Goodwill Industries of North Florida

Despite the rain, the Jacksonville community and Eastside residents came out in full force for the highly-anticipated Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of The Corner at Debs Store. This event, held on #904Day, was particularly meaningful, as both the holiday and the store celebrate the incredible community that surrounds us. After four years of careful planning and collaboration with community partners, we're thrilled to reopen the beloved Debs Store in Jacksonville's Eastside, honoring its 90-year legacy. Today's event highlighted that this project has been a true labor of love. Every individual and organization involved in revitalizing The Corner at Debs Store is deeply passionate about the Historic Eastside community and committed to its prosperity. Eastside residents can now enjoy fresh produce, employment training, and financial services thanks to VyStar Credit Union, LIFT JAX, and other generous community partners. This project serves as an example of the power of working together, highlighting what can be achieved when we unite with a shared vision. #TheCorneratDebsStore #Goodwillnfl 📸: LIFT JAX

We would like to thank Rep. Aaron Bean and Jimmy Peluso for their support in helping us implement the SNAP/EBT program at The Corner at Debs Store. This program is transformative for residents of the historic Eastside community. It offers vital access to nutritious food and helps combat food insecurity. By empowering families to make healthier choices, we are building a stronger community. Thank you for your commitment to making a positive impact! #goodwillnfl #thecorneratdebsstore

Today, our employees had the privilege of hearing from Karen Phillips, our Chief Real Estate Officer, and Nick Buscemi, CPA, our Chief Financial Officer, as they shared their personal journeys and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way. From insights into their personal lives to career-defining moments, it was an inspiring event for all. Thank you to Karen and Nick for your openness and wisdom! #Goodwillnfl #Leadership #LessonsLearned #CareerGrowth #EmployeeEngagement #Inspiration #CorporateCulture

A big thank you to our Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) partners for supporting The Corner at Debs Store! 🍎🥦 They’ve installed a new bus stop near the store, complete with an OutEast legend, a historical marker showcasing the store's rich history, and a branded bus promoting it across the city! LIFT JAX VyStar Credit Union City of Jacksonville #TheCorneratDebsStore #GoodwillNFL

Wrapping up an incredible summer with the TeensWork Alachua End of Summer Celebration ☀️ We couldn’t be more proud of our outstanding students’ hard work, growth, and achievements. From learning valuable skills to building lasting friendships, these young leaders have made the most of their summer! A collaboration between the Children's Trust of Alachua County and Goodwill Industries of North Florida, the TeensWork Alachua (TWA) program provides eligible students with paid internships and job opportunities that prepare them for success in employment. Students ages 14-18 work with local businesses that offer on-the-job training and mentorship. In addition to paid internships, students receive job readiness, financial wellness, and soft skills training with the support of a job coach. Job coaches and mentors partner with students during onboarding, training, and navigating their work experience. To learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/eUibRxvX #TeensWorkAlachua #Goodwillnfl #FutureLeaders

Exciting moments at the Ribbon Cutting for The Corner at Debs Store 🍎🥦 👉 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/eArY_uEJ LIFT JAX VyStar Credit Union #TheCorneratDebsStore #Goodwillnfl

In recognition of the valuable contributions made by older workers, Goodwill Industries of North Florida is proud to take part in the annual commemoration of National Employ Older Workers Week. As an organization, we are committed to removing barriers to employment in the community, no matter the barrier. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, over 40% of people over 55 are active in the workforce. Goodwill is dedicated to providing older workers with the assistance they need to obtain current, in-demand job skills and training to secure employment today. We are thankful for employees such as Phillip Roop Sr., who inspire others and never let their barrier hinder their aspirations. #Goodwillnfl #NationalEmployOlderWorkersWeek

We are thrilled to announce that Royce Fedd, a key Corner at Debs Store team member, was honored this past Sunday as a Florida Blue Community Champion of the Game during the Jacksonville Jaguars home opener against Cleveland. This significant recognition speaks volumes about Royce's commitment to The Corner at Debs Store and the historic Eastside community. Royce was selected for this prestigious honor due to his instrumental role in the revitalization efforts of The Corner at Debs Store. His dedication to preserving the store's legacy and contributing to the broader community efforts in the Eastside has not gone unnoticed. Royce has become a fixture in the area, consistently showing up to support the neighborhood's growth and well-being. #TheCorneratDebsStore

Allow us to introduce you to Erick Green. ⭐️ Erick is a member of our Facilities Maintenance team and a current A-STEP student working on his CDL. He has already earned his NCCER. Erick has been given a leadership spotlight award from Dane McGraw III, our VP of New Mission Ventures, for being his “much-needed support” during the setup for The Corner at Debs Store. “Erick came ready and able to work daily and sometimes moved faster than I could create tasks. He is a great member of our team.” -Dane McGraw Congrats, Erick! We appreciate you! #Goodwillnfl #TheCorneratDebsStore #LeadershipSpotlight #EmployeeAppreciation

The STEM cohort within our Mayor's Youth at Work Partnership (MYAWP) has impressively contributed to building a dashboard for the City of Jacksonville. For several years, the MYAWP has had a group of STEM students working with 100 Black Men Of Jacksonville and MyVillage Project on a program called Coding in Color. Within the Mayor's Youth at Work Partnership, each student works with a Job Coach who assists with the employment process, provides support and training, and acts as a liaison between the student and employer. In addition to employment, students develop social skills, learn work norms and culture, understand career pathways, build professional networks, and learn to manage money. "The students that were directly involved in this project are both former and current participants in the MYAWP. After being paid and trained within the MYAWP in partnership with Goodwill, these students were prepared to take on this contract with the city’s IT department. Students were trained in Microsoft Power BI and other data analytic skills to develop the dashboard with the city. Three lead student developers received $5,000 and 5 support student developers received $1,000 for their efforts. This contract required several business meetings with the COJ IT staff and gave students the opportunity to use the soft skills that they’ve worked on with the Goodwill team over the past several years. As always, we are extremely grateful for the partnership with Goodwill in helping us to provide resources and direct support to students to learn these emerging technologies. "  -Sophia Perez, MyVillage Project Kids Hope Alliance https://lnkd.in/efQ9D8Yq #Goodwillnfl