Justin Hon was able to use his self-presentation skills in conjunction with additional job training from Goodwill Industries of Southern Oregon (Medford) to find work after facing challenges related to his criminal history. As a result of his job placement, he is now able to be more involved in the lives of his children. Read more and watch as he shares his journey to self-sufficiency.
Category: My Story
My Story: Patricia “Pachi” McLeod
My name is Pachi McLeod. As the Hispanic Services Manager [at Goodwill Industries of Southern Rivers (Columbus GA)], I get to provide services for the community, but I also get to support the bilingual staff at their different locations, and I get to be a kind of the bridge between the Hispanics and non-Hispanics alike.
My Story: Josh MrKvicka
Despite some challenges stemming from a intellectual disability, Josh MrKvicka completed high school and looked forward to the next step…a job! Josh needed help tackling the job search. After trying another agency with no luck, Josh and his family gave Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas (Kansas City, MO) a try. He and Goodwill employment specialist, Jane Siela, went to work. He now works at Freddy’s Restaurant in St. Joseph, MO as a "Lobby Guy".
My Story: Tina Bouatic
At age 14, my parents got divorced. They were both drinking and fighting a lot. I started hanging with the wrong crowd. I started cutting school, cutting classes and began to smoke cigarettes. Eventually, while doing drugs and drinking – I went out, stayed out late. I basically stopped going to school. I got pregnant.
My Story: Cassandra Rolle
Cassandra Rolles came to Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont (Charlotte, NC) in 2013. The Goodwill helped her gain employment skills and experience through a variety of temporary positions before connecting her with a temp-to-perm position in the county government.
My Story: Nadia Patterson
When Nadia Patterson moved from New York to North Carolina with her children, she had limited job prospects. Goodwill Industries of the Southern PIedmont (Charlotte, NC) helped her get back on track by earning her GED, pursuing secondary education and landing a job in her dream field as a pharmacy technician.
My Story: Shawnteal Turner
I was the one hanging out with the gang members on the street corners doing whatever, not really accomplishing anything with my life, you know… not even paying attention to what I was really doing. A friend of mine kicked me in the butt and was like, “You need to get a job, and Goodwill is having a job fair so come on, let’s go.” I went to a job fair at Goodwill Seattle (WA), and then I met Allison Gerttula. She told me about Goodwill’s Youth Green Corps and I was like great, sign me up, and that’s how I got started.
My Story: Kim Rawls
Through Goodwill, I was able to start [working] in the e-commerce department. A month later I became the leader in that department which was about to go from a $1,500 revenue to a $7,000 revenue within one month. By December 2013, we hit our first $10,000.
My Story: Oscar Flores Montes
I was introduced to the Seattle Goodwill Aerospace Program. One day I was just having lunch at my high school and a friend of mine whose name is Oscar as well, he came up to me and asked me if I was interested in aerospace. He knew I was interested in aerospace, so naturally I said yes.
My Story: Lisa Smith
Sixteen years ago, I was a professional vocalist on my way to landing a recording contract. However, my life took a dramatic turn when I was rear-ended by a drunk driver. The near-fatal wreck left me paralyzed from the waist down.
My Story: Sandy Young
After the first proper introduction of what Goodwill does – I was hooked. I had no idea that every item I donated went to create job training and placement. Now, since I am trained to be a Goodwill Ambassador (volunteer), I am able to tell even more people about the amazing ways Goodwill creates a more employable community.
My Story: Mariam Bleuez
After graduating in law, I left Morocco to join my Quebec-born husband in Montreal. Upon arrival, I had difficulty adapting to all the changes because I felt very isolated. Alone at home, I decided to look for work only to be disappointed as doors were closed to me due to my lack of work experience in Quebec. My determination allowed me to land a job in a fast food restaurant, but I was unfulfilled. A colleague spoke to me about Goodwill Renaissance Montreal.
