GOOD NEWS! GOOD CONTACTS FOR THOSE IN NEED AND THOSE WHO WANT TO SERVE THEM! KCET: Goodwill Plans One-Stop Community Resource Center in Glassell Park - by Carren Jao However, Goodwill Southern California has plans to transform the 135,000 square-foot former Kmart into a community amenity: theyre calling it the Community Enrichment Center (CEC) at Fletcher Square, a one-stop shop for what seems to be everything a community needs to thrive. We conducted a needs assessment and determined that our services and programs would benefit the community and surrounding areas, writes Sasha Itzikman, Goodwill Southern Californias Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations. The center will provide a space where we can deliver on our mission services, and our four cornerstones -- empowering individuals, advancing businesses, enriching communities, and caring for the earth. Apart from offering career development, placement services, and technical skills classes, it will also double as a donation hub, a shopping center, a café staffed by Goodwills trainees, and an event space for community meetings and government agencies. It will also offer e-waste recycling, shredding, and document imaging services. Planned with existing community agendas, such as the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan and the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan, in mind, the center is looking to fill the needs of the Glassell Park neighborhood and beyond, to Atwater Village, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Cypress Park and Eagle Rock. Located within half a mile of the Los Angeles River, the community center plans to complement the rivers bicycle and walking path by adding 30,000 square feet of landscaping and more than 100 trees. The non-profit is still working with architects on the final details of the campus. Set to wrap up in the first quarter of 2014, the new location would not only be home to many Goodwill operations, but it would also open its doors to a handful of community groups willing to co-locate and collaborate in the sprawling space. Ideally, the partners Goodwill is seeking are focused on employment, financial literacy and educational services. CLICK LINK FOR ENTIRE ARTICLE! kcet.org/socal/departures/nela/glassell-park/goodwill-opens-one-stop-shop-community-resource-center.html?utm=fb GOODWIL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL INC. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides job training, employment placement services, and other community-based programs for people who have disabilities. In addition, Goodwill Industries may hire Veterans, individuals that lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges. Goodwill is funded by a massive network of retail thrift stores which operate as nonprofits as well. Goodwills answer to its profit status is As a unique hybrid called a social enterprise, we defy traditional distinctions. Instead of a single bottom line of profit, we hold ourselves accountable to a triple bottom line of people, planet, and performance.[3] Goodwill operates as a network of 165 independent, community-based organizations in Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay, the United States, Canada and 8 other countries.[4] In 2011, Goodwills collectively earned more than $4 billion, and used 82 percent of that revenue to provide employment, training and support services to more than 4.2 million individuals.[5][6] Goodwills logo, a stylized letter g, resembles a smiling face. It was designed by Joseph Selame in 1968.[7] Currently Goodwill has two spokespeople helping spread the word about its mission. Organization expert Lorie Marrero is the face of the Donate Movement, which began in 2010, and ABC correspondent Evette Rios joined Goodwills cause in 2012 to help appeal to the Latin American market.[8][9] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwill_Industries
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 22:48:02 +0000