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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

March is Women’s History Month, and we’re excited to highlight a valued supporter of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s mission, the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Legacy Foundation.

The Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Legacy Foundation helps provide access to opportunities that foster self-sufficiency, especially for women. As a grantor of the Goodwill Career Navigation program since 2018, they have created lasting impact for those pursuing equitable access to career opportunities. Last year, Goodwill supported over 340 women through career navigation.

Antonia “Toni” Voliton moved to the Charlotte area in 2010 seeking economic opportunities and stable schools for her children. After being employed in social work supporting those with mental illness, she was soon introduced to Goodwill’s services and was inspired by her Career Navigator to become one herself.

“I was so excited to begin my career journey at Goodwill. I figured out very quickly, that my social work background would be an asset to my role. Eight years later, I remain in my position, helping participants to develop essential employability skills and gain family sustaining employment.”

Support from Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Legacy has helped ensure Antonia’s work can continue, providing customized one-on-one coaching and aiding participants to bridge the skills gap to pursue the life they want to achieve.

“This is why grants are essential in executing Goodwill’s mission. Those who provide grants help Career Navigators provide our varied participants current, beneficial career guidance.”

Thank you to the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Legacy Foundation for continuing to support team members like Antonia and our Career Navigation program. These services are vital to providing a clear path for participants to pursue career opportunities, advance and thrive.

The locally owned food service group now owns and operates the restaurant inside the Goodwill Opportunity Campus.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is happy to announce that FDY, Inc. has taken ownership of Community Table Bistro, the restaurant inside of the Goodwill Opportunity Campus located at 5301 Wilkinson Boulevard in Charlotte. FDY, Inc. is planning its official grand opening for April 11, 2023. 

FDY, Inc. is a minority-owned, nationally certified food service company that specializes in operating non-traditional locations such as airports and universities. FDY has a rich 40-year history in the Charlotte community, having managed the food service on university campuses to include Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College and Barber Scotia College. Today, FDY operates familiar brands such as Bojangles, Red Mango Smoothie Factory, Char-Grill, Salsarita’s, Bruegger’s Bagels and Burger King in three airports including the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.  

“We are delighted to be the exclusive food service provider for the Goodwill Opportunity Campus and to offer a much-needed destination for quality meals in this part of West Charlotte,” said Keith Haywood, President and Owner of FDY, Inc. “Our company has had to pivot many times in our 40-year history, but one thing that remains consistent is our commitment to serve as a reliable partner. Our goals are not only to provide outstanding food and superb customer service, but also to build a longstanding relationship with Goodwill that will grow into a pipeline for talent development and a resource for our associates.”  

This is the third locally owned business Goodwill has introduced in its facilities. The nonprofit added locally owned cafés, Salty Bean and Big Red’s, inside their concept stores in Rockingham and Shelby in 2022.   

“Throughout the request for proposal process, we were intentional about selecting a locally owned business in our community to operate this amazing space in this fantastic location,” said Jose Luis, Chief Operating Officer for Goodwill industries of the Southern Piedmont. “FDY, Inc. is a well-respected company in the Charlotte community that aligns with the mission and values of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. The Goodwill Opportunity Campus was created as a place where people could see possibilities, seize opportunities and prosper. Under FDY, Inc.’s ownership, we hope Community Table Bistro inspires possibilities and creates opportunities for our team members, participants and members of the community to come eat together in fellowship.”  

Community Table Bistro, established in 2016, was created to not only address the food desert along the Wilkinson Boulevard corridor, but also to support the vision for the Goodwill Opportunity Campus. The state-of-the-art facility in west Charlotte provides the area’s most comprehensive collection of resources and opportunities for individuals seeking to advance their careers and improve their lives. The Goodwill Opportunity Campus benefits job seekers by offering a central location for coordinated services and helps Goodwill increase long-term support for participants on their pathway to prosperity. The campus also boasts several event, conference and meeting spaces available to the community to rent, with catering offerings provided by Community Table Bistro. 

Goodwill and FDY, Inc. will host a formal grand opening ceremony for Community Table Bistro on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. More details, including media opportunities will be available in April.  

View the Community Table Bistro menu here. Stay updated by following Community Table Bistro on Instagram @communitytablebistro. 

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About Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont 

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is a nonprofit organization that connects people to opportunities to find gainful employment and meaningful work. Through its current 31 retail stores and more than 35 donation sites, the Goodwill Opportunity Campus, and partnerships with employers and other organizations, Goodwill builds pathways for members of the community to uncover their passions, enhance their skill sets, and achieve more for themselves and their families—creating a brighter future for all. As a social enterprise, proceeds from the sale of donated goods fund job training and employment services offered free of charge to members of the community. In 2022, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont provided support to more than 6,600 people. At the Goodwill Opportunity Campus, the organization partners with Skyla Credit Union, Charlotte Community Health Clinic and Dentistry, among others, to provide health and financial resources so individuals can truly be successful in work and life.   

You can learn more about Goodwill programs and services and view testimonials from participants by visiting www.goodwillsp.org. 

About FDY, Inc. 

FDY, Inc. is a nationally certified, minority owned food service management company headquartered in Charlotte, NC.  For 40 years, FDY, Inc. has operated multiple food and beverage concepts in locations including colleges and universities, airports, travel plazas, and corporations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. FDY, Inc. currently operates over 20 brands, including its proprietary brands The Young Kitchen™ and The Queen’s Beignets. Visit https://fdyinc.com/ to learn more. 

Media Contacts 

LiZeatra Wilson | Public Relations & Communications Manager | Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont | Direct: (561) 676-7801| Email: lizeatra.wilson@goodwillsp.org   

Najla Haywood | Vice President and Director of Communications | FDY, Inc. | Direct: (704) 709-1906| Email: nhaywood@fdyinc.com 

Goodwill is known for helping people find work. But we know success isn’t achieved alone, which is why we encourage partnership and collaboration to help our team and the people we serve in achieving their goals.   

Atrium Health and DPR Construction have embraced ambitious community engagement goals on one of the most significant capital investment projects ever undertaken by the Charlotte, North Carolina based healthcare owner. DPR, along with partner Rodgers Builders, is constructing two largescale replacement facilities as part of this major update to the flagship Atrium Health campus in the heart of downtown Charlotte: the 150,000-sq.-ft. Carolinas Rehabilitation Hospital and the one million-sq.-ft. Adult Acute Care New Bed Tower.  

While the addition of new world-class replacement medical facilities will help Atrium Health to better meet the needs of the growing Charlotte community, the owner’s desire to impact and serve the local community goes even deeper. As part of the broadscale effort to engage the community and help develop a strong local construction workforce, Atrium Health and DPR committed to hiring at least 20% of the necessary project resources locally.  

With a limited pool of local talent resources from which to hire, DPR had to think outside the box to find solutions for reaching this substantial community-based hiring goal. Shortly after kicking off the CMC Main Expansion project in early 2020, DPR launched a collaboration with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. The goal: grow the local construction workforce by expanding and supporting a training program focused on building up basic and advanced construction trades skills to meet two unique needs – filling a talent shortage in construction, while providing opportunities to people in the community.   

The partnership between DPR and the nonprofit supports Goodwill’s Construction & Trade Skills Training program. Located in west Charlotte, The Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center provides courses in forklift, construction basics, commercial carpentry, HVAC, electrical and drone training. The center was established in 2019 to help members of the community access skilled trade careers, and to fill the ongoing demand in the construction industry. Through Goodwill, residents in the Charlotte region can access industry-recognized skills training programs that help them pursue the life they want to achieve. Thanks to shopping and donations at Charlotte-area Goodwill retail locations, these training courses are free of charge. 

DPR’s team plays an important role in the program, helping participants learn about the possibilities within the industry, experience hands-on learning and helping to develop and deliver a well-received carpentry course led by DPR employees Chuck Haskett and Scottie Semder. Goodwill has hosted training classes in DPR’s local prefabrication warehouse and have brought training classes out to DPR’s Atrium Health project site for tours and interaction with active construction team members. Industry partnerships like these not only provide valuable learning opportunities for Goodwill participants, but also paths to promising careers. Multiple Goodwill graduates have been hired to work at DPR, supporting projects including the CMC Main Expansion project. 

DPR mechanical, electrical and plumbing subcontractors Adams Electric and Harris Mountain West have helped drive the program, adding curriculum in electrical, plumbing and piping prefabrication. The courses bring Goodwill participants into DPR’s Charlotte prefabrication warehouse to work in a safe, controlled environment, where they receive hands-on learning on how to create prefabricated, multi-trade racks.  

Altogether, the training program graduates roughly 10 to 12 individuals every eight to 10 weeks who come out prepared to join the local construction workforce. Adams Electric is just one of several local subcontractors that has hired graduates from the program.  

DPR has also worked in partnership with Goodwill to promote hiring events and trade partner training events. Since the opening of the Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center in January 2019, DPR has directly helped add a number of trained craftsmen to the Charlotte workforce.  

Goodwill exists to help people see possibilities, seize opportunities and prosper. Through partnerships with employers and other organizations, Goodwill builds pathways for members of the community to uncover their passions, enhance their skill sets and achieve more for themselves and their families—creating a brighter future for all. In 2021, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont provided support to more than 6,100 people.

Update 10/28/22 – the proposal process is now closed.

Seeking a Food Service Partner:

If you haven’t yet experienced the Goodwill Opportunity Campus along Wilkinson Boulevard, you will be surprised to find a visionary building bringing community together through partnership and service to advance equitable access to opportunity for all. Our campus is home to the career training, employment services and secondhand shopping Goodwill is known for. But it’s also a place where community groups intersect – where connections are facilitated between employers, industry leaders, nonprofits, shoppers, donors, team members, community groups and more. However, we recognize one of the greatest connectors of people is a shared table – and that’s where you come in.  

Previously, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont offered fresh and affordable food options on campus through an on-site bistro. Now, we hope to reinvigorate the existing restaurant space by inviting an independent operator to introduce a food service environment that encourages gathering and collaboration while offering healthy and affordable food options for Goodwill team members, participants, campus partners, shoppers, members of the community and nearby businesses. We are seeking an operator with demonstrated success in the industry and a commitment to serving community.  

The Goodwill Opportunity Campus provides unique opportunities to leverage an on-site garden, and support meeting and event catering to our many guests. We invite you to learn more about the exciting opportunity to bring new food options to our space, and the Wilkinson Boulevard corridor.  

About Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont:

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (GISP) was established in 1965 and is part of a network of 155 autonomous, nonprofit Goodwill organizations in 12 countries that make up Goodwill Industries International.  GISP’s purpose is helping people see possibilities, seize opportunities and prosper. We envision a community where equitable access to career opportunities is available for all. Goodwill builds pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve. We stand firm in what we believe in and are direct and clear when it comes to our values and commitment to creating more equitable career opportunities for all.  

GISP serves 13 counties in North Carolina and 5 counties in South Carolina. The organization currently has services and facilities in Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Richmond and Union counties in North Carolina and Lancaster and York counties in South Carolina.   

GISP incorporates continuous improvement strategies, and therefore seeks similar visions from our partners. The awarded applicant should be committed to providing a like-minded vision, in a very dynamic and ever changing environment. The operator must understand our mission, and the fact that GISP is a nonprofit organization.   

Preferred Qualifications:

 Sample Documentation Requested: 

Terms/Scope of Partnership:

Signage:

Hours of Operation:

Restaurant Specs – GISP to Provide:

Critical Due Dates:

Send Proposal Responses to:

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont 
Amy Jordan 
VP, Business Development and Facilities 
5301 Wilkinson Boulevard 
Charlotte, NC 28208 
704.393.6884 
amy.jordan@goodwillsp.org 

Important Notes:

By submitting your response to this RFP, it is assumed that the operator agrees to the following terms and conditions:

WORKING PARENTS SURVEY

In the spring of 2022, Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont and Charlotte Works conducted a survey of working parents in the greater Charlotte region to better understand how to support working parents in their return to the workforce after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey inquired about what matters most to them in terms of returning to the workforce and workplace satisfaction, and what employers can do to attract, retain and support working parents.

SURVEY FINDINGS

The survey found that 96.2% of respondents indicated that health and wellbeing was the factor that mattered most for working parents. The survey also revealed that 94% of parents would be willing to switch industries for a remote position and that 86% of parents are actively seeking a new job or are open to new opportunities. Additionally, the survey revealed that it’s important for employers to create policies, practices and a culture that supports the needs of working parents as well as provide flexibility to employees, especially working mothers, who were 1.5 times more likely to spend an additional three or more hours a day on the “second shift” during the pandemic. This additional time spent on housework and caregiving was even greater for single mothers.

The video below highlights other key survey findings and best practices for employers to respond to the survey findings.

MORE INFORMATION

Interested in learning more about the needs of working parents? We encourage you to read this brief, which synthesize recent research on working parents since the start of the pandemic, aiming to understand the challenges they face, the shifting needs of working caregivers and the research on what employers can do to help working parents.

 

Please note: The RENEW Grant was a 2022 initiative and is not offered every year.

In 2022, the City of Charlotte’s RENEW Grant in partnership with Goodwill’s Construction Program offered a free opportunity for eligible, motivated students – the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Workforce (RENEW) Training Program.

The RENEW program provided training in the Construction, HVAC and Electrical trades. Participants learned safety precautions and awareness and received an introduction to construction drawings, basic rigging, material handling and basic (construction) math used on a job site. Additionally, the program taught basic electrical safety and HVAC systems. Other topics included usage of installation tools and techniques, meters and gauges, brazing and soldering, heating technologies, basic copper and plastic piping practices, basic carbon steel piping practices, air distribution systems, understanding symbols and basic schematics, planning and layout, as well as installation of electrical distribution equipment.

The training package included 4 industry-recognized certifications (OSHA-10 Certification, NCCER HVAC Level 1 Certification, EPA-608 Certification and NCCER CORE Certification) as well as 6 weeks of work-based learning – totaling 28 weeks of paid training. The course began May 31, 2022.

Visit our training page to view our current offerings in Construction & Trade Skills training, or contact gts@goodwillsp.org for any questions.

Building economic security for yourself and your family is the dream for many Americans. Navigating the financial barriers to economic mobility can be challenging and stressful to overcome. One significant barrier occurs when career advancement and associated wage increases puts a family above the income eligibility threshold for public assistance programs. This is a reality experienced by many families in our community.

This financial barrier comes in the form of the benefits cliff. People face a benefits cliff when they receive public benefits in the form of housing vouchers, food (such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or childcare subsidy, earn a raise and then discover that they make too much money to continue to receive certain benefits. However, they are not making enough money to sustain themselves and their household because at times the value of the loss of public benefits is greater than the wage increase.

Due to the loss of these programs, career advancement opportunities can result in the family being financially worse off (a benefits cliff) or no better off (a benefits plateau) than before the wage increase.

The realities of balancing a tight budget with no room for unexpected reductions in income or increases in expenses are stressful. However, finding and keeping a job, and continuously working to improve your skills and salary, are the best long-term strategies for economic security.

For the past 18 months, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont and its strategic partners, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and NC Budget & Tax Center have been championing solutions to mitigate the impact of the benefits cliff on workers and their families in Mecklenburg County. Goodwill has also been collaborating with other health and human services organizations, local employers, financial services and workforce development organizations, and local government to develop tools and solutions that will inform policy decisions, employers, human services agencies, advocates and workers.

The goals of Mecklenburg County Benefits Cliff Community Project are:

  1. developing community consensus on the impact of the benefits cliff for workers in our community
  2. identifying a shared policy agenda
  3. cataloging practical solutions for multiple stakeholder groups to address some of the disincentives created by benefits cliffs
  4. developing a playbook which will utilize the Career Ladder Indicator and Financial Forecaster (CLIFF) Dashboard customized for Mecklenburg County

The workgroup has made great progress elevating this work to key stakeholders and identifying policy recommendations and solutions for various stakeholder groups. Now, the project is moving into Phase II – raising awareness about the benefits cliff to the community and igniting others to join Goodwill in advocating solutions that inform policy decisions.

The area for needed policy changes the workgroup initially wants to address is the benefits cliff for childcare subsidies. Losing childcare assistance can result in a drastic benefits cliff. Advocates can address the benefits cliff by recommending that childcare benefits are phased out as families’ incomes rise. Which is why the organization has partnered with NC Budget & Tax Center to identify and advocate for solutions that inform the childcare eligibility requirements and other policy levers at the state and local levers. More to come on how you can help us in our advocacy efforts.

One of the core values for Goodwill is build a village. We know success is not achieved alone and our approach is collective, which is why our partners in this work are the following organizations:

In addition to these organizations, we are grateful for our process facilitators, Rodney Adams, of R. Adams & Associates and Linda Christopherson, of Linda Christopherson & Associates who have helped us to guide the project, research solutions and bring key thought leaders to the table.

“Because Goodwill has a commitment to help people to see possibilities, seize opportunities and prosper, the impact of benefits cliff is something that we feel compelled to find solutions to address. I’m proud so many other organizations have joined us in championing and raising awareness for this issue. Our hope is to remove as many barriers as possible that keep people from pursuing the life they want to achieve,” said Chris Jackson, president and CEO at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont.

At the heart of this work is to promote dignity, family stability and economic mobility for those affected by the benefits cliff. The cliff experience can leave individuals feeling defeated or hopeless as they support their families. Goodwill is here to change the narrative and provide solutions for individuals and their families looking to prosper.

If you would like to receive project updates and join us in advocating for solutions to eliminate the benefits cliff and building pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve, please contact LaRita Barber at LaRita.Barber@goodwillsp.org or Justin Taylor at Justin.Taylor@goodwillsp.org.

Source: https://www.atlantafed.org/economic-mobility-and-resilience/advancing-careers-for-low-income-families/what-are-benefits-cliffs 

In partnership with Community Link, Goodwill is offering virtual tax assistance to qualified individuals free of charge.

Goodwill® Industries of the Southern Piedmont will offer free tax preparation services to qualified individuals through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Offered in partnership with Community Link and the Internal Revenue Service, this volunteer-driven program provides free tax assistance by certified tax preparers to individuals or families with an adjusted gross income of $58,000 or less.  

Goodwill is operating the VITA site virtually through Monday, April 18. The site will be open by appointment only on a first come first serve basis through this website. “The average tax return can cost a family or individual $200, this money can be used for other expenses such as childcare, food, transportation, or other needs,” said Janice Gray, director of Client Experience & Family Service at Goodwill. “Our partnership with Community Link helps people in our community use their earnings for other things than taxes and saves them time. We now offer these services virtually and we can reach more people in our community while keeping them safe.”  

Goodwill encourages taxpayers to ask about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides tax breaks for some working families who earn up to $53,000 and can provide refunds up to $6,044. The IRS estimates that nearly 20 percent of eligible workers do not claim the EITC each year because they lack awareness of the program, cannot afford costly tax preparation fees or fear they will lose public benefits by filing.   

To schedule an appointment, or to see if you qualify for free tax preparation, click here.  

Please make sure you have the following items to receive assistance:   

Goodwill’s Coffee & Conversation 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. 

Each 90-minute, in-person event will engage attendees in thought-provoking discussions grouped in some of Charlotte’s key Diversity, Equity and Inclusion topics to bridge the gap between the community and those who engage with Goodwill through programs and services.  

With a capacity of 25 guests at each bi-monthly event, attendees will be grounded in community issues that will allow for lively, highly engaged group discussion co-created and facilitated by community change catalyst, Kellen Nixon, and Community Building Initiative’s Annetta Foard. Coffee & Conversation is a safe and trusting space for all attendees to lean confidently into their lived experiences and cultural identities. 

With the ultimate goal to connect the community to Goodwill’s shared purpose and mission, the Coffee & Conversation series will explore the following topics: 

Join us for our first Coffee & Conversation on February 24, where we will talk about building a village. Our community has grown because of the people in around it, and how we forge meaningful partnerships with one another is important to ensure our continued growth. Facilitator Kellen Nixon will guide us through this open conversation.

 

Register Now