Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council Recent Programs

JOB TRAINING AND EDUCATION AT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES.
Rob Clements, Director of Planning and Program Development at Seattle Goodwill Job Training and Education Programs (rob.clements@seattlegoodwill.org or 206-860-5793, ext.793) was on hand to share that although perhaps best known for their thrift stores, the goal of Goodwill is to help people remove economic barriers to self-sufficiency through work.

• More than 80% of Goodwill students have an annual income of less than $10,000. 
• More than 80% have never touched a computer
• 34% have never held a job prior to coming to Goodwill
• More than half are immigrants or refugees with little knowledge of the English language or the American workplace
• Many have struggled to overcome homelessness, criminal history, domestic abuse and illiteracy.

Goodwill offers job training and education programs designed to help their students to reach the first step on the workforce ladder, which leads to better opportunities in the future.

All of Goodwill’s programs and services are free.
They are supported by proceeds from Goodwill store sales, generous grants from corporations, businesses and foundations, and financial gifts from individuals.

Goodwill’s Job Training Program offers a unique combination of services.
They offer retail and customer service training (using their network of popular Goodwill retail stores as hands-on laboratories), as well as a bank skills and financial services training program that gives participants the necessary training to get entry-level jobs in the banking industry, which often lead to future advancement opportunities.

In addition, to help fill gaps in education and to improve basic skills in preparation for successful job training, Goodwill offers participants free Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes.  Classes are small, so instructors are able to work with each student to ensure that the program and approach meets their academic and personal needs.  Some of the courses offered are English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), computer literacy, basic reading, writing and math, and more.

While employers are able to teach their employees the technical skills needed to do a particular job, they often can’t teach the intangibles that make an employee reliable, accountable and adaptable.  A recent survey of 431 human resource officials shows that concepts as critical thinking, teamwork and communication are viewed as more important than the standard technical skills.  Goodwill Works is a “soft skills” program focused on the skills, abilities and traits that pertain to personality, attitude and behavior rather than to formal or technical knowledge.  Without these basic life skills, it is difficult to succeed in a job. Proper workplace behavior, timeliness and communication are some of the components of the three-week Goodwill Works program.

Becase Goodwill is committed to helping its students find and keep gainful employment. In order to ensure that goal, we offer a number of support services to participants, including case management, career counseling, retention services and customized training. Each student works with a workforce development professional to create a career plan designed to enhance professional growth. Goodwill’s experienced Case Managers refer our clients for additional services such as childcare, transportation or counseling from other community partners when Goodwill does not provide a service, clearing potential barriers to learning. After clients find employment, our specialists regularly consult with them, and with the employer, to assess their progress and determine the need for additional services.

Goodwill recently opened an Eastside Job Training Center.  It is located at 14515 NE 20th Street
Bellevue, WA 98007.  Since the program is new on the Eastside, Goodwill Job Training is particularly interested in learning from existing community groups, programs, and faith communities about how they can partner to provide the best possible help for those in our community struggling to achieve a better life for themselves and their families.

To find out more about Goodwill Job Training and how you can become involved, please contact Cynthia Johnson, Bellevue Job Training & Education Program Specialist at 425-289-0040 or cynthia.johnson@seattlegoodwill.org.

If interested, please contact Carrie and Dick Stein at dick_stein@rocketmail.com or 206-367-6432.  Please include the hours you are available and, if you can help transport folks from Kirkland, how many seat belted passengers you can bring.

If you are unable to help on moving day but would like to provide a meal during their stay at Temple B’nai Torah, please check the calendar at http://prem.calendars.net/tcmeals and then email Irene at ipasternack@a.templebnaitorah.org to sign up. 

Submitted by Brian Anderson, Recording Secretary