I had a lot of challenges growing up. I didn’t really know my dad and we moved around a lot because we had to. By the time I was a teenager, I was in trouble more than I was out of trouble, and things went from bad to worse. Goodwill gave me my first chance, but it
Tag: People with Criminal Backgrounds
My Story: Richard Nickell
When I was released from prison for crimes I committed in the past, I came to a shelter in Des Moines, IA. I was hoping to find a job and start to rebuild my life. I'm the kind of person who's kind of obstinate and I want to do things my own way. But, when I found Justin at the Goodwill of Central Iowa Career Center, I tried to learn from him.
Expanded Mattress Recycling Program Benefits Environment, Vets in San José
Goodwill of Silicon Valley (San José) recently announced it will expand its mattress recycling program, thanks to a new partnership between the Goodwill, GreenWaste Recovery and the City of San José.
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My Story: Seth Greenwood
For the first 20 years of my life, I made a series of bad choices. I was a father at the age of 14 years old. I was incarcerated several times. It was a continuous cycle until the age of 20. At that point I was incarcerated for six years (until June 2010). During my
One Indispensable Career Advice Tool
When you’re looking for a job, trying to enhance your career or even thinking about switching fields, you might find that the journey is full of false starts and complications that you didn't anticipate. It can be a frustrating experience, but the trick is getting real advice that you can help you get ahead.
Seven Ways to Sabotage Your Next Job Interview
We've covered steps to make your job interview a success, but what about what NOT to do? Avoid these missteps to present yourself in the best possible light to your potential employer.
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Three Social Media Sites to Use for Networking and Job Searching
Traditionally, searching for a job meant face-to-face networking, going through classified ads in print publications, and attending job fairs. Today, using social media to network and find job opportunities can give you a big advantage over individuals who are only using print and in-person approaches to landing a job. Each social network has its particular advantages, but there are three sites that deserve special consideration from job seekers.
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Urge Congress to Renew Programs That Reduce Recidivism
The sad facts are that the United States incarcerates more people per capita than any other country in the world, with approximately 2.3 million people in prisons or jails. Of the 700,000 people who are released from prison each year, approximately two-thirds will return within three years of their release. In response to these disturbing statistics, Congress enacted the Second Chance Act in 2008, which is up for reauthorization this year, to establish and shape programs that aim to help returning prisoners successfully transition back into and positively contribute to society.
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My Story—Paul Rosenstock
The message I would have for employers is to be open minded. I do understand that there’s a huge stigma attached to people who have been incarcerated. That stigma, a lot of times, is generated by what people know, which is unfortunately what they see on television and what they read in the newspaper. That only portrays a very small part of what people who have been incarcerated are.
Urge Your Members of Congress to Support Programs That Reduce Recidivism
As the nation’s largest provider of job training services, Goodwill® knows that work is one of the keys to successful reentry from prison. Congress is on the verge of advancing the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, which expands existing correctional education and employment initiatives; increases the number of grant programs available to nonprofits; and improves accountability. Goodwill supports this bipartisan legislation and urges Congress to pass the bill this year.
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