A Constancy of Purpose: By Harry Corbissero

          Some years ago, the Cleveland Plain Dealer ran an essay contest, “Why You Love Your Job.” The prize was five thousand smackeroos, and I entered. I didn’t win (they had 1,400 entrants), but I would like to share my submission because it really tells you something about what has sustained me in my instructional role over my long tenure here at Goodwill Industries. Okay, here it is:

          I feel quite passionate about my job and, if that’s love such a designation is okay with me.

          I work in the field of rehabilitation (now Workforce Development) as an instructor of both life and work-related skills, and have been doing so since 1987. I deal with people who have barriers to employment.

          One barrier the vast majority of the individuals I’ve encountered over the years share in common is feeling themselves to be “not as good as others,” for reason of the aforementioned personal barriers, as well as just being unemployed. My central mission is to help these folks learn to readjust their self-views and reignite their inner spark, giving rise to hope and new ambition.

          I’ve certainly encountered days when my own inner voice suggests to me that there are easier ways to make a living, but over riding these monetary lapses is the tremendous gratification I experience when I witness people move past the looming crevasse of their own self-doubt, and gain a more stable footing on the other side.

          That step is crucial as a preamble to further growth. And, as the old saying states, the first step is often the hardest one to take.

          I hope you’d agree that this idea still has a value, in spite of what a different world we live in these days.

A Little Support Makes A Big Difference: By Sandi Allison

          Our Lake County Training Center Manager, Rosemary, recounts a story of how little things motivate people we serve.

          One of our participants, who is a kind, creative, single mother motivated to make a better life for herself and her son, had been struggling with drug addiction prior to her pregnancy and ended up with a criminal conviction that landed her incarcerated. Rosemary reached out to her, writing her a supportive letter while she was in jail. The participant sent a return letter and said, “I’d like to thank you for reaching out to me the way you did. It means a lot to know I still have people wanting to help.” She then said, “I would like you to visit after I am transferred because I’ll be able to wear my own clothing and it won’t be behind bars.”

          Rosemary tells us, “Those words reinforced my belief that supporting our participants, even if it must be done remotely, is critical to their morale, their motivation, and ultimately to their success.”

What Does It Take?: By Chloe Quinn

          What does it take to turn a client into an employee? This question could evoke debate, but two clear answers are evident when you look at the team at Goodwill, Ashtabula. Both Myles Beckwith and Kaylee Parmertor began their adventure at Goodwill as clients -- in the yO! (Youth Opportunity) and PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in Developing Employment) programs, respectively. They are both now seasoned employees, who bring their talents and skills to work with them every day, in turn making life better for those in Northeast Ohio. In their time here, they have both become highly valued members of our team.

Myles began his time at Goodwill as a yO! program participant in August of 2015. Within months, he realized that he would enjoy working here, and so in October of 2015, he applied and was hired into the position of General Laborer.  Since then, he has turned production in the wipers area around, out-performing prior production numbers in this area. Way to go, Myles—keep up the amazing work!

Kaylee began her journey as a PRIDE program participant in January of 2016.  When she was offered a chance to work here, she turned her chance into an opportunity, and took it in June of 2016. She now works as a General Laborer in the Goodwill, Ashtabula production area, and you will find her smiling face sorting and testing items in E&M (electronics and mechanical), or doing anything else asked of her. Congratulations, Kaylee; keep on moving up!

          The moral of this story is this: don’t let your story end in the middle of a sentence! There are many programs available to help individuals succeed here at Goodwill, no matter where they might be at in their story. We believe in the transformative power of work- and that belief shines through in our success stories such as these shared by Myles and Kaylee!

Fueling Your Passion: By Mary Murray

          There was a buzz of activity, lots of chatter and peals of laughter in Room 152 as students at General McLane High School put their passion to work busily cutting, pasting, gluing, and drawing on their poster boards.  In the process, they also honed their negotiating and teamwork skills.

          The interactive, hands-on activity was designed by instructor Angela Murosky as a means of making the learning a fun activity while teaching a lesson on volunteering. First, she had the students watch a video focused on making a difference in the lives of others.  In another classroom with older students, Angela added another component, requiring students to fill out a worksheet on transferrable skills, such as teamwork, customer service, time management and organizational skills – that would be developed through volunteering.

          Students, working in groups of four, leafed through a directory of 30 volunteer organizations compiled by their instructor. The group had to reach a consensus on which non-profit agency it would select. Then the students dug in, making a poster with markers, pencils, drawings and other images to showcase the work of the agency. Each group was required to provide some specific information – contact information, illustrate what the agency does, and who it serves -- and were urged to be as creative as possible. After the students completed the assignment, they were required to make a formal presentation. One group member was chosen to be the presenter and his/her job  was to explain to the class why the agency was chosen, what they do, and identify the constituents they serve.

          The activity was an overwhelming success, Angela said, prompting students to speak with passion about causes they find important – whether it’s the ANNA Shelter or Asbury Woods Nature Center in Millcreek. One student, Tori, was so excited about the project learning more about the ANNA Shelter, that she asked whether she could take the poster home to show it to her mother, Angela said.

          The assignment gave students more information about community resources and how they might pursue volunteering – simply as a means of giving back. The bonus is that many students also reflected on their choice as a career opportunity -- a goal that aligns perfectly with Project Youth Experience Success.

Bridging The Gaps: Training & Placement Program

          Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. is working with The National Retail Federation Foundation (NRFF) and The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRA) in cooperation with Area Industries, The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Ashtabula County Health Department (ACHD), Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD), The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), and local employers; to developed professional training programs designed to move persons with disabilities and other challenges toward self-sufficient living.

          The “Bridging the Gaps” Training and Placement Program is designed to prepare individuals with disabilities and other challenges to fill on-going employment needs in Ohio and Pennsylvania. “Gaps” in the employment industry are where vacancies are high according to the ODJFS and the Bureau of Labor Market Information; where applicants may secure employment to earn a living wage with advancement potential. “Bridging the Gaps” is not only designed to fill the areas of need in the workforce, but also to provide a connection or a “bridge” that facilitates attitudinal and behavioral changes within the consumer. This is achieved through a process of “habilitation” rather than “rehabilitation” (Sims, 1989). That being said, “Bridging the Gaps” recognizes different approaches to learning transmission, acquisition, accretion, and emergence, and emphasizes that change itself is influenced by biological, psychological, sociological and spiritual variables. The capacity that each individual brings to the learning/change process is affected by these variables. At the same time, these models recognize that although the participant is ultimately responsible for change and learning, that responsibility is shared with the trainer through the development of a therapeutic training environment. Over the past fifteen years, considerable research has focused on ways to better motivate participants with various challenges. A series of motivational approaches has been developed to elicit and enhance motivation to learn and change. They seek to shift control away from the trainer and back to the participant empowering them. They emphasize treating participants as valuable productive individuals. They also recognize that gaining the mastery over ingrained challenges may be a cyclical rather than a linear process; and in addition that recurrence of issues does not necessarily indicate failure (SAMHSA, 2013).

          “Bridging the Gaps” affords each participant the opportunity to achieve a nationally recognized certification from either the NRFF in: Customer Service, Advanced Customer Service, Retail and/or Retail Management or a nationally recognized certification from the NRA as a: ServSafe, Safe Food Handler or Food Protection Manager. 

A Year Of Workforce Development

          In 2016, Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. (Serving Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania) took large strides in expanding Workforce Development programs and other services in the territories served. Having started this year with a youth program in Lake County, Job Development, Work Adjustment, EDS, and the PRIDE programs in Ashtabula County, we are now proudly offering two new programs while serving double the amount of individuals in these counties. With this growth, we have welcomed seven new talented Workforce Development staff to our core team, including:

Jewel Chappell: Job Coach & Developer

Lisa Friend: Case Manager

Andre Lyons: Job Coach & Developer

Matthew McCray: Mission Services Developer

Mary Murray: Workforce Development Specialist

Hanni Nazario: Workforce Development Program Manager

Willie Sims: Curriculum Developer

Rosemary Torok: Workforce Development Program Manager

          Also new this year, are five programs serving Erie, Pennsylvania, and four industry certificate training programs for in-demand jobs. We are positioning our Workforce Development department to partner with area industry employers in an effort to help with the growing numbers of unfulfilled job positions and individuals in need. Our Workforce Development division has been an integral part of these performance metrics, including increasing evidence based practices, and leveraging multiple funding sources to meet these demands. We understand the power of work in helping with recovery, recidivism, economic development, and community engagement.

          Expansion will continue in 2017, as we continue to implement strategic planning in all our territories, and help build a stronger workforce in the communities we serve. Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. (Serving Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania) is committed to supporting individuals with barriers to employment and achieving self-sufficiency. We thank our funders for their shared commitment to Workforce Development in the communities we serve. 

Goodwill Adds Sixth Retail Store Plus Donation Center

Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. (Serving Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania) has the vision to be recognized as the leader providing vocational services in the territories of which we serve. Among that vision, comes the need to expand business initiatives of donated goods retail to fund and support the vocational services we provide and strive to have stand out. With these motives in mind, Goodwill Industries has been enthusiastically planning to introduce a brand new retail store and attended donation center in Harborcreek, Pennsylvania, and now the time of it’s unveiling is right around the corner!

The new location will be located at 1980 Nagle Road, directly behind Walgreens on Buffalo Road. Prior to becoming a Goodwill, the location was previously known for being Martin's Country Clean & Self Serve Carwash, succeeded by Direct Bedding and Furniture. The past businesses that once thrived in this location, allow Goodwill to operate with a unique layout, as the past 1,700 ft2 laundromat and furniture store will now serve as a donated goods retail store and the two-door automatic carwash bay will serve as a drive-through attended donation center, adding a convenience feature for the individual who donates throughout the winter months.

The addition of this Harborcreek retail store will constitute as the sixth official retail site under the territorial domain of Goodwill Industries of Ashtabula, Inc. (Serving Northeast Ohio and Northwest Pennsylvania); and the ninth site in general, when one includes the attended donation centers and job training centers we have in Perry, Ohio, Conneaut Ohio, and Painesville, Ohio respectively.

As for now, the primary focus is on building the layout of the store, stocking the shelves, staffing the store, and training the staff. It is within our expectations to have both the new store and attended donation center completed and operating before the winter months come to a close.