Good to Know Newsletter

For individuals with disabilities to achieve employment, it takes perseverance, commitment to personal growth, and determination to overcome obstacles. For many, a job in the community is a goal that can be years in the making. On October 18 in the Peck Center at the Milwaukee County Zoo, Goodwill and its clients, along with Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD), Wisconsin’s Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), dignitaries, supporters, employers, families and friends came together to celebrate the milestone of our Supported Employment Program’s 500 jobs secured for people with disabilities.

It’s election season, and you can’t miss the signs. Calls, mailings, yard signs and debates greet us at every turn. Most of us know our polling place and will exercise our right to vote on November 6^th. But have you ever thought about what it’s like for a person with a disability to access the polls and vote? Did you know that the State of Wisconsin is a leader in accessible voting for its citizens?

This fall, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin received recognition from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) for a successful partnership in supporting individuals with disabilities to gain and retain jobs in the community.

Goodwill is proud to be celebrating our third year at Sojourner Family Peace Center, providing job search assistance to help clients find work, job sector training and support, and financial empowerment services.

This summer was a busy and exciting one for the Project SEARCH team and interns at the Milwaukee County Zoo and General Mitchell International Airport. Interns from both sites successfully completed the program and took part in a well-attended ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments.

Did you know that Goodwill Industries is an international organization? And that Goodwill has locations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean? Each Goodwill operates autonomously, but we all share the common mission of providing training and job support in the communities we serve. 

John Dziewa was 17 years old when a diving accident changed his life forever. A quadriplegic he underwent months of rehabilitation; and after graduating from high school he was unsure what was next for him. He envisioned a future of dependence on others but his family was persistent, he could do so much more. His journey brought him to Goodwill, and this month he is celebrating 30 years of partnership with our organization.