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Good to Know Newsletter

Goodwill and The Guest House – A Story of Partnership

Posted by Guest on Feb 15, 2019 1:59:27 PM

Goodwill and The Guest House – A Story of Partnership

Goodwill has been providing Workforce Development services throughout southeastern Wisconsin for 100 years. While the services we provide have transformed throughout the years, our mission of providing jobs and training has been the foundation of our work in the communities we serve.

One way that our service delivery has grown is through partnerships with fellow social service organizations. By partnering, we are able to provide workforce development services as part of an overall service platform. A great example of this is our work with The Guest House.

The Guest House of Milwaukee provides shelter, housing and education services to Milwaukee’s homeless who seek to transform their lives with dignity and purpose. The shelter serves 86 adult men with emergency shelter and recovery housing programs, open on a first-come, first serve basis. Permanent supported housing programs serve women, as well as families and men. The Counseling Clinic is also open to men and women and supportive case management helps families and individuals maintain their housing and overall independence.

Goodwill and The Guest House – A Story of Partnership

The Guest House needed a partner with expertise in the area of Workforce Development to add to the suite of services offered to those served. The independence that work provides is often a critical step on the journey out of homelessness, and The Guest House wanted a partner with experience in this area. Following discussions and meetings by leadership of both organizations, a partnership was initiated between The Guest House of Milwaukee and Goodwill during the summer of 2017. It was determined that Workforce Connection Center (WCC) staff would provide on-site workforce development services at The Guest House on a six-hour per week basis beginning February 1, 2017, thus establishing a second WCC Community Access Point in Milwaukee.

“For most of the men here in shelter, the first big step is finding employment,” says Philip Connelly, Director of Housing at The Guest House. “Having this partnership with Goodwill's Workforce Connection Center opens up opportunities for our guests and prepares them to be part of today's workforce.”

Goodwill and The Guest House – A Story of Partnership

Goodwill services at The Guest House are initiated through a referral system from Guest House staff/case management. One-on-one appointments are conducted by WCC Specialists at The Guest House and individuals are oriented to the WCC Career Portal. Upon identification of employment needs, initial action plans and support may include resume development, investigation of job leads, online applications, coaching for interviews and referrals to recruitment events. 

The four Goodwill Workforce Connection Centers in Wisconsin have traditionally provided our job seeker services. But through partnership with other Community organizations, we are able to bring our workforce development services beyond the walls of the WCCs. Organizations like The Guest House, the Sojourner Family Peace Center and the Milwaukee Public Library have allowed us to meet job seekers where they are at, both in terms of their needs and their physical location.  “When mission and values align, partnerships among local agencies are an effective way to leverage strengths and mobilize resources. This strategically provides needed community resources to those in need utilizing a more streamlined and cost-effective approach. We look forward to a continuing partnership with The Guest House of Milwaukee where we can collaborate on creative solutions for needed workforce development services,” says Rosann Lewis, Area Manager for the Workforce Connection Centers.

Goodwill and The Guest House – A Story of Partnership

Zachary Naylor, Workforce Connection Center Specialist, has found inspiration in the work that he does on behalf of Goodwill at The Guest House. “It has illustrated to me the heartwarming commitment the Milwaukee community has in supporting those in need. Assisting in workforce connections and employment preparations I have helped individuals regain confidence in themselves and in their capability to succeed. Each service is devised through an assessment of their current needs to be successful in a job search. From building resumes, interview tips, and connections to employment. I have learned that the common denominator for success is knowing that you are not in this alone, that there are others much like myself who wish to see other succeed,” says Zachary.

Goodwill and The Guest House – A Story of Partnership

In 2018, Goodwill was able to help nearly 100 people find work through our Partnership with The Guest House. One of those people was Henry, who was connected with the Goodwill Workforce Connection Center services within his first few days of staying at The Guest House. Henry received assistance in creating a new resume and was provided job leads within his field and experience. Goodwill assisted him in submitting an application and scheduling an interview with a local staffing agency. Henry received a subsequent offer for a temporary janitorial position at a local technical college, and by the end of that same month, was been promoted to a full-time position and was awarded Employee of the Month. This story of success speaks volumes about Henry’s character and work ethic, striving to make the best of his current situation and looking toward building a better and more independent future for himself. Goodwill and The Guest House are proud to have been a part of his story.

For more information on the partnership between Goodwill and The Guest House, or to find out how Goodwill is connecting job seekers with employment in our community, please contact Rosann Lewis, Goodwill’s Area Manager for the Workforce Connection Centers, at (414) 847-4778 or rosann.lewis@goodwillsew.com.

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WISCONSIN
Mission Support Center
Tel: (414) 847-4200

James O. Wright Center forWork & Training
Tel: (414) 353-6400

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