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Goodwill Mission Stories

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Katya

Katya

Staying busy at her job is what motivates Katya. As a dining room attendant at Culver’s, Katya’s work-first attitude does not go unnoticed by the staff and customers.

“Everybody here has been happy with Katya,” says Supervisor Kim in describing her work ethic. Katya also receives warm compliments from appreciative customers.

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Debra

Meet Debra. She's an inspiration to everyone she greets and works with at the YMCA.

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Willie

 

Willie is proof that you can change the path of your life and not allow a past criminal record to determine what you can achieve. As Willie shares, “I’m not defined by one bad  act,  or one good act. It all defines who I am.” Goodwill has helped Willie with that journey.

Despite owning a successful barbershop business for many years, Willie began hanging with the wrong crowd and trouble caught up with him. After being incarcerated three times, for a total of 12 years, Willie found his criminal history a barrier to achieving permanent employment. With only temporary jobs on the horizon, he didn’t have the stability he needed for his wife and growing family.

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Anthony

 

Anthony's Story - Soaring to New Heights

Anthony shares his inspiring story of overcoming barriers and excelling at his new job at the Milwaukee's International General Mitchell Airport. Prior to his new position, Anthony was among the first inaugural group of Project Search interns in 2018.

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Aaron

Customers visiting Cici’s Pizza for lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will find Aaron, a participant of Goodwill’s Supported Employment Program, hard at work.

Aaron is an usher, lobby attendant, and ticket taker during the lunchtime hours at Cici’s. His job duties include clearing tables of dirty dishes, wiping tables and chairs, and assisting with dishwashing tasks.

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Dakota

 


We all go through life hoping to find our dream job, and if we're lucky, we might just find it. Dakota, a young man with autism and a cognitive disability, found his dream job through the Power of Work.

Since Dakota was seven years old, he has wanted to work at a library – to feel connected to the books and stories that take him to another place. Hoping to help her son achieve his dream, Dakota’s mom, Sandy, reached out to Goodwill EmpowerOne and shared his hopes and aspirations with Goodwill job coaches. Through EmpowerOne, individuals with disabilities build the skills and independence needed to be successful both in employment and their community.

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Volunteering Time and Talents—Men’s Bistro Club

 


For participants in Goodwill’s Day Services programs, success is often measured in developing the confidence and independence needed to lead more productive and active lives in the community. In our Day Services Clubhouse model, our participants progress in these skills by exploring community resources, health and wellness activities, arts and enrichment classes, and community integration. Many of these individuals hold part time jobs in the community on days they do not attend Goodwill programs and appreciate the personalized, engaging approach to building independent living, social and communication, and self-advocacy skills that Clubhouse provides.

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David

Following an earlier suicide attempt, David had just been released from a court-ordered detox plan and was overwhelmed with depression and anxiety. Not wanting to fear for his life any longer, David was clean and sober for the first time in years and wondered what life had in store for him.

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Beth

 

If you stop by Wags & Barks in Slinger, WI you can see Beth cleaning the facility and talking and singing to the dogs. According to owner Debbie S., “The place has never looked so clean!”

Beth depends upon her parents and brother Scott for daily living, transportation and communication. She always had the desire to find a job, but she had limited employment experience; the last time Beth had worked was on a farm over 30 years ago.

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Chris & Jerome

For the past seven months, Chris W. and Jerome R. have been spending their Tuesday afternoons at the Urban Ecology Center located within Milwaukee’s Washington Park. At the Urban Ecology Center, Chris and Jerome are preparing themselves for jobs in the community by gaining experience volunteering through Goodwill’s Community Access Program. Jerome likes to focus on office work and customer service while Chris enjoys keeping the Urban Ecology Center nice and tidy by helping out with various cleaning tasks throughout the afternoon.

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

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

ILLINOIS
Metropolitan Chicago -
Administration
Tel: (312) 994-1440