blog.goodwillindy.orgGoodwill of Central & Southern Indiana Blog

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana Blog Introducing Jennifer Heaston, Goodwill NFP Nurse of the Year [fa icon="calendar’] May 10, 2024 3:00:00 PM / by Noelle Gray posted in Nurse-Family Partnership , Mission Awareness , Nurses Week [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) pairs registered nurses with expectant parents for ongoing visits aimed at supporting families in providing the very best start for their children during the earliest, most developmentally critical years. Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] Goodwill NFP Celebrates Successful Parents [fa icon="calendar’] May 8, 2024 3:00:00 PM / by Noelle Gray posted in Nurse-Family Partnership , Nurses Week [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP) pairs first-time, expectant parents with a registered nurse for ongoing one-on-one visits aimed at supporting families in providing the very best start for their children during the earliest, most developmentally critical years. Nurses partner with families from their baby’s birth until the child turns two years old, helping them achieve healthy pregnancies and childhoods while uncovering their skills as parents. Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] Celebrating Educator Appreciation Month: Spotlight on Katie Bustamante [fa icon="calendar’] May 7, 2024 11:30:00 AM / by Riley McCarthy [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments May is Educator Appreciation Month, and to celebrate we are highlighting Katie Bustamante, the Vice President of Goodwill Education Initiatives and The Excel Center National Office. Katie is a shining example of an educator who not only taught students in the classroom but also became a community builder and impact maker through her role with The Excel Center®. Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] Empowering Families Through Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership [fa icon="calendar’] May 3, 2024 9:23:27 AM / by Jenny Kakasuleff posted in Nurse-Family Partnership , Parents , mental health , Mission Awareness , Multi-gen impact [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments When I was first diagnosed with unspecified psychosis, I didn’t want to believe it,” Michaelae Cotton said. Many times…those with this diagnosis are described as ‘crazy.’ I was embarrassed and felt ashamed. It wasn’t until I found safe spaces that I began to embark on a journey of victory. My nurse came into my life at the perfect time.” Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] Making the Most of a Second Chance [fa icon="calendar’] Apr 30, 2024 3:15:57 PM / by Noelle Gray posted in Employment , New Beginnings , Mission Awareness [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments For over 10 years, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s New Beginnings program has helped previously incarcerated people reenter their communities successfully and positively impacted its participants’ recidivism or the rate of returning to prison. Compared to Indiana’s recidivism rate of 34%, Goodwill New Beginnings participants maintain a recidivism rate under 10%. Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] Chasing Dreams with The Excel Center [fa icon="calendar’] Apr 30, 2024 3:00:00 PM / by Noelle Gray posted in Employment , The Excel Center , Education , Goodwill Education [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments After working different jobs at minimum wage, Allen Kessinger realized that he had a dream of becoming an Indianapolis police officer – but he needed a high school diploma to apply for a position and begin training. A Core 40 diploma would allow Allen to earn a family-sustaining income and grow in his career. Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] Goodwill New Beginnings Celebrates Second Chance Month [fa icon="calendar’] Apr 26, 2024 3:00:00 PM / by Noelle Gray posted in New Beginnings , Criminal History , Mission Awareness [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments Since 2017, Second Chance Month has been observed in the United States to highlight the importance of supporting previously incarcerated people as they work to reenter their communities. Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] A Path to Financial Empowerment at Goodwill [fa icon="calendar’] Apr 19, 2024 10:30:00 AM / by Sam Stockman posted in Retail , Mission Awareness , Mission Coaches , Financial Literacy [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] Empowering Seniors with the Goodwill Young Leaders Board [fa icon="calendar’] Apr 15, 2024 3:00:00 PM / by Cameray Vican posted in Senior Community Service Employment Program , Mission Awareness [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is proud to celebrate National Financial Literacy Month. To elevate the importance of financial literacy and maintaining smart money management habits, we’re recognizing the Goodwill Young Leaders Board’s most recent volunteer initiative. Read More [fa icon="long-arrow-right"] Embracing Second Chances After Incarceration [fa icon="calendar’] Apr 5, 2024 3:30:00 PM / by Sam Stockman posted in Employment , Criminal History , Retail , Former Addiction , Mission Awareness , Mission Coaches , DEI [fa icon="comment"] 0 Comments "My life is completely different now. I have resources, mobility and a support system. I finally have meaning," said Loretta "Lori" Fairfield, a Team Lead 2 at Goodwill. Lori’s life prior to joining Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana was marked by trauma and adversity. She experienced the loss of multiple family members, while her parents battled alcohol addiction. Later in life, Lori herself grappled with addiction, leading to her incarceration in 1997. After spending over 25 years in the criminal justice system, Lori reached a turning point where she was determined to transform her life. Achieving seven months of sobriety, Lori entered house arrest with the intention of reentering the workforce. However, she encountered barriers securing employment due to her previous incarceration. At the suggestion of her caseworker, Lori embraced the opportunity to work for Goodwill and joined the Goodwill retail store in Lebanon as a wares producer in November 2021. During her tenure at Goodwill, Lori made significant progress in her personal and professional life. She established a more structured routine with her grandson, pursued her education and actively participated in various forms of outpatient therapy. Through therapy, Lori addressed the trauma she had experienced and worked on managing her severe social anxiety. Lori tackled financial challenges and set goals for advancing her career with her Goodwill Mission Coach, a life and career coach. Mission Coaches are available to all Goodwill employees and students. As she gained new skills and responsibilities, Lori was promoted to the role of Team Lead within her first year at Goodwill. Lori’s peers recognized her progress, success and dedication to her role, resulting in another promotion to Team Lead 2 within a few months. "I love my job, the people and the diversity,” said Lori. I enjoy helping people." Since joining Goodwill, Lori has achieved numerous milestones with the support of her team. Drawing on her life experiences, she finds common ground with others facing adversity and aspires to guide and support her peers as a strong leader. "I wouldn’t be here without them. They stuck by me and supported me through my legal barriers, educational barriers and the dramatic things in my life. I have a career now!" Are you looking to start a career at Goodwill? Check out our website for current job openings! 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