Meet Goodwill’s First-Ever Community Collaborators

The creators redefining secondhand style in Greater Milwaukee & Chicago

Goodwill’s social community is growing — louder, prouder, and more creative than ever — and today, we’re thrilled to introduce the very first cohort of our Goodwill Community Collaborators.

These five creators come from different cities, styles, and walks of life, but they share one thing: a genuine love for secondhand treasures and the power of giving items a second chance.

Over the next few months, they’ll be creating original content across fashion, home styling, DIY, lifestyle, and upcycling — all through the lens of our mission and their unique point of view.

Let’s meet the team.

🌿 Molly Khanna (@mollykhanna)

Milwaukee | Photographer & Estate Sale Auction Specialist
Vibe: Warm • Worldly • Eclectic
Go-To Finds: Mid-century boho décor, unique coats & luxury handbags
Theme Song: “Rhiannon” – Fleetwood Mac

Molly believes the world already has everything we need — we just have to train our eyes and trust the process. A photographer and estate sale auction specialist by day, she brings an intuitive, sustainability-first mindset to everything she thrifts. She’s known for “manifesting” the exact piece she’s dreaming of by walking into Goodwill with an open mind and a clear vision.

For Molly, thrifting is about more than style — it’s about resisting overconsumption, cultivating personal taste, and choosing quality with intention. She feels most creative when she’s piecing something together rather than buying it already assembled, and she loves knowing that every find saves something meaningful from the landfill.

What you’ll see from Molly as a Community Collaborator:

• Fashion and home styling inspiration
• How to curate a meaningful, collected space
• Sustainable living through secondhand
• Lifestyle content rooted in creativity and intention

Her advice to new thrifters? Stay consistent, stay patient, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. “When the right piece comes along,” she says, “you’ll know it.”

To Molly, Goodwill means:
 “Curating a life that I choose to welcome into my space — not settling for the trends that are presented to me.”

🎨 Octavia J (@_itsoctaviaj)

Chicago | Account Manager
Vibe: Androgynous • Elevated • Casual
Go-To Finds: Menswear gems (aka the treasure section)
Theme Song: “MOOD 4 EVA” – Beyoncé

For Octavia, thrifting first began as a way to build a wardrobe full of elevated, unique pieces on a budget — but it quickly became her creative playground. She loves experimenting with silhouettes, mixing masculine and feminine energy, and proving that the men’s section is overflowing with style potential.

Fashion is her favorite form of expression, and Goodwill gives her the space to push boundaries, rethink basics, and discover unexpected gems that fuel her everyday creativity.

What you’ll see from Octavia as a Community Collaborator:

• Fresh gender-neutral looks
• Elevated chic basics
• Menswear-inspired styling
• A new lens on secondhand fashion

Her advice to new thrifters? Take your time. Shop with intention. Check for imperfections you’re comfortable with — and try everything on, regardless of the size on the tag.

To Octavia, Goodwill means:
 “A community of individuality.”

💛 Jessica Ivetich (@jivetich)

Chicago (Wicker Park) | Digital Activation Strategist
Vibe: Neutral • Minimal • Practical
Go-To Finds: Jackets, blazers, baskets for gifting, and a perfectly broken-in purse
Theme Song: “Good as Hell” – Lizzo

Jessica’s thrifting roots run deep — passed down from her grandma and strengthened by living in a neighborhood packed with secondhand shops. For her, thrifting isn’t just a hobby; it’s a creative practice, a way to shop intentionally, and a joyful way to give pieces a second (or third) life.

She loves curating gifts from Goodwill, exploring fashion through challenges like 75 Hard Style, and reinventing her wardrobe through her recent color analysis journey. Practical, thoughtful, and endlessly creative, Jessica brings a fresh, real-world approach to secondhand style.

What you’ll see from Jessica as a Community Collaborator:

• Teacher-friendly fashion? Not exactly — but work-friendly and life-friendly style for sure
• Budget-savvy hauls for gifting, wardrobe updates, and home essentials
• Seasonal décor that feels warm and modern
• Realistic, relatable lifestyle content

Her philosophy is simple: start with one or two pieces you’re hunting for, know your measurements, and take your time. Thrifting is modern-day “hunting and gathering,” and Jessica embraces both the creativity and the sustainability behind it.

To Jessica, Goodwill means:
“Affordable fashion and unique finds that help do good.”

💐 Julianne Barberio (@booksandapen)

Northwest Suburbs of Chicago | Nonprofit Marketer & Mom
Vibe: Vintage • Romantic • Timeless
Go-To Goodwill Finds: Children’s toys, thrifted wardrobe staples, books, office supplies
Theme Song: “Linger” – The Cranberries

For Julianne, thrifting isn’t just practical — it’s poetic. She discovered secondhand shopping during early motherhood, when life felt overwhelming, transitional, and tender. Thrifting became her lifeline: a place to rediscover herself, dress a changing body, nurture her son affordably, and feel connected to a lineage of women who loved their families through play, creativity, and resourcefulness.

Her approach to thrifting is filled with meaning — a belief that preloved goods carry stories, comfort, and continuity. She brings that same intentionality into her content: capturing the beauty of everyday life, the magic of found objects, and the joy of creating a home filled with soul.

What you’ll see from Julianne:

• Modern-meets-vintage styling rooted in meaning
• Thrifted tablescapes, cozy home moments, and seasonal rhythms
• Creative, reflective lifestyle content (journaling, reading, motherhood, play)
• Accessible inspiration for anyone beginning a secondhand journey

Her Thrift Philosophy

For Julianne, thrifting is connection — to the past, to community, to ourselves. It’s a cycle of love, care, and creativity that continues every time something finds a new home. She believes in thrifting not only for affordability or sustainability, but for its emotional richness and its stories.

Advice for New Thrifters

Start with inspiration. Bring photos, a list, or a feeling you’re chasing. Try things on. Look at items not just for what they are, but for what they could become with a little love.

To Julianne, Goodwill means…

“A continuation of the story & making new meaning with used objects.”

📸 Christel Thompson (@creativelegacyhd)

Milwaukee — Sherman Park | Content Creator, Church Admin & Mom
Vibe: Minimal • Intentional • Creative
Go-To Goodwill Finds: Small furniture, home décor, vintage treasures
Theme Song: Work That – Mary J. Blige

Christel thrifts with purpose, imagination, and heart. Her love for secondhand is rooted in childhood memories of Saturday thrift adventures with her mom — a legacy she now continues with her daughters. For her, thrifting isn’t just about affordability or sustainability; it’s about connection, creativity, and keeping family traditions alive.

She gravitates toward calm neutrals, simple silhouettes, and pieces that quietly elevate a space. Her content reflects that same grounded energy: soft, intentional, and always infused with creativity.

What you’ll see from Christel:

• Cozy, budget-friendly home décor ideas
• Family-focused secondhand routines
• Practical upcycling and simple transformations

Her Thrift Philosophy

Thrifting is a creative exercise — a chance to see potential where others might not. Christel approaches every find with imagination, asking how a piece can be repurposed, refreshed, or given new meaning. It's also a way for her to honor her late mother’s creative spirit through the legacy of secondhand adventures.

Advice for New Thrifters

Take your time. Look closely. Let your imagination guide you. The beauty of thrifting is seeing not just what something is, but what it could be.

To Christel, Goodwill means…

"A place of opportunity, creativity, and community — where every find can become part of your story."

Why This Matters

This program is more than content — it’s community.

✔ Reach new audiences

✔ Show real, meaningful secondhand stories

✔ Inspire sustainable, affordable lifestyle choices

✔ Highlight the impact of shopping at a 100% not-for-profit thrift

They represent the many ways people thrift, shop, create, and live with intention — and we can’t wait for our community to meet them across social media.

Stay tuned for their December debut on @GoodwillGreaterMC.

Let’s make secondhand louder, cooler, and more celebrated — together. 💙♻️