing and household items you no longer use. You don't have to spend money to be charitable -- and the things lying around your house can have more of an impact than you may realize.

Goodwill® is counting down the top 10 things to donate before the end of the year. We're also letting you know exactly how much of an impact each item can have.

10. Computers

Computers and their peripherals contain electronic parts that are hazardous to the environment if not disposed of properly. Don't discard an old computer at the end of its useful life -- recycle it through a program such as Dell Reconnect. Just remember to remove personal data from hard drives and other storage media before donating to Goodwill.

Impact: Donating or recycling one computer can provide 6.6 hours of job skills training for someone like Wayne Quamina, who was forced to quit his long career in carpentry after suffering from congestive heart failure, but he learned new skills through a Goodwill program. Today, he helps build parts for Gulfstream airplanes.

9. Kitchenware

Get a new cooking set during the holidays? Don't gift rid of those pots and pans you will no longer use. Gently used kitchenware can be donated at most Goodwill locations.

Impact: Donate five kitchen items and you will provide 23 minutes of financial planning class for a single mom like Stephanie Gayle, who learned financial literacy, job search and placement strategies, and résumé development that helped her land and keep a job.

8. Video Games

Did your child just have to have the latest (and likely the most expensive) video game this year? Make a deal: for every new video game, donate two they don't play anymore.

Impact: Donate 10 video games and you can provide 47 minutes of on-the-job training for someone like Sarouet Ouk, who dropped out of school but found a green job and got back on track educationally, thanks to a Goodwill job training program.

7. Books

Upgrading from paperbacks to a Kindle or iPad this year? You know where I'm going with this....

Impact: Donate 15 books and provide 26 minutes of career counseling for a veteran like Jason Tobey, a Marine Corps veteran who struggled to find employment after being honorably discharged from the military.

6. CDs

You've got all your songs saved on hard drives and mp3 players. Do you really need those hundreds of old CDs taking up space in the back of your closet?

Impact: Donate 20 CDs and provide 1.4 hours of a job search class for someone like Cheryl Godwin, an Army veteran with kids in college who had never searched for a job in her life, but needed to find a way to make extra income to support her family.

5. Cell Phones

Unused cell phones are one of the fastest growing types of trash in America. Instead of discarding your old phone, recycle or donate it -- but remember to remove any of your personal data!

Impact: Donating used goods of all kinds doesn't just help clean out your closets, it provides valuable services to millions of Americans every year. And it's easy. Join the Donate Movement and calculate your impact.

4. Household items

Lamps, frames, vases, curios, baskets and collectibles are just some of the knick-knacks we love to sell at Goodwill.

Impact: Donate three lamps and a mug, and you can provide 39 minutes of job training for someone like Tabitha Nobles, who was homeless after splitting up with her husband, but she learned how to keep going through a Goodwill Career Connections class.

3. Bikes

Yes, Goodwill and other thrift stores take big-ticket items like bikes. When your children have outgrown theirs, or you've moved on to a new bike, consider donating the old ones.

Impact: Donate a bike and you can fund 27 minutes of job training for someone like Mel Yawn, who was born with spina bifida and faced a difficult time finding employment, but he now works for shopgoodwill.com.

2. Gift Cards

Billions of dollars in holiday gift cards go unused every year. You can donate an unwanted gift card -- with any unused amount on it -- to your local Goodwill.

Impact: Help provide a job for someone like Kris Jacques, who has been in a wheelchair from birth and was long unable to find employers willing to give him a chance, until he landed a position as a donor greeter at a Goodwill store.

1. Textiles

Textiles include clothes such as suits, pants, dresses and shirts. You name it, we'll take it. They are the largest volume of items we receive and sell. Donating clothes not only funds job training programs, but also provides new outfits for Goodwill job seekers.

Impact: Donate one bag of clothes and you can provide 1.1 hours of résumé preparation for someone like Devin Williams, a person with a criminal background who struggled with addiction but got his life back on track and is pursuing a career in environmental engineering.

So, what do you plan to donate before the end of the year? Calculate the impact of your donations at donate.goodwill.org and tell us about it in the comments below.

The Fight Against Unemployment

2012-12-03T09:46:44-05:00

This holiday season, Americans are once again shopping. Gift-seekers turned out in droves for the first weekend of holiday shopping, and consumer confidence rose to a four-year-high. This is good news for our economy, but let's not forget that some 12 million Americans aren't concerned about gifts; each of these people wants only one thing before the end of the year: a job.

Even as the economy shows signs of revival, for the individuals who have been unemployed for a long time, finding jobs remains frustratingly complex. At Goodwill, I see firsthand, day after day, just how much people without jobs are struggling, and I also see how much a helping hand can aid in the job search and in turn how landing a job can change a person's life.

Take Carolyn Wright, for example. When Carolyn was laid off after 13 years in the same job, she found herself without proper training to transition to a new career. Like millions of other Americans, she had only trained for one job; she didn't have the flexibility to transition into a new career and could not find a job in her current field. After looking into Microsoft classes offered at Goodwill, Carolyn obtained business and medical office training with an aim to go into medical administration. Although she hadn't attended school in 20 years, she enjoyed the learning process. She earned perfect scores and felt great about herself after so recently hitting her lowest point. At the same time, Carolyn received job search assistance. She quickly earned a temporary position that led to full-time employment and today is happy to have a job that she loves.

There are countless other people like Carolyn -- people who are eager to work hard and earn a living and simply need the training opportunities to get there. I believe every American deserves the same chance Carolyn had: to train for, find and keep a good job. Without the proper resources, these tasks can seem insurmountable.

This holiday season, consider taking a few minutes out of your gift-giving traditions to join the fight against unemployment. You can do so by taking an hour to clean out your closets and join the Donate Movement, donating used clothes and goods to fund job training and placement programs.

Now you can also accomplish this mission by taking just a minute of your time to donate your voice, letting all of your friends and family know that you believe in the power of work.

Goodwill is seeking individuals to make an impact by declaring they stand with us in the fight against unemployment. Because all of our voices together are much louder than one voice alone, we've started a Thunderclap drive in partnership with Levi's. We ask that at least 100 people donate their voices to the fight against unemployment. If 100 people pledge their support through Thunderclap by December 12, a message will be sent through their Twitter or Facebook accounts simultaneously -- meaning that their voices and the voices of their friends and followers will speak together about the power of work.

As the holiday season kicks into full gear and our economy continues to swing upwards, let's be sure to remember that every American deserves the chance to reach self-sustainability through the power of work. Pledge your voice today.

More Than Bottles and Cans: Five Ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle on America Recycles Day

2012-11-16T17:01:13-05:00

Yesterday marked America Recycles Day, the only nationally recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. Organized by Keep America Beautiful, America Recycles Day is a time for each of us to think about our level of personal waste and to consider ways to reduce it.

Every year since 1980, the rate of Americans who recycle has increased. And, as most of us know by now, recycling is about more than just bottles, cans, newspapers and magazines, although recycling all of those is important! New innovations -- along with some tried and true methods -- allow us to easily recycle more than just those items required by law. Today, think about what you can do to decrease your own environmental impact and make the "reduce, reuse and recycle" mantra a part of your daily routine.

Here are five ways to get started:

1. Recycle Computers: Don't just leave your used laptops in the closet, and certainly don't discard them. The Dell Reconnect partnership between Goodwill Industries International and Dell diverts used computers and equipment from area landfills. You can bring used computers and accessories to one of nearly 2,500 designated drop-off locations. Donated equipment is either refurbished and resold at Goodwill or broken down into parts, such as metals, plastics and glass, to be recycled by Dell partners worldwide.

2. Recycle Food: Composting isn't just for farmers anymore. An increasingly large number of Americans are cutting down on their waste by composting in their own homes -- turning natural food scraps into fertilizers for backyards or even window plants. Don't know how? It's easier than it sounds! Learn how to get started at howtocompost.org.

3. Recycle Clothes: Every year, Americans divert billions of pounds of goods from landfills when they choose to donate their used clothing and household items. How much of a difference can your used jeans and t-shirts make? Visit donate.goodwill.org to calculate the human impact of your Goodwill® donations.

4. Recycle Shoes: Since 1990, Nike's Reuse a Shoe program has collected more than 28 million pairs of used sneakers, turning them into athletic surfaces at playgrounds, and in some cases into new shoes and apparel. If your sneakers are too worn-out to donate, find the Reuse a Shoe drop-off location near you.

5. Recycle Holiday Lights: This one is especially timely, with the holiday season just around the corner. Every year, you open up that box of holiday decorations and find those chords of lights twisted all around each other with some working, some not, right? Forget about turning and testing those tiny little bulbs, desperate to see which ones are working. Get rid of former lights, guilt-free. Holidayleds.com recycles lights, free of charge.

What about you? What are you recycling?

For information about America Recycles Day events near you, visit americarecyclesday.org.

Heroes on the Homefront

2012-11-09T19:24:36-05:00

"I thought that because I'm a veteran... employers would be receptive to hiring me," says Latonya Thomas. "But I got out of the military at a time when the economy was melting down and people were losing their jobs. Not only did I have to compete with other veterans, but I also had to compete with civilians who had years of experience, and possibly had better or more skills than I had."

Latonya is one of the first veterans to share her story through Homefront Chats on YouTube, a new feature from Goodwill's Operation: good jobs program, which empowers military veterans to find employment, advance in their careers and ensure long-term financial stability for their families. Watch her full story here:

Unfortunately, Latonya's story is not unique; she is just one of millions with similar stories. Veterans Day is a good time for each of us to think about how we can help heroes like Latonya make that difficult transition from service overseas to life at home.

There are more than 20 million veterans living in the United States. As we withdraw from Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) over the next five years, more than one million military service members will re-enter civilian life. These veterans will face a variety of challenges, including physical disabilities such as traumatic brain injury, psychological disabilities such as post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as substance abuse, homelessness and long waits for benefits, among others. All of these challenges mean unemployment among veterans will remain stubbornly high.

In addition, military spouses and families face challenges of their own. Because they tend to move more frequently than non-military families, they may find it difficult to pursue long-term employment and career-advancing opportunities. Helping them find and secure employment is another way that we can help ensure the success of military members.

At Goodwill®, we've been caring for our military service members and their families through a variety of programs that work toward a continuum of coordinated services, including Goodwill® for America's Heroes and Their Families, a program that has employed more than 1,614 veterans and military family members and served 55,388 through a number of supports including financial education, health screenings, housing, mental health and substance abuse counseling, transportation assistance, virtual career assistance and more since July 2011. Goodwill is also an activation partner of Got Your 6, a nationally focused collective campaign led by the entertainment industry and national nonprofits, with the goal of placing 500,000 veterans in sustainable employment. In addition, with funding from the Walmart Foundation, Goodwill implemented Operation: GoodJobs, which ensures employers and veterans are better connected through a breadth of best practices. Our efforts have led to a higher number of veterans hired, and employers have reported increased retention rates.

Across the country, Goodwill hires more than 100 veterans each month. These individuals allow us to rapidly grow our business, and they provide valuable insights that help us to bridge their military training into civilian work skills. It is critical that veterans are able to translate their technical skills from military terminology to an employer-related context. This translation can ensure that employers recognize the value veterans bring to the workplace and the talent they possess. It is vital that we focus on helping veterans find jobs and work with employers to identify qualified candidates so they can continue to fully contribute at home as they did during their military service. If you're an employer, I encourage you to hire a veteran for your next job opening. You will quickly recognize the value veterans can deliver to your business.

Whether civilian or military, all Americans have a responsibility to empower and enable each other to live fulfilling, productive and successful lives in healthy communities. Please use the Homefront Chats video series to better understand the military community, help military children thrive, educate our educators and reintegrate veterans into civilian life.

If you're a veteran who needs help translating your military skills to the civilian workforce, be sure to connect with resources and organizations based in your community. These may include Goodwill, the United Way and Veterans Affairs field service representatives. To contact your local Goodwill, call (800) GOODWILL or visit locator.goodwill.org. For more information about Goodwill's veterans programs, please visit www.goodwill.org/goodwill-for-you/specialized-services/veterans

Ways Of Giving

2012-11-08T11:25:36-05:00

What does it mean to give? It's different for each of us. Some of us give money, some give time, some give resources and some give their passion. The holiday season often is a time for giving and sharing to be top of mind.

On Tuesday November 27, 2012, nonprofit organizations, charities, families, businesses and individuals are coming together to transform the way people think about, talk about and participate in this season of giving. Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become cultural traditions in the United States, this first annual #GivingTuesday will be a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season that celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations.

Goodwill will be one of several #GivingTuesday partner-organizations that provide opportunities to give.You can support your community through Goodwill in a variety of ways -- donate, volunteer or lend your voice through advocacy. Most people know Goodwill as a brand name for its stores, but the basis of our mission is to provide people with disadvantages and disabilities opportunities to obtain employment, which is essential to improving health, educational attainment and equity. As an organization, we know that true progress comes from the economic growth and stability of communities.

If you donate your used goods, such as household items, clothing and electronic accessories, they are sold in one of our more than 2,700 stores and the revenue is used to fund job training programs and support services for people who face challenges to finding employment. Goodwills offer training for jobs in healthcare, IT, retail sales and management, food services, banking, manufacturing and more. Goodwill also offers office and computer skills training. In addition, job seekers can meet with a specialist face-to-face at a local Goodwill, or visit our virtual job mentoring community -- GoodProspects^SM.

You can also give a financial gift and choose to have your gift be used in one of three ways: to support a local program in your community, to support programs across the U.S. and Canada, or to support Goodwill's international development for emerging Goodwill agencies outside the U.S. and Canada.

Volunteering is another great way to give back, and Goodwill has a variety of volunteer opportunities, such as serving as a youth mentor for just one hour a week through our GoodGuides® program. Locate a volunteer opportunity near you using our search tool.

Last, you can lend your voice through advocacy by supporting our advocacy priorities and contacting your local Member of Congress to take action. As a human services provider, Goodwill focuses on legislation that impacts job creation for seniors, youth, veterans, military members and their families, and a number of vulnerable populations. Goodwill is all about changing lives -- designing plans to bring people's dreams to life, while connecting them with other community resources, such as childcare, free tax preparation, youth mentoring, reliable transportation, shelter and financial planning in order to create stability both at home and in the workplace.

Take Joy, for example. She came to Goodwill Industries-Knoxville to find job training opportunities and job search assistance. Joy was depressed. She had been recently divorced, and had injuries to her arms and back that caused her to lose her job. Joy lacked computer skills, which limited her ability to obtain employment, but she had a desire to work, gain valuable skills and continue her education. Joy enrolled in Goodwill's Work Keys and Self-Paced Applications in the Computer Environment (SPACE) program, and is currently improving her computer knowledge and abilities. Joy looks forward to the future, and plans to enroll in a local community college this fall, with the goal of becoming a psychiatrist.

Or take Joanna. She sustained a brain injury as a child that affects her cognitive functioning. With the help of the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) program at Goodwill, she learned strategies to be more effective in her work and personal life. With the help and encouragement she received at Goodwill, Joanna was able to earn a job at the Frederick Visitors Center, where she organizes mailings, restocks brochures and answers visitors' questions. Her current job is just a beginning for Joanna, who dreams of one day working with the elderly. To that end, she volunteers at an assisted living facility and is studying gerontology at her local community college.

If you would like to learn more about #GivingTuesday, and how to participate either as an individual, or an organization, head over to givingtuesday.org.

This blog is part of our #GivingTuesday series, produced by The Huffington Post and the teams at InterAction, 92nd Street Y, United Nations Foundation, and others. Following Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday --which takes place for the first time on Tuesday, November 27 -- is a movement intended to open the holiday season on a philanthropic note. Go to www.givingtuesday.org to learn more and get involved.

Beyond Jobs - Giving Women the Tools They Need to Succeed

2012-10-09T08:28:28-04:00

Did you know that more than three in five American families now rely on women to be sole or co-breadwinners? In this highly charged political season, one thing I'm sure everyone can agree on is that our families and communities will suffer if more women don't have the chance to succeed in the workplace. Unfortunately, many women are finding it increasingly difficult to do just that.

One such woman is Vanessa, a single mother of a teenage son. Until recently, she held an administrative position that allowed her to earn enough to get by and support her son. Her son experienced serious behavioral and mental health problems at school, however, and Vanessa found herself frequently missing work to tend to problems at school. Eventually, her absences led to her dismissal from employment.

Vanessa's story is not an uncommon one. While the details are different for everyone, millions of women face similar struggles supporting their families, both financially and holistically.

Despite the modest economic recovery, women have regained only 25.8 percent of the jobs they lost during the recession, while men have regained 42 percent of their jobs lost. And women who are working are likely to earn less than their male counterparts. Full-time working women are still paid only 77 cents for every dollar paid to full-time working men, and the median yearly pay for women in the United States is $10,784 less than it is for men. In addition, a 2011 White House report shows female-led families have the lowest earnings among all family types.

Dour stuff, I know. But here's some good news: Vanessa's story has a happy ending. She took part in an innovative pilot program at Goodwill called Beyond Jobs, which not only helps put women back to work, but takes a holistic approach to job training, placement and family financial support services to ensure that each of these women succeeds in the long run. Each woman in the Beyond Jobs program receives a complete career assessment, including job training, placement services and additional support to help them achieve economic security and advance in their careers. Even after participants are placed in jobs, they receive support to retain them, to further their education, and to advance in careers within their chosen industries. It's not just about job placement, but about helping women maintain employment and advance so that they can support their families.

In Vanessa's case, she embarked on a thorough and diligent job search, taking advantage of a range of supports, including transportation assistance for interviews, cover letter writing, mock interviews and help purchasing cell phone minutes so she could be reached by potential employers. Taking a whole-family approach, Goodwill matched Vanessa's son with a mentor who helped the bright but defiant youth gain confidence through a service learning project. While her son still experienced some behavioral problems at school, they both had the support of the Goodwill team. She became confident she could get a new job -- and keep it. In February, Vanessa landed a job she loves at a nonprofit managed care organization, earning more than $15 an hour. Her son graduated from high school, held a summer job, and is now working with his mentor to register for community college courses.

There is no reason why the story of all working women in America shouldn't have such a happy ending.

On that note, through a $7.7 million grant from the Walmart Foundation, the Beyond Jobs program is expanding, allowing Goodwill to reach many more women across the country. The program will now focus not just on single mothers, but on all women who are unemployed or underemployed.

At Goodwill, we believe that every individual should have the opportunity to create economic sustainability through the power of education and employment. The hard-working women in our lives are most deserving of this opportunity.

For more information about Beyond Jobs, visit www.goodwill.org/beyondjobs

The National Day of Service -- Let's Come Together and Do Our Part

2012-09-11T17:51:05-04:00

One of the things that make America such a great country is our proud history of working together to overcome difficult times. It started with the founding of our nation 236 years ago, and it continues to this day. As individuals, we may not always see eye to eye -- the current political season provides a clear example of how reasonable people can disagree -- but when the time comes to pull together, no other nation does it better than the citizens of the United States of America.

I am reminded of this desire to serve others as we once again mark the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. It has now been 11 years since that dark day, and none of us will ever forget where we were or how our nation pulled together in the days and weeks that followed. As devastated as I was by the attacks in New York and Washington, DC, I was equally proud by the ensuing patriotism we displayed. People of all walks of life stood together with a renewed purpose and volunteered to help with rescue and recovery efforts. Others enlisted in the military to serve our nation.

Americans took the time and effort to help people they would never have met under other circumstances. We at Goodwill are lucky enough to see this continued sense of purpose and compassion in our work, and with the people we serve every day. And, as a national activation partner for the Got Your 6 initiative, we are witness to the wonderful spirit and commitment exhibited this year as part of The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance. This presidentially declared national day of service is the culmination of an effort originally launched in 2002 by 9/11 family members and support groups, who worked to establish the service day as a forward-looking means to honor 9/11 victims, survivors and others who rose up in service in response to the attacks.

In 2009, Congress designated September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance and charged the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) with supporting this effort across the country. This year, CNCS is working with numerous organizations to implement one of the largest days of charitable service in U.S. history. CNCS anticipates that hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals will take part under the auspices of its two signature programs, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, in service to and remembrance of active duty armed service members, veterans and their families. CNCS service day collaborator, MyGoodDeed (now known as 9/11 Day), estimates that more than 33 million individuals around the country participated in the day of service last year.

Goodwill agencies around the country are once again doing their part this year. Just a few examples are listed below.

• Goodwill Industries of Big Bend (Tallahassee, FL) colleagues will serve in a variety of volunteer roles in their community throughout the Florida panhandle. In addition, Goodwill has donated books, DVDs, magazines and other items that will be included in care packages for our troops.

• Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Stateline Area (Rockford, IL) will be hosting volunteers, including 30 members of the executive leadership team of a local health care system. The volunteers will assemble Employment Kits, which are designed to help area job seekers have the tools and resources they need to find work.

• Goodwill of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia (Maple Shade, NJ) will take part in a
beautification effort along Main Street in Medford, NJ -- a town that has suffered through difficult budget cutbacks.

• Goodwill of Greater Washington (DC) will host volunteers from AARP at one of its Northern Virginia locations. The associates will assist with various aspects of donation center operations.

These activities provide just a small picture of the kinds of efforts taking place on the National Day of Service. Your service does not have to be in grand or grueling activities. The point is to serve others around you, to do your small part, as we once again transform a dark day in our nation's history into a unifying event that we can be proud of for years to come.