Congratulations to the GoodBiz Cohort 3 graduates.
GoodBiz is a 6-month entrepreneurial business leadership program, for new black and brown entrepreneurs. This program helps participants to enhance their digital skills as they sharpen or acquire business skills.
GoodBiz advances the participants’ individual leadership capacity, increases their ability to manage and grow their businesses more effectively and develop core business competencies and leadership practices. Participants gain a community of peers who serve as a continuous support system through their entrepreneurial journey. At completion, participants will have acquired valuable skills and receive $1000 to help jumpstart or advance their businesses. Each cohort accepts 20 participants. Eighteen graduated in August and Cohort 4 began in September. These new businesses will impact a number of industries. Counseling, recycling, cleaning, and real estate are just a few represented in this graduating class.
For more information contact Amberley Whitman at 903.581.5422, or Amberley.Whitman@goodwilletx.com.
Congratulations again to these business owners!!
Goodwill Calendar of Events:
United Way- Smith County 83rd Campaign
August 2, 2023 – March 31, 2024
Visit https://uwsmithcounty.org/who-we-are/ for more information.
Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)
October 15, 2023 December 7, 2023
Visit with a United HealthCare Agent in your local store every First Monday
The REAL Goodwill Tour
Wednesday, December 6, 2023, 12pm-1pm
Take a Peek Behind the Curtain
Join us for lunch & learn more about the Goodwill process and the Goodwill Mission
1817 WSW Loop 323, Tyler, TX.
Contact La’Keidra Lincoln @ 903.593.8438 or lakeidra.lincoln@goodwilletx.com for more
information
COLOR of the Week
25% off clothing purchases
Check your local store for details
First Mondays TAX FREE DAY
Sponsored by United HealthCare
Every Monday
SENIOR DAY
10 % discountt
Every Tuesday
VETERANS DAY
10% discount
Angelica Anderson
From 0 to 10
Before 2019, Angelica Anderson’s life was comfortable. She was working with a student with special needs making a good salary. The schedule had been perfect, as it allowed her to attend school at Jarvis University. Then in 2020, Covid changed the world. Once her student’s mother lost her job, there was no longer a need for Angelica either. All of a sudden, here she was, having graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting and now, she found herself unemployeed.
Angelica was on the hunt for a new position. After all, Covid didn’t stop the bills from coming.
She found herself on Indeed applying for jobs and updating her resume’. That’s when she saw it, a position as an administrative assistant for the Department of State Health Services. Covid had created an influx of individuals applying for state services. The state needed people who were capable of assisting and getting information into their database.
When Angelica dialed the number, she was quite surprised that she had called Goodwill’s Mission Services office. The position had been posted by Goodwill’s temporary employment service, GoodTemps. She spoke with the GoodTemps Manager. That’s when her perception of Goodwill began to change. She found out that Goodwill wasn’t just a thrift store, but a nonprofit with a mission to help people with barriers gain employment. She was more surprised to find out that as a temporary employee through Goodwill, she’d be eligible for insurance benefits. She, in fact, didn’t even realize that high blood pressure had created a health barrier for her. After finding out more about Angelica and sharing about the position, the manager asked if it were something she thought she’d be interested in.
She was, but there was one important question…what was the pay? He shared that the pay was $10 an hour, a big difference from what she was accustomed to. Angelica said, she thought about it briefly. “Ten dollars an hour or $0 an hour. For me the choice was easy.” “I’ll take the ten” she told him.
Angelica accepted and began the temporary position with the state. She shared that her time as a GoodTemp was great. She knew that she could call or email her manager with any concerns or issues that arose. Angelica had been a temp for two years when someone told her about a Goodwill grant. The grant would create a position with the state for the duration of the grant. Angelica decided, she’d wait patiently on the opportunity.
She soon found herself interviewing with people she’d been working with for 2 years, for a position she already held. The difference was, this was a position with the state, with state benefits, getting state pay. This was an opportunity she would have likely missed, had she not accepted a temp job, making $10 per hour.
Angelica shared that at a time when she needed it most, Goodwill helped her improve her quality of life. It helped her move into a career that she now loves and a better financial position. She said, “Goodwill gave me the step up that I needed.”
Community Partner
Goodwill and United HealthCare have partnered together to provide assistance for community members who may need assistance with insurance benefits. For more information, visit our stores every first Monday to visit with an agent. Goodwill and UnitedHealthcare, united for good.
From the Desk of the SHE-EO
Meet President & CEO of Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Kimberly Lewis.
Plus Some
I have some exciting news to share with you. Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc. is now an accredited organization! The accreditation is issued by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International.
CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. This achievement is an indication of our commitment to providing quality service to individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment. It is also a stamp of approval of our services, the efficacy of our work, and the professionalism of our staff. The three-year accreditation is the highest level of accreditation that CARF issues.
I cannot express how proud I am of our dedicated staff, board and volunteers. The work that they do requires not only skill, but a deep love for people. It is a calling. The level of service provided requires a melding of the head and heart. We ask a lot of them and they provide that, plus some.
It is the “plus some” that I want to focus on in this newsletter. You might ask, what does “plus some” look like?
“Plus some” is when a job coach continues to work after hours with a client to make sure that they learn their job duties and makes sure that the client has food to eat during their break.
“Plus some” is when staff help clients look for an apartment and then help them to furnish the apartment with small appliances and other household items on their own time and own dime, because they care.
“Plus some” is when staff and volunteers pool their dollars together to make sure that someone in need has food for Thanksgiving and gifts for their children at Christmas.
“Plus some” is when staff provide accessories or clothing out of their own closets for hard to fit clientele to go on job interviews when the items cannot be found in one of our Goodwill stores. As an organization, we provide not only skills-based training, job search and assistance, we fill many gaps that people have as they rebuild their lives. What’s not covered under our services and programs, staff, volunteers and generous people like YOU pitch in to help.
The saying, “it takes a village” has never been truer than it is today. Thank you for all that you’re doing and will do to help us provide the best service to the community that we can. YOU give that “plus some” every time you donate clothing, household items and monetary gifts. So, in essence you are part of the accreditation achievement – that stamp of approval for the quality of service and care that is so willingly provided every day.
Warmest Regards, Kimberly B. Lewis
President and CEO
Did you know that the United Way of Smith County supports programs that target four essential impact areas? By focusing on these impact areas, the United Way hopes to ensure that every citizen in Smith County has access to education, adequate health care services, help in the midst of a crisis and a clear path toward financial stability. 100% OF WHAT YOU GIVE STAYS LOCAL AND GOES DIRECTLY TO HELPING FAMILIES MOVE FROM DEPENDENCE TO INDEPENDENCE.
United Way supports Goodwill’s Re-Entry Program which provides job readiness training and job placement to men and women who have been recently released from incarceration, be it from county jail or state/federal prison. Goodwill’s Employment Specialists continuously work with local employers to help the participants find permanent employment. Goodwill’s Re-Entry Program teaches participants how to accept responsibility for their actions, honestly disclose their offense to employers, prepare for job interviews, prepare resumes and conduct job searches.
When you designate your United Way gift to Goodwill, you change lives. Live United!
Community Partner
Proforma Horizon Total Source is based out of Tyler, TX and is a part of Proforma, who is the leader in Printing and Promotional Products Industry.
Proforma is the leader in the printing, promotional products and packaging industries with a creative edge to add impact and value to your programs. As your agency without the agency fees, we provide the most innovative & cutting edge product and service solutions through more than 750 offices across the globe.
903.534.9999
Get to know our Board of Directors
Matt Rowan, 2023-2024 Secretary
Tell us a little about yourself.
“I was born and raised here in Tyler and my family has lived in Tyler for several generations. I grew up and attended Legacy High School, graduating in 1994. After graduation, I attended Baylor University and graduated with a degree in Political Science and minor in History. I then attended and graduated from Baylor Law Schoo1 in 2001. I began practicing civil litigation in Tyler in 2001 and have been doing so ever since. I am presently at the Wilson Elser Law Firm with several partners and we primarily practice in the civil litigation area, with a focus on commercial litigation and transportation law. I have a daughter who is a sophomore at Baylor University and a son who is a Junior at Legacy High School.”
How long have you served on the GIET board?
“I have served on the GIET Board for 6 years.”
Why did you decide to serve on this board?
“I was asked to serve on the Board by Kim Lewis and, after the initial tour of the facilities and presentation of the whole scope of what GIET(Goodwill Industries of East Texas) does for the community, I was excited and humbled to be able to serve. To be able to serve so many valuable and wonderful people and allow them to be instructed on how best to embrace their own potential and rise above circumstances inspired me.”
Has serving on the GIET board been different from any others you have served on? If so, how?
“Serving on the GEIT Board has been so fulfilling to me and different from other boards that I sit on in that it allows us to see firsthand the incredible work being done to help others and provide, not only instruction on good work skills and creating a work ethic, but positively assists each of our partners to succeed and thrive. I have benefitted so very much from knowing these wonderful individuals and cheered on their successes. It is a life-changing experience and I am blessed beyond words to be able to serve on this Board.”
What part of the Goodwill mission or service do you connect with?
“I connect with all aspects of GIET, but the part that I have a special place for in my heart is Commercial Services. I had a special needs daughter who had severe neurological limitations and sadly passed away at the age of four, but her legacy of strength and spirit remain a standard I hope to achieve. To see the wonderful workers at Commercial Services conducting such excellent and highly detailed work and providing such essential services to business and organizations, while always being happy and excited to go to work, to see them instilled with a sense of purpose and importance that they should always have and feel honor and pride in the work while also being trained to excel further as they can. It just makes me so honored and proud to be a part of GIET and the mission we support. To allow everyone—regardless of any limitations—to excel is the highest honor. I am humbled to be a small part of that.”
This year you are serving as secretary, what made you decide to step into a leadership role?
“I was honored to ask to serve in a leadership position and hope that I can provide some guidance to allow this great organization to continue to be the essential and blessed organization it can be.”
What have you learned from your time on the board?
“I have learned that leadership comes in many forms and types, but when all are focused upon
a common goal, all can succeed.”
What would you say to someone contemplating offering their support to Goodwill?
“Please consider joining GIET. It is the pinnacle of service while emboldening others with the skills and honor to succeed. It will fulfill you more than you know.”
PlaCommunity Partner
Aspen Creek Grill offers the warm and inviting atmosphere of a campfire for family-friendly dining and a great destination for a livelier night out with friends. And they cater too! 1725 W SW Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 630-8370