Blog Posts

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Eva | Empowering Her Career and Building a Brighter Future

With determination—and the support of the United For Good program—Eva has found a pathway to independence, stability and a career that aligns with her dreams.
Read More Eva | Empowering Her Career and Building a Brighter Future
  • Program Participant Stories
  • Partnership Success
  • Goodwill’s Mission
people sitting around tables at the goodwill new lives luncheon

Celebrating the Goodwill Mission at the first New Lives Luncheon

Goodwill hosted its first New Lives Awards Luncheon on November 1, 2024 at Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel in Milwaukee. At the event, Goodwill leaders, board members, community partners and donors gathered to celebrate and honor our mission: Connecting people to work. Preparing people for life.
Read More Celebrating the Goodwill Mission at the first New Lives Luncheon
  • Forums and Events
  • Fund Development
  • Goodwill’s Mission
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Goodwill Careers | How an Inclusive Workplace Brought Marcus to Goodwill

Marcus Perez joined Goodwill because he was attracted to the combination of supporting business growth and strengthening our nonprofit mission impact.
Read More Goodwill Careers | How an Inclusive Workplace Brought Marcus to Goodwill
  • Working at Goodwill
  • Employee Stories
impact program - medical assistant trainee sitting in a chair

Making a Difference Through Medical Assistant Training: Kaylee’s story

Kaylee Oquendo always knew she wanted to make a difference, especially in the lives of kids. Thanks to Goodwill’s Impact Program, she found her dream role as a medical assistant at Children’s Wisconsin
Read More Making a Difference Through Medical Assistant Training: Kaylee’s story
  • Program Participant Stories
  • Workforce Development
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Matthew | Joining a Mentorship Program Helped Build a Career

Matthew Ellis’s journey with Goodwill started more than ten years ago, but things really took off when he joined the Boys and Men of Color program.
Read More Matthew | Joining a Mentorship Program Helped Build a Career
  • Working at Goodwill
  • Employee Stories
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Antonio | Getting Help Finding a Job at the Workforce Connection Center

Antonio Gardner's career journey started at Goodwill’s Workforce Connection Center (WCC). After overcoming challenges, Antonio found a fresh start and new opportunities that helped him build stability and success.
Read More Antonio | Getting Help Finding a Job at the Workforce Connection Center
  • Workforce Connection Centers
  • Employee Stories
goodwill career coaching graduates

Career Coaching Develops Diverse Talent

At Goodwill, we are committed to developing diverse talent – and that starts with our employees. The Career Coaching program equips and empowers employees to build the skills necessary for their next career step at Goodwill.
Read More Career Coaching Develops Diverse Talent
  • Workforce Development
  • Working at Goodwill
  • Employee Stories
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Creating Access to Healthcare Careers

With the growing healthcare workforce shortage, Goodwill partnered with United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County to fill this critical community need.
Read More Creating Access to Healthcare Careers
  • Workforce Development
  • Partnership Success
  • Workforce Connection Centers
Goodwill Great Lakes employee

Jaime | Helping Employees Build Careers

For Jaime, the most meaningful part of his role is “seeing employees learn new skills and get promoted to different positions.” Jaime’s dedication to his work and the people he leads is well recognized as he is a recipient of the Manager of the Year Award.
Read More Jaime | Helping Employees Build Careers
  • Goodwill Great Lakes
  • Employee Stories
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National Acknowledgement Highlights Goodwill Leaders and Board of Directors

Goodwill and our leaders have been nationally recognized by Diversity MBA Media for our dedication to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to thrive.
Read More National Acknowledgement Highlights Goodwill Leaders and Board of Directors
  • DEI
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Jamie | Helping Employees Reach Their Potential

At Goodwill, employees find work-life balance, a sense of fulfillment from contributing to the mission and an opportunity to grow their career. Those reasons appealed to Jamie – a single mom who wanted a flexible job that allows her to spend time with her daughter while also building a career.
Read More Jamie | Helping Employees Reach Their Potential
  • Retail
  • Employee Stories
high school age goodwill store employee

Helping Teens and Young Adults Develop Job Skills

The North Riverside Goodwill Store & Donation Center partnered with J. Sterling Morton West High School in Illinois to provide students the opportunity to learn job skills and gain life experience that will help them successfully achieve employment.
Read More Helping Teens and Young Adults Develop Job Skills
  • Retail
  • Workforce Development
  • Youth Programs
project search two employees at work

Building Job and Life Skills Through Project SEARCH

Learning the right skills to be successful at a job is important. Perhaps even more important is having the confidence to know you are ready for whatever lies ahead. It’s learning these types of life skills that make Project SEARCH so impactful.
Read More Building Job and Life Skills Through Project SEARCH
  • Program Participant Stories
  • Workforce Development
  • Partnership Success
goodwill project search employee at work

Rutger | Gaining Independence Through Project SEARCH

Project SEARCH is a national business-led, school-to-work transition program that includes hands-on training and career exploration internships that empower young adults with disabilities to build skills and confidence to enter the workforce.
Read More Rutger | Gaining Independence Through Project SEARCH
  • Program Participant Stories
  • Workforce Development
  • Partnership Success
goodwill store employee in front of books

Former attorney and activist finds meaning in work at age 80: Jo Ann's story

Jo Ann takes pride in creating a positive experience for shoppers and donors. She is a long-time Goodwill shopper who is not shy about being 80 years old. Jo Ann’s life experiences are helping Goodwill build a supportive community.
Read More Former attorney and activist finds meaning in work at age 80: Jo Ann's story
  • Retail
  • Goodwill’s Mission
  • Employee Stories
goodwill store employee boys and men of color program participant

Empower Youth Career Training and Development Success: Jordan's story

Jordan received an on-the-spot job offer after gaining the skills and confidence to ace the interview through Goodwill’s Empower Youth program.
Read More Empower Youth Career Training and Development Success: Jordan's story
  • Program Participant Stories
  • Youth Programs
  • Goodwill’s Mission
  • Employee Stories
two women

Supporting Goodwill employees and their success: Judith and Patricia's story

The Employee Empowerment Network extends our mission services inward from the outside to our store and donation centers.
Read More Supporting Goodwill employees and their success: Judith and Patricia's story
  • Working at Goodwill
  • Goodwill’s Mission
  • Employee Stories
goodwill great lakes cook at fryer

Aspiring chef supports the U.S. Navy and gains professional skills: Ceasar's story

Ceasar works as a line cook at Goodwill Great Lakes, which provides food service, administrative and logistic services to Sailors and Recruits at the U.S. Navy’s only bootcamp, Naval Station Great Lakes, in Great Lakes, Illinois.
Read More Aspiring chef supports the U.S. Navy and gains professional skills: Ceasar's story
  • Goodwill Great Lakes
  • Success Stories
  • Employee Stories
goodwill volunteers packing kits

Providing Support for our Chicago Neighbors

This summer’s Community Days included two impactful events in the Chicago suburbs. Both events were focused on ensuring under-resourced communities have food and other essential items.
Read More Providing Support for our Chicago Neighbors
  • Acts of Goodwill
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Case Study: Stemming the Turnover Tide at a Charter School Group

TalentBridge combined its proven track record in the education sector, its expertise working in other industries, and a thorough understanding of the client’s specific needs to stem the turnover tide for a charter school network’s six facilities in southeastern Wisconsin.
Read More Case Study: Stemming the Turnover Tide at a Charter School Group
  • TalentBridge Success