WILMINGTON — New job opportunities and training options are just a click away now that Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County has unveiled a new platform to help connect the thousands of Delawareans with the resources needed to start a new career path.
The nonprofit launched Goodwill Connect, a kiosk that features a large touch screen that includes easy to navigate options to training programs through the Delaware Department of Labor and Goodwill, as well as a list of open positions through the Delaware Job Link and Goodwill, right at fingertips of its users. After securing $1.1 million from Delaware’s federal delegation, the ribbon on the first kiosk was cut Monday afternoon at Goodwill’s Kirkwood Highway location. Goodwill plans to install 11 more, one at each Goodwill location throughout the state.
“With more than 1 million transactions annually in our Delaware stores, you can see the potential Goodwill Connect has to help people learn about jobs and training programs in the state. In a few short weeks, we’re already seeing the first engagement with our shoppers,” Delaware and Delaware County President and CEO Colleen Morrone said on Monday.
The kiosks can also send an email request to Goodwill’s career navigators who can guide people to resources that may fit their personal goals as well as one-on-one support. That support helps workers like Karen Brown, a single mother of four children, who had no idea what her next step would be.
[caption id="attachment_239009" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Goodwill Connect is a new program that will see touch screens installed at all 12 retail stores in Delaware, offering quick ways for users to find resources to jobs, training and other community resources. | DBT PHOTO BY KATIE TABELING[/caption]
“Goodwill did not judge me or my situation. They encouraged me to keep coming back, take this assessment, take that class and get a certificate. I experienced setbacks, but with the help of my career navigator, I was able to update my resume and enroll in more programs,” Brown said.
Goodwill is known nationally as a nonprofit thrift clothing and homegood store, but it also provides workforce development programs to several Delawareans through its Job Resource Centers. Collectively, hundreds of people come to one of the three facilities, one in each county, per year to improve upon soft skills, interview techniques and technology training. Goodwill’s centers assist a variety of people statewide, including programs geared to those who were previously incarcerated, just graduated high school or may have a disability.
"One of the real consequences of this program is to take the scope of Goodwill and connecting it with the Delaware Department of Labor and other community partners," U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) said. "I think this is a 'best of Delaware' moment, when everyone comes together to help create opportunities for a future that is better for everyone who comes through these doors."
Morrone told the Delaware Business Times that Goodwill Connect also served as an ambassador to share the nonprofit’s mission for workforce development, while offering an avenue to services to those who may need it.
The kiosks also integrate with United Way of Delaware’s 2-1-1 program, a free informational helpline and website that connects people with mental health services, housing and food assistance and more.
“Since it’s such a big size, I think people are definitely going to be drawn to touch it. Someone who is here shopping may not realize there’s options available to get what they need, be it medical care or housing assistance,” Morrone said. “This might be the connection point for them.”
To help break down barriers to retrain and upskill Delaware’s workforce for emerging career fields, Goodwill worked with the Delaware Workforce Development Board, resulting in the Delaware Career Mobility App. First sparked by Tech Impact, the smartphone application will serve as a connector for people looking for training programs to start a new job.
“We’ve been testing it at the Kingswood Center and the Warehouse, and we’ve heard that there’s training programs that many people have never heard of,” said Scott Malfitano, the chair of the Delaware Workforce Development Board. “We strongly believe that Goodwill Connect and this app will be an assert toward upward advancement and mobility for all Delawareans.”
