Skip to main content

Before Mark started working at Goodwill in 2016, he was looking for a chance to start a career but had some roadblocks in the way.   

“I moved from California in 2008. But before that, I had been in prison for 12 years,” Mark shared. “Coming here was a fresh start. But when [companies] saw my record, nobody wanted to give me a fresh start.”

Mark owned a cleaning company, but the income was too inconsistent, so he came to Goodwill looking for some help with his job search.  

“I went to Goodwill for resume help, but then I started working in the stores,” he said. “The store manager told me the first day, ‘You should be in management.’ Six months to a year later, she promoted me to Shift Manager and then Assistant Manager.”

As an Assistant Manager, Mark says that every day brings something different to his position.

“I like being flexible. I like the freedom and the opportunity to do a little bit of everything. I like talking and laughing with the customers and seeing people find a gem that they’ve been looking for,” he shared. 

Finding a position at Goodwill helped Mark build a life with more stability. 

“It helped me mentally and financially, because mentally, I was beaten up. Everybody was telling me no. In the eight years that I’ve been here, I’ve barely missed a day. Goodwill saw my record, and they still gave me a chance. So, I’m going to make good on the chance they took with me,” he emphasized. 

In April, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont recognizes Second Chance Month, a time to raise awareness of the challenges facing people with justice-involved backgrounds and to spotlight the important work being done by community-based organizations to empower second chance individuals to achieve career and life success. Mark is a demonstration of our mission, growing from a participant we served to a Goodwill team member.

“[Goodwill] can help you get where you want to be, or at least take that first step,” he stated. “When I’m cashiering and a customer asks what the round up goes to, I get the opportunity to explain to them that I came through the program that you’re donating to. So, it makes an impact.”

Throughout his journey here at Goodwill, Mark has found close friends, many that he considers family, that have also inspired him.

“I’ve met a lot of good people through Goodwill,” he said. “I enjoy the people I work with; we’re like a big family. Most of us have been working together since I started; and some of them [worked here] before me. I was their peer and now I’m their manager, but they respect that, and I appreciate it. Everybody here has been so helpful. It made me believe in the Goodwill experience.”

As employers seek to support the growth and development of their employees through clear career pathways, comprehensive benefits packages and/or wage increases, it is important for employers to be aware of some of the unintended consequences of some of these decisions. Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is one of four employers piloting the CLIFF Employer Tool developed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

The CLIFF Employer Tool is designed to analyze the financial implications of wage increases and seek innovative solutions to lessen the impact of the benefits cliff on economic growth and mobility for lower wage earners.

Goodwill has initiated the use of the tool through its Pathways Program. Pathways Career Navigators introduced the tool to 117 participants, with 25 actively utilizing it. These individuals engaged in thoughtful discussions, understanding the tool’s benefits, potential impact on benefits reduction, and insights into public assistance complexities, aiding their career and financial choices.

Feedback from participants underscored the CLIFF Employer Tool as a valuable resource for plotting career paths, financial planning and family expansion. Despite potential benefit reductions, participants expressed dedication to career growth, adjusting strategies to address possible financial challenges. Noteworthy was their comprehension of the balance between wage increases and reduced benefits, encompassing considerations like Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), SNAP, Medicaid, and increased housing costs.

The successful initial phase propels the Pathways team to extend the tool’s implementation to 30-45 more participants. The accomplishment highlights the tool’s potential in empowering individuals to make knowledgeable decisions about their careers and finances, skillfully navigating the intricacies of public benefits.

LET’S GET #VOTEREADY THIS ELECTION YEAR

In a democracy, our voices are our most powerful tools. They shape the policies that govern our lives and communities. But what happens when these voices are silenced due to missed registration deadlines or confusion about the process? National Voter Registration Day, celebrated September 19, 2023, aims to eliminate these obstacles and ensure that every eligible American has the opportunity to make their voice heard in the next election.

Millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote for various reasons: missed registration deadlines, outdated information, or simply not knowing how to register. National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday that stands as a beacon of hope, guiding individuals through the complex journey of voter registration.

Beyond the fundamental goal of registering voters, this day also strives to make Americans #VoteReady by raising awareness about state-specific voter registration deadlines and policies. It empowers voters with knowledge about elections and their various options for casting a ballot. Most importantly, it encourages participation in their civic duty, ensuring that citizens don’t just register but actively engage in the democratic process.

When the registered voting population does not accurately reflect the diversity of the country, our democracy suffers. It fails to represent the needs of the entire population. To build a democracy that truly speaks for us all, we must work towards closing registration gaps. This means engaging in on-the-ground voter outreach, especially in communities that have historically been disenfranchised.

The decisions made by local officials directly impact our daily lives. From property taxes and police funding to trash pickup and school curriculum, these local policies shape our communities. Registering and voting provide residents with the opportunity to be active participants in our self-governing democracy. It allows us to address the big questions that directly affect our lives and the places we call home.

National Voter Registration Day is more than just a day on the calendar; it’s a celebration of democracy in action. It’s a reminder that our voices matter and that we have the power to shape the future of our communities and our nation. By eliminating registration barriers, raising awareness, and empowering citizens, we can create a democracy that truly represents us all. So, on this National Voter Registration Day, let’s commit to being #VoteReady and ensuring that no eligible American is left behind in the democratic process. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive democracy for the future.

REGISTER TO VOTE TODAY!

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont serves 18 counties across North Carolina and South Carolina. We encourage active participation in our political process across our territory!

by: Lily McMahan, Policy Research Intern at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

Research has shown time and time again that benefits cliffs are one of the most prevalent barriers faced by working families to achieving economic stability and breaking the cycles of generational poverty. The benefits cliff puts families in a difficult position. While accepting a raise or promotion furthers career goals and provides more opportunity, individuals become de-incentivized to pursue these paths – feeding a family or paying medical bills are pressing needs generally aided by public benefits. Even so much as a 50-cent raise can push people abruptly out of their eligibility for benefits, resulting in the cliff effect.[1] Rather than providing a transitional aid to overcoming the loss of public benefits, in reality, the system creates a reliance on the benefits that any career advancement is actually more harmful to the financial well being of the family. Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont has launched an initiative called the Benefits Cliff Community Lab to confront these obstacles in North Carolina. Goodwill is one of many organizations who have identified this insufficiency in public benefits; across the country a variety of approaches, from advocacy to material transitional aid, are underway. Understanding what our neighbors across state lines are doing to combat the benefits cliff will provide more information, experience and connection as we work together to ease the impact of the cliff.

In our neighboring state of Tennessee, an initiative of the Tennessee Alliance for Economic Mobility (TAEM) called Our ChanceTN has identified the pressing need for public benefits reform. A $25 million grant received from federally allocated TANF funds administered by the state of Tennessee allows Our ChanceTN to pilot solutions for restructuring the TN Social Safety Net programs in seven counties in central Tennessee[2]. They have decided to approach the benefits cliff issue by providing a “transitional benefit which will be paid directly for food, childcare, housing, and health providers to increase families’ access to fresh food, childcare, housing, and health care when a family’s net resources decrease due to the benefits cliff.”[3] Additionally, family-centered coaching allows “participant families [to] define goals for every member of the family and receive consistent support from their dedicated coach to achieve those goals.” Eligible families in these seven counties are provided with two and a half years of financial coaching, monetary support, relevant resources during the transitional period out of the benefits program, access to education options and engagement with a benefits specialist.[4] Our ChanceTN is one of many organizations that have developed a benefits cliff calculator, which analyzes how much money each family will receive from the program to stabally transition them out of public assistance benefits.[5]

Massachusetts-based Economic Pathways MA Coalition focuses their approach towards advocacy for policy change. They are focused on the pilot initiative passed in a June 2022 Act. The program, which wrapped up at the end of last month, “test[s] whether a cash payment is an effective tool for the Commonwealth to close the cliff gap” during times of career advancement.[6] According to the organization, Maine, Minnesota, Colorado and Connecticut have all piloted similar, successful programs.[7] While the Economic Pathway Coalition’s main focus relates to advocacy, they also provide various tools and information about managing benefits cliffs for those individuals affected.

New York City’s Leap Fund “serves organizations nationwide with tools and resources to identify benefits cliffs, surface eligibility, and facilitate benefits cliff conversations for informed decision making.”[8] The program brings coaches together with people receiving public benefits within the organizations, helping educate as well as determining what cliffs will affect them and when they will occur. Leap Fund developed a calculator to help navigate the benefits cliff, including when people can expect to encounter and overcome it. They offer this service as a platform for coaching organizations to obtain and use in practice with individuals experiencing benefits cliffs.[9] From January to December of 2021, they ran a test program regarding helping coach people through the benefits cliff with their tools – in 15 different states with 40 different organizations participating. The coaches they work with provide financial, employment, housing, workforce development coaching as well as case managers and social workers. Through this program, Leap Fund found that 63% of the clients they worked with shared the fear of encountering a benefits cliff was enough to deter them from accepting a raise or promotion.[10] This underscores the importance of education and awareness about cliffs and strategic planning around cliffs. With Leap Fund’s help, 75% of their clients told Leap Fund they will go forth in some new career opportunity. Additionally, their work with benefits eligibility education enabled 44% of their clients to apply for a previously unreceived benefit.[11] Leap Fund offers this program to employers to reinforce the strength and stability of their workforce. Not only will they help employers understand how benefits cliffs affect people within the employer’s operation, Leap Fund works with the employees at those companies to assess their financial health and how to best approach the benefits cliffs they may be facing.

Finally, The Source is a Michigan-based organization that partners with employers to identify and meet the obstacles faced by their employees. This organization was founded out of a desire from Mark Peters, CEO of Butterball Farms, to identify patterns and overcome barriers, such as child care accessibility, which had increased turnover at his company. The Source partners with employers to help with workforce retention by identifying and problem-solving the challenges faced in the lives of their employees, so employers can promote internal growth and aid in the overcoming of barriers to this goal. The Source provides a resource navigator that works directly with employees to help identify and meet the needs of the employer’s workforce. The program is so effective that they announce to employers that working with The Source results, on average, in a 250% return on investment.[12] Benefits cliffs are often a challenge that The Source combats within individual companies, providing recommendations to employers about the best internal policies to adopt for reducing turnover and maintaining a thriving workforce.

The varying nature of the efforts of these organizations prove that the solution to overcoming benefits cliffs is multifaceted and requires many approaches. Easing the impact of cliffs can be done through advocacy work, as seen in the Economic Pathways Coalition and their piloting of a benefits cliff transitional support program. It also has a place in the human resources departments of corporate organizations, as Leap Fund and The Source have found that giving internal support to help educate employees and employers alike about benefits cliffs results in meaningful contributions for easing the cliff impact. Our ChanceTN proves there is a mathematical approach paired with personalized analytics and coaching that can be taken as well. As visibility around the benefits cliff grows and more organizations begin to address the issue – be it through political analysis, data collection, telling personal stories or imagining solutions – amplifying and sharing information between organizations will be crucial to working together to curb the benefits cliff through legislative change across the United States.

 

[1] Budget & Tax Center, “Addressing the benefits cliff for child-care subsidies in North Carolina,” Benefits Cliff Community Lab, accessed July 17, 2023, https://benefitscliffcommunitylab.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/BTC-Fact-Sheet_ChildCareAssistanceBenefitsCliff.pdf.

[2] “About,” Our ChanceTN, accessed July 17, 2023, https://ourchancetn.org/about.

[3] “About,” Our ChanceTN, accessed July 17, 2023, https://ourchancetn.org/about.

[4] “Eligibility,” Our ChanceTN, accessed July 17, 2023, https://ourchancetn.org/eligibility.

[5] “Calculate Your Transitional Benefit,” Tennessee Alliance of Economic Mobility, accessed July 17, 2023, https://beyondthecliff.com/TAEM.

[6] Massachusetts Legislation, Economic Pathways MA Coalition, accessed July 17th, 2023, https://economicpathwaysma.org/legislation.

[7] “Act relating to economic growth and relief for the Commonwealth,” The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, June 2022, https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2022/Chapter268.

[8] “Benefits Cliff Coaching Program Beta Program Learning and Insights,” Leap Fund, pg. 6, March 2022.

[9] “Benefits Cliff Coaching Program: Plan for the Future,” Leap Fund, accessed July 17, 2023, https://myleapfund.com/bccp.

[10] “Benefits Cliff Coaching Program Beta Program Learning and Insights,” Leap Fund, pg. 16, March 2022.

[11] “Benefits Cliff Coaching Program Beta Program Learning and Insights,” Leap Fund, pg. 19, March 2022.

[12] “Frequently Asked Questions,” The Source, accessed July 17, 2023, https://www.grsource.org/faqs.

Have you ever needed a second chance? We all have. And so do justice-involved individuals entering back into society. Unemployment among formerly incarcerated people is five times higher than among the general public. This disparity is especially challenging for people of color and women. The risk of recidivism is reduced when the individual finds gainful employment, which in turn helps strengthen our communities.

“On July 23, 2015, I was released from prison after serving 12 years. After my release, I was living in a halfway house and looking for employment. I was having a heck of a time just finding somebody to employ me. Someone told me, ‘You need to go to Goodwill because I see you’re serious about getting a job.’ So, I took their advice,” said Herman Meeks, Store Manager of the Goodwill store in Shelby. 

Meeks has been working for the nonprofit for seven years, and despite his life challenges, he has achieved redemption with Goodwill. He’s been consistently promoted, and today, he serves as an inspiration to new team members looking for a second chance.

“What I love most about working for Goodwill is the camaraderie. Everybody here genuinely believes in the mission, and the mission directly ties right back into me,” Meeks said. “Today, I own my own home; I have two cars; I have plenty of money saved. I’m just blessed beyond measure.”

In April, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont recognizes Second Chance Month, a time to raise awareness of the challenges facing people with justice-involved backgrounds and to spotlight the important work being done by community-based organizations to empower second chance individuals to achieve career and life success.

“I feel people should know about Second Chance Month and about being a second chance employer; what it means to give a second chance to someone who’s been incarcerated who may have made a mistake in their life but they’re looking to turn their life around,” said Meeks.

Marcus Sifford, Store Manager of the Goodwill store in Pineville, echoed Meeks about the importance of Second Chance Month; emphasizing the significance of giving someone rehabilitating back in society “a chance to make a living”.

Sifford is also formerly incarcerated and has been with Goodwill for 13 years. Like Meeks, he’s transparent about his story and hopes it motivates others to apply with second chance employers, like Goodwill, once they’re released.

“I’ve hired a lot of ex-felons, and I tell people my story,” Sifford said. “I also tell them if you know somebody that can’t find a job because of their background, send them to Goodwill and give us a chance to make a change in their life.”

In addition to hiring second chance, Goodwill also partners with The Center for Community Transitions (CCT), an organization that helps justice-involved individuals and their families with employment and reentry services. We help to connect Goodwill participants with justice-involved backgrounds to CCT to take advantage of their specialized supports, and we help to enroll CCT participants into tuition-free job training programs at Goodwill. Together, we help to reduce recidivism by providing people with criminal records and their families tools and resources to rebuild their lives.

In 2022, Goodwill re-examined policies for justice-involved individuals to make sure its practices were supportive and inclusive. The changes allow the nonprofit to hire more justice-involved individuals and make a greater impact in our community.

Changes include:

“Each year we partner with area re-entry experts to determine best practices and as a result we are able to offer more second chances to justice-involved individuals to help those get a new lease on life and prevent recidivism, thus continuing to strengthen our community,” said Chip Bryan, Director of Talent Acquisition for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.

Goodwill’s mission is to build pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve. This means that we enhance people’s dignity and quality of life by ensuring equitable career opportunities are available. Our organization is proud to be a second chance employer and will continue to stand firm in our commitment to creating more equitable access to career opportunities for all.

by: Amy Share, Grants Manager at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

Throughout October, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont joins employers, government agencies and nonprofits to celebrate the contributions made by workers with disabilities as part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This year’s theme for NDEAM, “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” recognizes the important role people with disabilities play in a diverse and inclusive American workforce.

I do not know life without disabilities. I had a stroke before I was born, causing right side hemiplegia (my right arm and leg are weaker than my left) and a learning disability. Thanks in large part to my parents, teachers, advocates, and mentors, I have grown up to be an active participant in the workforce. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that just over 22.5% of Americans with disabilities participate in the labor force. That compares with more than 68% of workers in the general population who are working.

Without programs like the Americans with Disabilities Act and NDEAM, my life would look very different. Due to my developmental and physical disability, I have had to rely on an inclusive and supportive work environment to ensure success. When people with disabilities are supported, they are a dependable and valuable part of the workforce, with higher rates of employee retention, leading to lower hiring and training costs.

It is important for us to understand ways that employers can do their part to support their employees with disabilities and create an inclusive experience at work. Some ideas to build a more inclusive work environment include:

Employers are often concerned about the education and qualification levels of those with disabilities (Bonaccio et al., 2019). Improving relationships between employers and work-placement organizations can greatly increase the overall focus on creating supportive workplace environments for people with disabilities. Companies that championed people with disabilities outperformed others —driving profitability and shareholder returns (Accenture, 2018).

As businesses have implemented diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, activities around disability have oftentimes continued to be excluded from the narrative. It has been throughout my career that people with disabilities are seen and heard. When my disability was disclosed during the hiring process, I wanted to make sure my needs would be met and supported. Because Goodwill believes everyone, no matter their ability, deserves equitable access to opportunity, our approach is grounded in building pathways that help individuals overcome obstacles. 

Goodwill career navigators can help overcome this by providing on-site job training and teaching social skills, and educating employers on equitable management, helping to create natural supports within the workplace. Career coaches from placement organizations have been shown to be the best factor when bridging the gap between employers and a successful workplace for individuals with disabilities (Ellenkamp et al., 2016).

As we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness month, we must remember that there are many different types of disabilities, such as cognitive, physical, mental health, learning, hearing, seeing, or communication impairments. People of all races, genders, sexual orientations, nationalities, religions, and socioeconomic status can have a disability. This is why NDEAM highlights the importance of inclusive policies and practices to ensure that all Americans who want to work can, and that they have access to services that will enable them to do so. We believe all should be working to build an equitable and inclusive workplace year-round.

by Dr. Dana McDonald, Vice President of Talent Development

September 21, 2022 – the day that Black women earn the same amount of income white, non-Hispanic men earned for 2021. In other words, a Black woman works 20 months to earn the same amount a White, non-Hispanic man earns in 12. 

At Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, we recognize, highlight and advocate for Black Women’s Equal Pay Day because it aligns with our vision – equitable access to career opportunities for all. We recognize that we cannot achieve full equity in the community without both racial and gender equity. Equal pay, closing the racial and gender wage gaps, is necessary for fully equitable access to careers.

Black women, and Latinas, sit in a particularly challenging position. They are especially impacted by intersecting injustices. On average, women earn $0.83 for every dollar white, non-Hispanic men earn. However, when you consider both gender and race, Black women earn $0.58 for every one of those dollars.  Intersectional inequalities obviously compound racial and gender wealth gaps not only limiting access but also impeding wealth acquisition. 

A number of factors contribute to the inequitable pay Black women experience (e.g. generational economic injustice disparities, inequitable access to education, etc.) with the cumulative impact being limited career access. Black women are more likely to work in low wage jobs like food service and health care assistance roles and less likely to hold jobs in higher paying fields like technology and advanced manufacturing. However, even when performing higher paying jobs, Black women still experience systemic racism and sexism leading to unequal pay.

At Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, we believe a multi-prong approach is critical to close the racial and gender wage gap. It will require advocacy, challenges at the local, state and federal levels to the systems, policies and practices that prevent Black women from receiving equal pay. It also requires community-based efforts to create access for Black women.

Goodwill works to address wage inequalities by building access to career pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve. We provide in-demand skills training for higher wage and high growth industries such as technology and construction. In addition to the training, we create social capital and access to employers to help people find jobs. By opening access, we support success for Black women at a level that often exceeds industry representation. For example, approximately 33% of the participants completing our construction skills training programs are women, the majority of whom are Black women. Over half of those completing our IT skills training programs are women, again, the majority of whom are Black women. However, we recognize that opening doors is only part of the solution. It also requires employers making an intentional effort to address systems and policies that prevent equal pay. We advocate for employers to make a concerted to provide equal pay across race, gender and ethnicity.

Today, we stand with all those advocating for equal pay across all groups. Today, we stand with Black women advocating for equitable access to career pathways and equal pay.

By day, Tiffany White works in the E-Commerce department at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, but that’s not her only job. 

“Our goal is to ensure everyone in Charlotte has internet service,” Tiffany explained.  

She also works part time for The Center for Digital Equity, led by Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont Board Member, Bruce Clark. The center helps local residents enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a Federal Communications Commission benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. 

Members who utilize the ACP receive a $30 credit each month for their internet services. Thanks to recent support from the Biden administration, more internet providers are offering services at lower costs, making internet free for some people who receive this credit. 

“There’s a lot of things you’re unable to do without internet. You’re not able to work from home, which I think a lot of people take for granted,” Tiffany emphasized. 

Thursday, July 21, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Charlotte to talk with state legislators about the Biden-Harris administration’s investment in affordable, high-speed internet. Tiffany introduced Harris before she took the stage. 

“I was very humbled when I got the call asking if I wanted to introduce her,” Tiffany said. “I tell people it was humbling, magical and everything in between. For her to be so down-to-earth was an experience.” 

Tiffany also had the opportunity to meet with Harris and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper before the event. “Governor Cooper asked what he could do, and I said, we need a little bit more marketing. There’s a lot of people that just don’t know about the program.” 

Tiffany knows all too well the struggle many people face; that’s why this work is so meaningful to her.  

“I’ve been there myself and I’ve had some hard times,” she explained. 

Although her time with the governor and vice president were limited, it was beneficial. “It made me feel good to be able to share this information with them,” Tiffany said. “The vice president told me, ‘You’re the one that’s on the frontline talking to people every day. You know what’s going on and we need to hear what’s going on so we can help.’” 

Tiffany even refers customers she works with to The GRID: Powered by Goodwill, Goodwill’s electronics store, which offers new and used technology at an affordable price. 

“Not only am I doing this for The Center for Digital Equity, but I can also mention Goodwill as well. I just happen to be in E-Commerce, which is a part of The GRID, so it works.” 

Tiffany’s overall goal is to help others, just as others have done for her throughout her life.  

“I just love what I do because I love helping people.” 

 

It’s Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), and this month we sat down with Renee Ford, Divisional Sr. Human Resources Manager for Walmart. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. Renee’s incredible energy and passion for developing people make her a valuable partner in Goodwill’s work in the community.

BPM, held every August, is an annual global celebration of African-descent giving. In our interview with Renee, she shares the importance of giving back year-round and her mixed emotions around BPM.

 

 

 

Donor support of Goodwill is essential to the ongoing success and continuity of Goodwill programs and services. Investing in Goodwill helps provide the most relevant opportunities for people in our community to reskill, upskill, launch a career and create pathways to prosperity. Join Renee and many others who invest in people to help them achieve their goals. Click here to learn more or make your gift today.

By: Julie Drinkhahn, Director of Philanthropy

At this month’s Coffee & Conversation on June 9, a few dozen community-minded people gathered to talk about the importance of equity in the workplace that affords team members the ability to bring their whole selves into their place of work. Too often people leave part of themselves at home because, well, it’s just easier.

The work environment we create for our teams directly correlates to their ability to show up as their authentic selves. And I’m not talking team-building activities at breweries or casual Fridays. Organizational policies play a huge role in the environment team members experience.

Our open and real conversation today helped me think differently about how policies at work create barriers for people to be themselves. And how human resources policies, healthcare plans, recognition of domestic partnerships and more, are hurdles that I, a cisgender, white, straight, woman, don’t have to overcome.

So how can we show up as authentic allies? As a wise attendee shared, “People get confused sometimes about what their voice is. Fight for equity in your own way.” And isn’t that what equity is truly about? Showing up as your true self – so advocate as your true self. That can look like speaking up when you see injustices, checking in with your LGBTQ+ teammates or stepping aside to give voice to the people who are experiencing the struggle.

If using your voice isn’t your thing, advocate with your wallet. Shop LGBTQ-owned businesses and support LGBTQ+ organizations. Whatever you do, be intentional about it. There is a role in this work for everyone.

I am grateful to Madison, a Pathways Career Navigator at Goodwill, who shared her story at Coffee & Conversation. In her role, she supports dozens of retail team members on their personal and professional development journeys. If she couldn’t show up as her true self, how could she possibly help create pathways to prosperity for others?

The environments we create have an impact far beyond what we physically see and I’m proud to work at an organization that takes that responsibility seriously. In fact, Goodwill has supported Madison throughout her journey. From her name change in the system to approving time off for surgery. Because of that support, Madison is uniquely positioned to help countless others see possibilities, seize opportunities and prosper.

About Coffee & Conversation

Goodwill’s Coffee & Conversation event series is an opportunity for all in attendance to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of Goodwill’s work in the community and how collective investments and advocacy play a role in building pathways to prosperity for all. 

Our next event is August 11 – Equity in the Workplace: Black Women Equal Pay Day. Register today!