Strengthening our community together
Because of amazing donors and customers, Goodwill is able to provide services to thousands of people who face barriers to employment. Goodwill recognizes that services provided by peer agencies prepare people served by Goodwill to better succeed in Goodwill’s employment programs. It is with this understanding that Goodwill provides funding to colleague agencies to help with their own programs that align with Goodwill’s mission of “willing workers employed and community resources maximized.”
Our Partners
YWCA Job Outfitters
In December 2012, the YWCA Lincoln and Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc. teamed up on the YWCA’s Job Outfitters program to better serve its participants and the Lincoln community. The program has been expanded to serve women and men who are seeking a variety of professions. Participants will now be given vouchers good at any Goodwill Retail location to shop for interview and work apparel. Those wishing to donate clothing to the YWCA for this program may now take items to any Goodwill location. For more information about the Job Outfitters program, contact the YWCA at (402) 434-3494.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
In 2013, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) expanded its programming with the help of Goodwill. Through funding support from Goodwill, the agency offers extended employment preparation and career exploration through its one-to-one mentoring program.
Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentoring is proven to help youth to improve in school and in their personal lives. Big Brother and Big Sister mentors model and teach responsible behaviors. This often includes the importance of being on time, phone etiquette, how to effectively communicate with adults and the importance of high school graduation. Developing these skills helps successfully lead youth to future employment. Mentors also often help youth to explore career and educational opportunities.
In addition to the organization’s traditional mentoring program, the agency also hosts educational match activities that enhance students’ classroom experiences and give them the opportunity to explore various careers. These match activities focus primarily on science, technology, engineering and math fields and the employment skills needed for the jobs youth either have now or hope to gain in the future.
Big Brothers Big Sisters’ vision is that all youth achieve success in life. Through Goodwill’s support, the agency is helping youth to gain the valuable life skills needed for future employment.
Community Justice Center
Goodwill has been working with people who are connected to the correctional system over the years. Our mission is willing workers employed and community resources maximized and we find that our services are needed by this group.
Goodwill has served individuals on parole and probation in the past and has tried several times to launch programming that would occur inside of the prison. As a part of that process, we came to know Mr. Jim Jones who founded Community Justice Center. Community Justice Center offers programming that helps ex-offenders with the victim and community impact portion of their rehabilitation.
We have contracted with Mr. Jones to add a Goodwill employment readiness component to the services he provides inside the prison. We have determined that the victim impact programming is antecedent to moving forward with other employment readiness and job search activity. Through this collaboration we hope to aide these individuals with lower recidivism rates and help them transition back into the community.
Lincoln Literacy
Lincoln Literacy has received funding from Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc. in an effort to help those with limited English proficiency acquire the skills needed to search for and maintain employment. Lincoln Literacy’s current Workforce Readiness English program teaches students vocabulary, equips them with job-seeking skills, and prepares students for participation in the Nebraska workforce.
“This partnership is a win-win-win,” said Lincoln Literacy Executive Director Clayton Naff. “It will benefit Lincoln Literacy, Goodwill, and most importantly, the refugee and immigrant families who are our students.” The goal of this cooperation is to create a smooth transition between the programs and workforce for students. Selected Workforce Readiness students will undergo a brief training session and be personally guided through the registration process at the American Job Center, where Goodwill provides a variety of employment services. “It can be difficult to navigate through two separate programs, especially for students learning English,” said Naff. “Working together, we can make sure that our students have a smooth transition and that they are able to take full advantage of all of the services available.”
