Kindness opens East County Job Center – San Diego Business Journal

LA MESA – More than a place to donate your unopened white elephant gift from Christmas 1993 and more than a place to spend an afternoon thrifting clothes, Goodwill is a place that’s helping the working world .

Goodwill Industries of San Diego County (GISD) has provided services to help connect those who want to work with the businesses that need those workers since 1930, and the organization continues to be a regional leader nearly 100 years later.

Last year, GISD brought in $79.5 million in revenue, up from $76 million in 2022. Revenue generated at the nonprofit’s stores goes back into free employment programs and services for the community.

In 2023, GISD helped more than 6,000 people in the San Diego community find meaningful work, said Darlene Cossio, director of marketing and communications for GISD.

Looking to do more in that effort, GISD, the local contingent of national nonprofit Goodwill Industries International Inc., opened its sixth community employment center in the county last week, inside its La Mesa retail store. Goodwill on La Mesa Boulevard.

The La Mesa location joins centers in Oceanside, Chula Vista, San Ysidro, Escondido and the San Diego Midway District. A former East County-based employment center that opened in 2010 in the Goodwill retail store in Santee closed its doors in 2015.

“We want East County job seekers to have access to a Job Center in their community that will provide the free employment services and soft skills workshops they need,” said GISD President and CEO Toni Giffin.

Fabia Parkinson, GISD VP of human services said that in 2023, Goodwill registered and assisted 2,000 community members through employment centers. Of those, 928 were employed through Goodwill employment services in customer service, retail, security, hospitality, health care, food service, manufacturing and education.

“Goodwill expects to help at least 150 East County residents find employment and/or develop job skills this year,” Parkinson said.

Giffin said Goodwill’s work to help close the unemployment gap is significant.

“San Diego County currently has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which means there are approximately 71,000 unemployed individuals, according to the Department of Employment Development,” Giffin said. “With 15% of the county’s population living in East County, approximately 500,000 people, we have decided to open an employment center in a convenient and accessible location for this population.”

Job Centers Help Bridge Barriers

While revenue generated at Goodwill retail stores goes back into the organization’s free employment programs and services for the community, its job centers are an important part of the organization’s mission: to provide employment and training for people with disabilities limited and other barriers to employment.

GISD currently has more than 1,200 employees (referred to as “ambassadors”).

Cossio said more than half of her ambassadors have a disability or have another barrier to employment — including people who have been incarcerated before, people with a language barrier, individuals with no prior work experience; and individuals with cognitive, intellectual and/or learning disabilities.

The La Mesa store, which first opened for business in 2011 and has 24 ambassadors, is one of its newest locations. The popular store attracted around 78,000 customers last year. The La Mesa location was recently renovated and now has 2,200 square feet of retail space, with 480 square feet dedicated to the employment center.

Like the other locations, the La Mesa center will provide employment and skills development services to the community free of charge.

GISD is a multifaceted organization that provides employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities, veterans, underserved youth ages 16 to 25, and people with other barriers to employment.

Jobseekers will be able to attend workshops to develop job-readiness skills, including workplace communication, conflict resolution, interview techniques and practice, assistance with creating a CV, completing an application for work and applying for community work.

Goodwill also offers career counselors to help job seekers find job leads, develop or update a resume, complete a job application and prepare for interviews. The organization partners with local companies at job fairs and employment events. Goodwill also offers a two-week job readiness certificate program, giving participants the opportunity to demonstrate reliability, dedication and initiative to potential employers.

Its career path program, whether the job seeker wants to promote within Goodwill or outside “gives them the skills they need to move up within Goodwill or qualify for positions with local employees,” Cossio said.

“This is really important because our goal is self-sufficiency and career growth.”

Goodwill Trail in San Diego

GISD currently has 28 retail stores and four sales centers across the county.

Goodwill’s nonprofit membership nationwide includes 154 independent Goodwill organizations. Goodwill also has a presence in more than a dozen countries globally.

“Every day, more than 300 people find a job with the help of a local Goodwill,” Cossio said.

“As a learning organization, Goodwill is committed to providing ample space to train and teach future ambassadors in all of its countries,” she said. “Donated clothing (is) labeled and organized by size, color and category before being placed in the retail store, making it easier for shoppers to find what they need.”

At Goodwill, all locations are considered training classrooms, and the La Mesa location is no exception, she said.

The organization emphasizes the importance of teaching exceptional customer service and making every buyer and job seeker feel valued.

Circular economy and goodwill

Cossio said another aspect of Goodwill’s good work beyond employment opportunities is its belief that sustainable purchasing is an essential part of the circular economy and helps keep usable products out of the waste stream — like that Christmas present. from 1993 that has been sitting unopened in your closet aisle.

“By shopping at Goodwill, customers contribute to the well-being of our planet by repurposing products that still have comfort, style and utility,” Cossio said.

But beyond the social aspect, business goodwill gives back to the community with approximately 98% of revenue generated from employment service fees going back into community employment programs and services.

Donations and purchases made to Goodwill throughout San Diego County enable the organization to provide training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Founded: 1930
PRESIDENT AND CEO: Tony Giffin
Headquarters: San Diego
BUSINESS: Non-profit
REVENUE: $79.5 million
EMPLOYEES: 1200
website: sdgoodwill.org
CONTACT: 619-225-2200
SOCIAL IMPACT: The organization provides employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
NOTE: Goodwill Industries of San Diego County helped more than 5,000 people find work last year and a member of Goodwill Industries International.