Each month, the Social Good Blog highlights news and resources on a specific topic. In February, we are exploring diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Category: The Goodwill Blog
Shop at Goodwill®: You Never Know What You Might Find
Remember that episode of "Friends" when Phoebe shares her distaste for Pottery Barn because everyone who shops there ends up with the same stuff? Today’s post is dedicated to all of you Phoebes out there who prefer to have the unique, eye-catching pieces that can only be found at places like Goodwill. Whether you seek oddities that cause a raised brow, collector’s items, or clothing custom-made for celebrities, you never know what you might find at Goodwill!
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Cupid’s Arrow Misses Wide Right in Washington, DC
As Valentine’s Day came and went all across America many of us spent the long weekend with a loved one dining out, taking a trip, exchanging cards and gifts or quietly spending time together. But in the nation’s capital, valentines and signs of affection were nowhere to be found. It started just the week before with the announcement of the President’s FY 2017 budget.
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Why Culture Impacts Your Organization
Leaders working to create diverse and inclusive workplaces must make the connection between diversity initiatives, cultural differences and their organization’s business goals. Effective business cases set the context for diversity and identify organizational challenges that must be addressed in order to create change. Building inclusive workplace cultures requires far more than a strong business case, the “right” program, or even the most sophisticated assessment tools or metrics. To create high-performing work cultures, business leaders must pay attention to the people side— how employees connect to company values, its social impact on the broader community, the workplace role models employees are exposed to, and employees’ willingness and ability to participate in culture change efforts.
My Story: Virginia Finster
Looking at how I could move forward in life and what my next step was, I knew that education was something that had to be done. As far as what I could do, I wasn’t sure. I knew that I had little money and I had little time, but I needed something that would catapult me into a career where I could support my children and move forward in life.
Five-Minute Fixes (Part Two)
Are you ready for another adventure in thrifting? This week, let’s talk about how it’s possible to be incredibly busy (and even a little bit lazy, if you’re anything like me…) and still accomplish your own DIY projects! The secret is to find thrift store treasures that are mostly cool, but just need a little love. Then with a few minutes and a plan, you’ll be able to turn it into something really special. When I spot something at Goodwill that interests me, but needs a facelift, I often consider doing one of the following: painting it, repurposing it, or trimming it. One of those three options usually yields a unique project that I am really proud of.
Job Seekers Win In President’s Final Budget
On Tuesday, President Obama put forth his final budget, for FY 2017, in which he proposed increases in several workforce programs. Overall, the budget tops the four trillion dollar mark at $4.15 trillion, higher than his last budget but most of the increase is allocated toward Social Security and Medicare.
Mini-Documentaries Tackle Big Topics of Race and Diversity
“Work for All,” is a collection of 11 mini-documentaries (each running between approximately 3-15 minutes). Produced by the National Film Board of Canada and with the participation of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the examines topics of racism and diversity in the workplace through multiple lenses.
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Mid-Century Marvels
So I must admit I was late to hop on the Mad Men train. Ever the mid-mod fan, people kept telling me the show was right up my alley, yet for some reason I resisted. When I finally made the effort to watch, I instantly felt right at home.
“Make the Call” Following Super Bowl 50
This week’s Iowa Caucus and the upcoming New Hampshire primary on February 9 bookend the biggest sports spectacle in history - the NFL Super Bowl. On February 7, 190 million people are expected to watch this year’s game. Even people who don’t like football, or sports in general, usually find themselves drawn to the phenomenon that is pro football’s showcase event.
Fostering Diversity of Thought for Creative Business Solutions
What if the next best idea or great app for your company is just waiting to be revealed, but the employee who created it is not a part of the conversation because their title just doesn’t fit with your idea of who should be in the room? Gallup surveys show that 68 percent of U.S. employees are either “not engaged” or “actively disengaged”—resulting in lost organizational productivity and industry competitiveness. Keeping this in mind, a growing number of companies have open platforms for anyone in or outside of the organization to submit ideas.
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My Story: Martha Lugo
Martha Lugo is a graduate of Goodwill of San Antonio’s (TX) Good Career Academy. Prior to joining the program she was a Class B truck driver, but lacked the confidence to obtain a Class A license. Below she shares the experience, which led her to Goodwill and on a path toward home ownership.
