Goodwill of Orange County

One of the best moments at Goodwill OC is when our program participants graduate from a program and begin their career journey. I’m so proud of these young people pictured here for overcoming their barriers to employment by completing our Project Search program. These young people each had the opportunity to intern at Kaiser Permanente’s Irvine hospital (thank you Payman Roshan for you and your team supporting them!) while completing workforce readiness course work through Saddleback College with certificate of completions. (Isn’t that awesome Julianna Asperin Barnes!?). During the program tonight each young person delivered a beautiful speech about their experience. My heart is so full after listening to them share about their growth and confidence. I loved watching their parents video and photograph them with pride. The parents of children with special needs (now young adults) know that this opportunity creates independence, confidence and purpose and makes a positive impact on the entire family! Several already have jobs lined up- something that once may have seemed like an impossible dream. A big congratulations and Moment 4 Good to our Mission Services leadership team for their dedication and determination to create innovative programs with amazing community partners. Richard (Rick) Adams, Kathi Millett, Diana Nevarez. These leaders, along with our Skills Trainers, are truly making a difference one young person at a time. 👏👏🙌💙

As states invest in high-value workforce credentials and data-driven training, one thing is clear: the future of workforce development depends on creating pathways that truly work for workers. Goodwill of Orange County is proud to be part of that progress, helping local jobseekers gain the skills and credentials needed to thrive in growing industries like electric vehicle supply equipment, healthcare, and logistics. When opportunity meets access, everyone benefits. ▶️ Read more about where state workforce priorities are heading: https://lnkd.in/g5dTyNpJ #OCGoodwill #WorkforceDevelopment #CareerPathways #CaliforniaJobsFirst

Alex grew up shopping the aisles of Goodwill of Orange County, and now he’s building his career there. Through our Career Pathways program, Alex is gaining the tools, confidence, and support to chase his dream of becoming a nurse. 💙 Read how this program is changing lives in our latest blog ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e-QH_bJh #OCGoodwill #CareerPathways #JobTraining

We are thrilled to celebrate Goodwill of Orange County's Marketing & Communications Director, Nicole Morrison, for being named one of the 17 Aspiring Leaders at ASPIRE 2025, presented by Greater Irvine Chamber and City of Hope Orange County! This incredible recognition highlights the dedication, innovation, and leadership they bring to Goodwill of Orange County every single day. The Goodwill OC team had the privilege of attending the ASPIRE Half-Day Power conference and learned valuable, practical insights through expert-led sessions by Coach Greg LeFever, MBA, David Coffaro, Chris Rosenberg, and Colin Diaz, ACE, IOM. Our team left with clear, actionable tools designed to help them move their careers forward and further contribute to our mission. Congratulations to Nicole Morrison for this well-deserved honor! Your strategic leadership in marketing and communications has been instrumental in building powerful brand awareness and effectively connecting the community to our essential programs and services, directly supporting the people we serve.

This Giving Tuesday, we’re thinking about Cynthia. Cynthia told her career navigator, "I can't do it", when encouraged to lead a ukulele group at her local wellness center. But her navigator refused to let her give up on herself. With guidance and support, Cynthia found her confidence. She applied. She got it. Now she's in a role she never imagined was possible -- teaching others how to play the ukulele. At Goodwill of Orange County, we don't just provide job training. We provide guidance. We provide the support that helps people like Cynthia discover their leadership potential. But we can't do it without community support. This Giving Tuesday, your donation directly supports: ✨ Career navigation and coaching ✨ Job training and skill development ✨ Supportive services that remove barriers to employment ✨ Connections to employers and opportunities Every contribution—whether $25 or $250—helps someone rewrite their story. Join us this Giving Tuesday and help create more success stories like Cynthia's. Link to donate: https://lnkd.in/gXfV8qTr #GivingTuesday #OCGoodwill #CareerPathways

Millions of roles across the country are still unfilled, yet one of the most overlooked talent pools remains people who deserve a fair chance at rebuilding their lives. This recent Fast Company piece highlights a powerful truth—that 500 thousand individuals reenter society every year, and stable employment can reduce reincarceration by up to 25 percent. Employers who open their doors to second chance talent consistently report strong performance and long term retention. At Goodwill of Orange County, our mission centers on connecting people with the training, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. Everyone deserves a pathway to success, and fair chance hiring plays a meaningful role in strengthening our workforce and our communities. ▶️ Read the article to learn why fair chance hiring matters: https://lnkd.in/g9bRZqbr #WorkforceDevelopment #FairChanceHiring #OCGoodwill