GW: According to the fashion calendar, when does the Spring fashion season officially kick off?

JL: Traditionally, light colors with more energy and lighter weight garments debut in March. Shoppers are ready to change out closets and freshen up their looks with color pops and lighter fare. In other words: Now is the time.

GW. Which colors and fabrics will ring in spring?

JL: Primarily tangerine/orange will be the bell weather color this season. To tone it down, you will also see teal and emerald green making strong showings.  These colors or color combinations make for an exciting yet balanced look.

Q. What are the must have Spring looks this year?

JL: Essentials include a cropped jacket, color block sheaths, lightweight cardigans, leather cross body bags and stacked mixed bracelets. Jewelry layering is huge this season. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, consider upcycling ballet flats with gems, metallic piping or beads to add freshness. The spirit of this year’s look taps personal style to express modern femininity – bold and fun.

GW: What are some easy and affordable steps for freshening up Bay Area spring wardrobes?

JL: You can easily refresh your look by using bright solid color separates mixed with black or gray neutrals. The color pop adds new life to staple wardrobe looks and fits limited shopping budgets. The trenchcoat, a Bay Area wardrobe staple, has gone through several re-imaginings and can be found in a range of lightweight fabrics in functional and bouncy lengths. Turning a denim jacket into a denim vest, literally lightening the jacket, is very Bay Area. I’d suggest wearing these do-it-yourself vests with a floral print dress, another key Spring wardrobe piece.  You won’t find more affordable prices on these spring statement pieces than at our 21 stores.

GW: Is there a Spring fashion don’t?

JL: Although pattern mixing when done correctly is a hit—beware of pattern overkill. To avoid looking like a fashion faux pas, always use contrasting patterns and limit your look to two patterns. A large floral can be accented with a small polka dot or stripe. Find a contrasting point and it never hurts to get a second opinion from a trusted friend.

Q. Are there spring classics that stay evergreen?

JL: Calf length pleated skirts, classic A-form dresses in a pastel palette, multi-strand pearls or beads, striped belts, boat shoes, nautical accents and beaded clutch are timeless looks that always present flawlessly on any body type.

Q. What’s the most important fashion rule of thumb, regardless of season?

JL: Don’t be a slave to fashion. Take the best the season has to offer and create your own personal look and fashion expression. Fashion is fun! If you’re not enjoying your shopping experience, you’re doing it wrong!

The Lion King and Finding Nemo live on and on…and not in a good way. The VHS cassettes that once carried their images are now an environmental disaster in the making.

As new technologies have supplanted VCRs, those black plastic VHS rectangles are ending up entombed in landfill. There, not only will it take eons for them to break down into the elements, but the chemicals coating the tape – toxins like ferric oxide, iron oxide, and chromium dioxide – will eventually seep into groundwater.

How big is this problem? So big that the Lion King alone, as the best-selling video of all time, generated 55 million VHS copies that are now making their way towards landfills in our community and around the globe. As they degrade, their environmental harm will put at risk the descendants of the children who first thrilled to Simba’s quest; so much for the circle of life.

San Francisco Goodwill is hosting an ideas based competition to help the world figure out what can be done with this glut of cassettes to keep them out of landfills. We are taking the FIRST step in bridging the gap between our social enterprise and the wealth of ingenuity represented by environmental activists, business innovators, government officials, academic partners, and you.

From February through April, we’ll be hosting weekly drawings based on your submissions. In June, we’ll be flying winners to San Francisco for a one-day conference as part of our ReValue Lab bringing together everyone from the area’s most influential VC’s to budding high school geniuses. The solution to this problem could come from anywhere or anyone.

Sign up today as an individual or as a team by clicking here.

The clock is ticking on this explosive environmental threat.

WASHINGTON DC -  Last week, Goodwill Store Manager Martin Lam got mail. Not a bill, not a circular, but a large eggshell colored envelope adorned with the words HANDLE WITH CARE boldly printed in the lower left corner. Today, Martin is preparing to join hundreds of thousands of other Americans as they pack up the car, board a plane, or ride the rails to our nations capitol and bear witness to the swearing in of the President of the United States.

“I’m excited and humbled to be a part of the ceremony, both as an American and as part of an organization that has a legacy of helping people help themselves. As a member of the Goodwill team I have the chance to do my part for the community each and every day – I plan on celebrating that opportunity with thousands of others as we come together and recognize what we can do to move us forward as a nation,” stated Martin.

As an invited guest of the committee, Martin will be in Washington DC as members of the Supreme Court, Congress, and the Administration gather to hear President Obama’s inaugural address. The President is expected to emphasize the role of service to the community as the inauguration will take place on Martin Luther King Day. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.

By Anne Young
SF Goodwill

As the sun set this past Halloween, our doorsteps were graced with the giggling presence of little ghouls, goblins and several super heroes. The colorful attire these children donned reflected the vital imaginations and untapped possibilities on the inside. I got the opportunity to meet Elmo, Rapunzel, three Spider-Men and even a tiny politician. Each one was a study in unabashed childhood optimism—a gift that doesn’t always last.

It wasn’t so long ago that the young-adult graduates of SF Goodwill’s successful RAMP program were these very kids, shouting out that famous Oct. 31 catchphrase for a fun-sized Kit Kat or Snickers, and then wobbling off into the night with the certainty of greater victories ahead.

Though only a handful of years separate trick-or-treaters from the 18-to-24-year-old participants of SF Goodwill’s Reconnecting All through Multiple Pathways program (RAMP), oh how their needs and realities have changed. Instead of candy treasures, these young adults pursue dreams of stable paychecks and sustainable careers. These dreams can be hard to realize.

RAMP was designed with these young adults in mind. The program was custom-made for young people who are having a difficult time finding the jobs and opportunities they desire. There are approximately 4,000 of these individuals in San Francisco alone.

This past October—while sugar-fueled Spider-Men raced the sidewalks of my neighborhood—14 of our RAMP graduates obtained employment. That represents a true milestone on their journey to adulthood.

Pathway to opportunity

The graduates of SF Goodwill's RAMP program have reason to smile. A vast majority go on to achieve successful, sustainable employment.

Here are just a couple of their inspiring stories:

Brandon Frank performed like a star during his job-readiness training course and went on to excel in a transitional employment (TE) position at Goodwill’s warehouse. Once he successfully completed his TE position, Frank actively participated in the weekly RAMP job club, and was proactive in perusing opportunities at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

After a vigorous application and interview process, Frank successfully gained employment as a custodial intern through SFO’s Career Connect Program and is in the process of becoming a certified custodian with the city and county of San Francisco.

Jaime Linares initially struggled while in the job-readiness training course and was dropped due to attendance issues. But Linares turned things around. After getting placed on Safety Net, he worked closely with his career advisor, attended job club, and actively engaged with local employers to highlight his unique skills and interests.

Participants who fall out of compliance with the RAMP program’s requirements for various reasons are placed on Safety Net. During this process, they are placed on a 30-day contract and work with their resource specialist on removing barriers. Terms of the contract are individualized to the participant’s specific needs, but barriers often include attendance at job clubs, volunteer work in the community, research projects and participation in mock interviews.

Impact and experiences

Linares was recently hired as an assistant case manager and administrative assistant at the San Francisco County Sheriff’s Department, where he will work with young men between the ages of 18 and 24 who are in the process of re-entering society.

As Frank and Linares prove, every success story is unique, but each young man is a shining example of RAMP’s success in placing program graduates in sustainable jobs.

Frank, Linares and their fellow RAMP graduates may be a few years past wearing Spider-Man masks and asking for candy, but they haven’t given up on the dream of being real-life heroes.

Dream on.

Anne Young is the career advisor manager for Goodwill of San Francisco, San Mateo & Marin.

R.F. Hosseini contributed to this report.

Editor’s note:  Each month, Goodwill will feature stories and events from some of the neighborhoods we serve—profiling the people, places and events that make these neighborhoods so special.

By Elizabeth Hope
Bayview-Hunters Point Community Blogger

Not Your Grammy's Theater and the Bayview-Hunter's Point YMCA are collaborating on "Love Letter to the Bayview," a theatrical production giving voice to real people from the community.

Last spring, Not Your Grammy’s Theater and the Bayview-Hunters Point YMCA began early production of a community theatrical and musical performance that came to be titled “Love Letter to the Bayview.”

Interviews with local residents were transcribed into individual monologues and short scenes. Over time, Amy Crumpacker, the director of the award-winning Not Your Grammy’s Theater, and Antoine Moore, director of community health and wellness at the Y, worked together to build an ensemble cast to perform them.

I got to sit in on a rehearsal of excerpts from this production, which was performed on Dec. 28, 2012, at the Y as part of the citywide celebration of the festival of Kwanzaa.

More than that, though, “Love Letter to the Bayview” represents the blended voices of a neighborhood.

On the rehearsal night I attended, I watched the character of 1960s Christian missionary Espinola Jackson—as played by local actress Verna Howard—put down her Bible and pick up a gun as the “pistol-packing mama” of San Francisco’s Economic Opportunity Commission.

At the time, the threat of hired goons breaking up E.O.C. meetings was prevalent. And the black men in Jackson’s community could not risk being caught carrying weapons for protection, or they would be beaten, arrested or shot by the police, so the women of the community were the ones who stepped up to attend the meetings.

Other performers rehearsed monologues that ranged from a female police officer’s description of having to wrestle a gun away from a 12-year-old boy, to the voice of a drunk homeless man in Mendell Plaza who wants to make it into rehab. In a scene featuring two actors, a 17-year-old argues with his conscience after his best friend is shot.

These staged readings represent a snippet of the authentic and original community voices this project has generated.

The full production of “Love Letter to the Bayview” is scheduled to debut at the YMCA this coming spring.

Not Your Grammy’s Theater is also excited to announce that the newly rebuilt Bayview-Hunters Point library has been added as a tour site for the production. The theater company is also hoping to set up a website and is interested in volunteer(s) for that project. Email nygtheater@gmail.com for details.

Elizabeth Hope is a poet, writer, landscaper and devoted San Franciscan who lives in sunny Bayview-Hunter’s Point.

Editor’s note:  Each month, Goodwill will feature stories and events from some of the neighborhoods we serve—profiling the people, places and events that make these neighborhood’s so special.

By Katie Tandy
Tenderloin Community Blogger

Swords to Plowshares is working this holiday season to house nearly 300 homeless military veterans living in San Francisco.

While Christmas can be chock full of cheer, it’s not necessarily so merry if you’re one of the nearly 3,000 homeless veterans within San Francisco’s humble seven-mile radius.

David Talerico is one of the people trying to change that. A veteran of the Cold War, Talerico worked for the U.S. Postal Service before realizing in 2004 that his job left him feeling unfulfilled.

“I wanted to help people even though people in social work know … we don’t do it for the money,” he laughs. “Working with Swords to Plowshares is beneficial in much better ways than money.”

Swords to Plowshares is a local nonprofit that’s provided a wide range of services to veterans for nearly 40 years.

Talerico joined up with Swords to Plowshares in 2005, first as a senior case manager. He has since become a housing specialist and heads up S2W’s newest program: Supportive Services for Veteran Families, which focuses on homeless prevention and rapid re-housing for single, low income vets and veterans with families.

With the launch of the new program, S2W expects to provide 300 veteran families with permanent housing in the coming year through rapid re-housing and eviction prevention services.

Talerico calls SSVF a “housing first” model, which puts permanent housing ahead of dealing with other issues, like illnesses or handicaps. Talerico’s previous experience as a social worker has helped him leverage previous relationships with hotel owners, property managers and the like for his current clients.

“I can tap into those resources to get people rapidly housed,” he says.

It’s a good thing, too, because the need is certainly there. While homeless veterans are present throughout San Francisco, the Tenderloin neighborhood has a particularly high-density population.

“Our clientele live on a very limited income and this neighborhood is where much of the cheaper, single room occupancy hotels are,” Talerico explains.

Talerico is thrilled with the partnerships Swords to Plowshares has forged with other housing programs, such as the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development. The new SSVF program is supplementing those current programs by focusing largely on the disabled and senior populations within the veteran community.

“We are actively trying to prevent homelessness, but there is a serious lack of affordable housing units; more often than not there is a multiple-year wait list for subsidized housing,” Talerico explains. “This program augments those other housing programs which specifically target the disabled or senior population, filling the gaps to rapidly house these veterans and provide financial assistance.”

Talerico is actively combating the stigma that surrounds homeless veterans as well.

“There is a huge misconception out there. It’s not a substance abuse or mental disability [issue],” he says, “it’s a poverty issue.”

That’s not to say there aren’t challenges in reaching members of this community. Homeless veterans can be rather elusive if they want to be, making it difficult for someone like Talerico to sometimes find them.

“It’s embarrassing to a lot of people and they don’t want to be in a system or ‘counted’; they just want to be helped,” he notes.

Oftentimes, veterans don’t even want to talk to a doctor at a hospital because it only increases their feelings of being misunderstood.

“They want to talk to another vet,” Talerico says. “Then they don’t feel as alone or ashamed. We link them in with other veterans; it’s a complex system out there and to navigate it alone is very difficult.

“War does cause wounds and those wounds have to be addressed. Exposure in combat is horrendous and when you come home, a lot of times, your family members don’t understand what you went through.”

Anyone who has served at least one day of active duty military service with no dishonorable discharge or bad conduct is eligible for the program.

Talerico works closely with the veterans as well as their families, educating them on the psychological ramifications of war and how best to deal with them.

Depending on a variety of circumstances and the clients’ needs, Swords to Plowshares can help with everything from subsidizing initial housing costs to helping them mitigate bad credit.

A dedicated collection of generous donors and progressive businesses have aided S2P’s mission. Home Depot has donated warming units for apartments and Talerico calls the local San Francisco VA Medical Center “one of the best.” Talerico also believes San Francisco—both on a city and county level—has been a forward thinking partner in the quest to banish homelessness.

“There is nothing more rewarding than people taking control of their own life,” Talerico says. “They think, ‘I am somebody and I am worth this.’ It’s hard to go through your life thinking, ‘Where am I going to sleep tonight?’”

Katie Tandy is a local freelance writer and photographer recently imported from the beautiful belly of Brooklyn, NY. She covers local news, events and experiences, and is always on the prowl for good story. Her work can be found at catherinetandy.com.

By Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez
CEO & President of SF Goodwill

I recently sent out my last letter to our donors, partners and friends as President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin. For nearly nine years, I have had the honor of leading this great organization.

I feel very proud of what we’ve accomplished together despite a recession, high unemployment and economic uncertainty. I thank you from the bottom of my heart – we could not have come so far without you.

What You Have Made Possible

Since 2004, through our unrelenting commitment to tackling the issues of unemployment in the Bay Area, especially for people with low skills, disabilities, and other challenging circumstances, we have:

•  Provided over 25,000 people with education, training, support, career advising and coaching;

•  Hired people from our training programs. Nearly 50% of our over 700 employees are former

Goodwill participants who transitioned from public support into sustainable taxpayers;

•  Diverted more than 150 million pounds of donated goods from landfill through our stores, recycling and repurposing businesses that includes online shopping;

•  Grown Goodwill earned revenues by 80%, from $22M to $42 million annually, and moved from an earnings deficit towards greater sustainability;

•  Received one of the highest rankings from Charity Navigator;

•  Received the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award.

Thanks to your support, we’ve been creating solutions to poverty through the businesses we operate. Over 80% of the donations we receive go directly into our services – putting people back to work.

We have been building powerful bridges of transformation that unite diverse communities and experiences around our core values of courage, possibility, integrity and community.

See the Good and Grow It

I am confident that the work of the past nine years will serve as the foundation for great achievements as the organization prepares to turn 100 years old. As the clock ticks down, I make one final request; please remain committed to Goodwill and its philosophy to “see the good and grow it.”

If you would like to make a financial donation, click here to go directly to our Fundly page. Good happens at Goodwill and in our communities because of the generosity of people like you.

I know I will continue to be a Goodwill financial donor for the rest of my life. Help make the next nine years the brightest yet – I know that Goodwill’s best work is yet to come.

We thank you sincerely for your belief and investment in our work.

Debbie Alvarez-Rodriguez
sfgoodwill.org

“This year we wanted to personally say thank you to our extraordinarily loyal and generous donation community and so the Goodwill Donate-a-thon was born.” — Leslie Bilbro, Donations Director, Goodwill of San Francisco, San Mateo & Marin.

By Deborah Bouck
SF Goodwill

For bringing joy to so many people in need of a second chance, Goodwill is saying thank-you this Dec. 31.

Legend has it that most Goodwill donors wait until the last week of the year to bring their goods to our donation drop-off locations.

Legend has it wrong.

The truth is that—although Dec. 31 represents a culmination of generous, yearlong community support—many of our donors visit us three or even four times a year. Better yet, Goodwill donors who include us in their holiday giving traditions get the added bonus of receiving year-end tax deductions.

With that gratitude in our hearts, we’re taking a different approach this year to saying thanks. Many of us at Goodwill asked how we could turn a donation experience into an event that celebrates the very act of giving to Goodwill.

How do we thank people we’ve never met, but who share our devotion to re-valuing items that deserve a second life and helping people who need a second chance?

Why not start with a party?

So, whether you’re a longtime or first-time Goodwill donor, our Donate-a-thon event on Dec. 31 is a tribute to you.

We’ll be transforming our 1500 Mission Street donation drop into a donation sensation with live music, donor tributes, snacks and treats for the kids. Thanks to our partners at KOIT-FM and KFOX-FM, the first 400 Goodwill donors at our Mission Street location will win San Francisco Zoo or Century Theater movie tickets when our gates open at 7 a.m., Dec. 31.*

The biggest gift? Your much needed donations will fund Goodwill’s job training and work placement programs, which provide so many local people second chances and a dignified path out of poverty.

Goodwill has helped more than 2,000 people get jobs in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties during the current economic downturn. Your gently used clothes, toys, electronic items and household goods are the lifeblood of our nonprofit social enterprise.

To kick off this season of giving, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown donated more than 90 custom-tailored items from his personal collection.

In the meantime, please visit us at our Donate-a-thon event this Dec. 31 and—as you once again help fill our trucks—give us the chance to personally thank you for supporting second chances.

*Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis only at 1500 Mission Street beginning at 7 a.m. To find all donation location hours, please check out sfgoodwill.org.

Courtesy of Online College

A dozen reasons why schools should require community service.

For most people, volunteering is an extra—something that’s nice to do, but not absolutely necessary. Although plenty of students do community service, the number of students who volunteer is dropping at a rapid rate. Consider this: college student volunteerism peaked in 2004 at 31.2%, and has dropped down to 26.1% as of 2010.

Nearly three-fourths of students are missing out on an incredibly enriching experience that can benefit them not just personally, but professionally as well. Why is this such a big deal? Read on to understand our 12 reasons why community service is so vital to student success, and why volunteering should be required in schools.

SERVICE LEARNING HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH ACADEMIC GAIN:
Students who participate in community service tend to do better in school. It’s believed that community service is somewhat of a missing link for students, giving them the chance to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real human needs. Volunteering is a great way to follow up on and supplement subjects that have been covered in the classroom.

STUDENTS OFTEN EXPERIENCE AN INCREASED SENSE OF SELF-EFFICACY:
Students who perform community service learn that the work they do can actually make a difference. This helps students better understand their own competence, leading to more self confidence and a can-do attitude that can spread to their work and academic pursuits.

STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GROW UP TO BECOME VOTERS:
Youths who take part in volunteering activities become more involved in their communities and, as a result, tend to care more about what happens in those communities. Often, students who have participated in community service will grow up to become young voters and remain involved in their communities throughout their lives.

COMMUNITY SERVICE IS A GREAT PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILL BUILDER:
Students participating in community service are often faced with challenges and tough problems to tackle. By working through them as a volunteer, they learn how to better solve problems, and enjoy the satisfaction of overcoming a hurdle.

VOLUNTEERING HAS HEALTH BENEFITS:
Creating a lifelong habit of community service can help students become more healthy over the course of a lifetime. Research has shown that individuals who volunteer have better physical and mental health than those who do not, especially among adults aged 65 or older.

VOLUNTEERING MAKES STUDENTS MORE ATTRACTIVE TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS:
Taking part in community service teaches students skills that are valuable to employers, like problem-solving, teamwork and the ability to follow instructions. Volunteering is especially valuable when it is related to a student’s future career.

STUDENTS CAN ENJOY EXCELLENT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES:
Community service opens students up to a wealth of networking opportunities, allowing them to build new relationships within their community as they contribute. Students can meet new people, work with new organizations and strengthen their ties to the community.

STUDENTS FIND A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIDE:
As students work within their community, they learn that they can be responsible for making great things happen. This helps to build a sense of responsibility in students, and a sense of pride when they see what they’ve done is actually helping others.

COMMUNITY SERVICE BRINGS LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM:
Volunteering allows students to take what they’ve learned and apply it beyond the classroom. This offers the opportunity for enrichment and a great way for them to see how concepts they’ve learned work in the real world.

VOLUNTEERING OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SKILL BUILDING:
Participating in community service allows students to build upon their existing skill sets. As students work in a real-life setting, they can use volunteering projects to explore and improve upon existing skills. Students can explore potential careers and find out what they need to develop in order to work in the field.

VOLUNTEERING MAY LEAD TO SCHOLARSHIPS:
Students who participate in volunteering opportunities may be able to find more scholarships than they would without such experience. As community service offers students a way to build their network, they’ll be creating connections with more people who can write letters of recommendation, and some community service organizations offer their own scholarship opportunities.

VOLUNTEERING IS ONE BIG TEAM BUILDING OPPORTUNITY: As students work in community service programs, they’ll learn how to better work in teams. Often, students will also learn to develop leadership skills as well. This is valuable not just for schoolwork, but for higher education, careers and further community involvement.

“Goodwill sent me to computer classes where I learned Word, Excel, PowerPoint and QuickBooks so that I would be competitive in the work force.” Diane Joiner, Goodwill Sales Supervisor

By Deborah Bouck
SF Goodwill

As Goodwill’s marketing manager, when I head out of the office, camera in hand, it’s typically to a Goodwill store or donation site. Thanks to an invitation from Goodwill Menlo Park sales supervisor, Diane Joiner, I had the opportunity to attend the first San Mateo County Job Fair for Formerly Incarcerated San Mateo County Residents.

As Diane is sharing her story of incarceration, recovery, job training and employment at Goodwill, I focus on testing the limits of my amateur photography skills to capture the moment. My focus is so intently fixed on Diane, that I almost miss the bigger story around me. More than 400 formerly incarcerated job seekers fill the Redwood City venue to meet and interview with 29 employers—including Goodwill. When event sponsor Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson begins the introductions, it’s clear that San Mateo businesses and human service agencies are united in providing a real safety net for people – and I’m watching it work in action.

"Jobs are the key for people to become law abiding citizens." – San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks

San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks doesn’t mince words when it’s his turn to speak. “This is not about building a bigger jail—it’s about building better programs and training so people can have a chance when they leave prison. Jobs are the key for people to become law abiding citizens.”

In his own remarks, Chief Probation Officer, Stu Forrest adds, “One of the best ways to get out of the criminal justice system is a place to live and a good job.” I notice that every head in the filled-to-capacity conference center nods in agreement.

Peter Kockelman, CEO of Summit Steel Works Corp weighed in from an employer’s perspective, “There’s a minimal safety net if you don’t have a job. You give someone a job and you change that person’s life and the lives of their families.”

Finally it’s Diane’s turn at the podium. She openly shares her five year descent into drugs and alcohol that began with the shooting death of her son in 2005 and ended at Chochilla Women’s State Prison. Fueled by a sincere desire to change her life upon release from prison and treatment, Diane asked for help and was connected to Goodwill career advisor Anne Young and a path to a better life.

After thanking all the agencies in addition to Goodwill that helped her get her life back, Diane’s story ends with a plea to employers on behalf of the job seekers who are just starting out, “We have done our time and paid our dues. Please give us a chance.” With the impact of Diane’s closing remarks still ringing in their ears, job seekers and employers head to dozens of interview booths to begin the journey of second chances.

Goodwill career advisor, Rosalinda De La Rosa, reports, “We met with people up to the last minute of the job fair. We had such a long line of interested candidates who were motivated by Diane Joiner’s story and we wanted to make sure we were available to help everyone interested in working at Goodwill.”

When I return to the office, a colleague describes me as glowing. I realize that Diane’s words have motivated me too. It’s been nothing short of awe-inspiring to see Goodwill’s mission come to life in a Redwood City conference center.