DAVIS MEMORIAL GOODWILL INDUSTRIES

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: IN 2024, GOODWILL OF GREATER WASHINGTON'S MISSION IMPACT TEAM PROVIDED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO 2,664 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC REGION. THESE CRITICAL SERVICES WERE FUNDED THROUGH THE REVENUE GENERATED BY GOODWILL'S CONTRACTS OPERATIONS, THE DONATIONS SOLD AT GOODWILL'S 22 AREA RETAIL STORES AND ONLINE, AND THROUGH THE GENEROUS FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OUR INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE DONORS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O. THE COMMUNITY DEMAND FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES CONTINUES TO GROW AND EVOLVE DUE TO THE RECOGNITION OF GOODWILL'S SUCCESS IN TRAINING, EDUCATING, AND HIRING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN MOST CHALLENGED IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT ON THEIR OWN. THE POPULATIONS GOODWILL SERVES ARE VERY DIVERSE AND FACE A VARIETY OF BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. THEY MAY HAVE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, OR OTHER DISABLING CONDITIONS; OR THEY MAY LACK AN EDUCATION OR ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. SOME OF THE PEOPLE GOODWILL SERVES ARE JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVED AND TRYING TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. OTHERS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY IN KEEPING STEADY EMPLOYMENT DUE TO THE CHALLENGES OF CARING FOR DEPENDENTS. THE ONE CONSISTENT BARRIER FACED BY ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WALK THROUGH GOODWILL'S DOORS IS A LACK OF MARKETABLE JOB SKILLS. THAT'S WHY THE COMMUNITY IMPACT TEAM PROVIDES JOB COACHING, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, AND RETENTION SERVICES. THESE SERVICES HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DISADVANTAGES AND DISABILITIES ENTER OR RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE WITH CONFIDENCE AND DIGNITY, WHILE HELPING THEM GROW IN THEIR CAREERS. TO FURTHER ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE UNDERSERVED IN THE COMMUNITY, GOODWILL OF GREATER WASHINGTON OPENED THE GOODWILL EXCEL CENTER, PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN 2016. THE EXCEL CENTER IS WASHINGTON, DC'S FIRST ADULT CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL TO OFFER A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, RATHER THAN A GED, AS WELL AS INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS TO DC RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT COMPLETED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION. WITH APPROXIMATELY 60,000 ADULT DC RESIDENTS LACKING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR THE EQUIVALENT, THE NEED IS GREAT. IN 2024 THE GOODWILL EXCEL CENTER ENROLLED 835 STUDENTS AND GRADUATED 115. GOODWILL'S PRIMARY GOAL AT THE SCHOOL, AS WELL AS WITH ALL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, IS TO MATCH THE SKILLS, INTERESTS, AND WORK PREFERENCES OF THE STUDENTS TO THE NEEDS OF LOCAL EMPLOYERS WHO OFFER SUSTAINABLE WAGES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH AN INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATIONAL AND/OR EMPLOYMENT PLAN, MOCK INTERVIEWS, CAREER ASSESSMENTS, INTERNSHIPS, WORK TRIALS, AND OTHER DISCOVERY STRATEGIES.GOODWILL OF GREATER WASHINGTON IS ALSO PLACING A GREATER EMPHASIS ON PROVIDING CAREER ENHANCEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ITS OWN TEAM MEMBERS MANY OF WHOM FACE SIMILAR BARRIERS TO THE POPULATIONS SERVED THROUGH GOODWILL'S JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. GOODWILL'S RISE COACHING PROGRAM PROVIDES TEAM MEMBERS WITH ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES AND RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP THEM OVERCOME PERSONAL BARRIERS SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OR CHILDCARE. IN 2024, 979 GOODWILL EMPLOYEES RECEIVED FREE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO ASSIST THEM IN ACHIEVING THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. ADDITIONALLY, THROUGH GOODWILL'S TRAC (THE RISE ACADEMY) CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, GOODWILL PREPARES ITS TEAM MEMBERS FOR CAREER GROWTH AND ADVANCEMENT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF GOODWILL. LAST YEAR, 177 GOODWILL TEAM MEMBERS RECEIVED FREE CAREER TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.