Goodwill Industries of Kansas, Inc. has been selected to receive a grant for $300,000 to provide digital skills training services through a new initiative with Google. The Goodwill Digital Career AcceleratorSM is made possible by a $10 million grant from Google and volunteer assistance from 1,000 Google employees.
Goodwill Industries of Kansas is among the 125 local Goodwill organizations that were competitively chosen to participate in the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator. Over the next three years, the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator will result in more than 1 million people around the United States being trained in skills that will make them more marketable workers for the digital age.
“We are constantly looking for ways to assist those in our community to be employable. The Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator initiative means we have one more tool to help local members of our community build their skills and expand their career options,” said Emily Compton, President/CEO of Goodwill Industries of Kansas, Inc. “There is no question that workers with up-to-date digital skills will be in a better position to advance in today’s labor market.”
Digital skills include basic computer skills that would be used to establish an email address, apply for a job or perform many entry level tasks. More advanced digital skills include computer support or programming, digital marketing, and cybersecurity, which are increasingly relevant for achieving well-paying, in-demand careers across the country.
“As a baseline, employers look for workers and job applicants who can proficiently use computers and other electronic devices,” said Jacquelline Fuller, CEO of Google.org. “The Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator will greatly assist those hoping to get ahead in their careers and obtain the types of jobs that will remain in demand for years to come in a demanding digital economy.”
Nationwide, 10 local Goodwill organizations, including Goodwill Industries of Kansas, Inc., have been chosen to be Digital Change Agents, receiving a $300,000 grant and serving as leaders in digital skills expansion and training across the network. Seventy-five local Goodwill organizations will participate as Digital Champions in three cohorts of 25. Each Digital Champion will receive a $50,000 grant and engage in extensive learning and technical assistance opportunities to help enhance and expand training offerings. An additional 14 local Goodwill organizations were chosen to participate in the second cohort of Digital Champions and eleven more will be recruited in early 2018. Eighteen local Goodwill organizations are participating as Digital Enthusiasts with an $8,000 grant to participate in learning events. The remaining Goodwill organizations will be recruited in 2018 for a total of 125 participating Goodwill organizations.
See the full list of participating Goodwill organizations and their geographic areas.
Read an article in the Huffington Post by Goodwill Industries International CEO Jim Gibbons.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Goodwill Industries of Kansas provides opportunities for people with disabilities and barriers to employment seeking independent and productive lives. Hundreds of people with disabilities receive case management services and develop life and job skills through employment at Goodwill’s home office and in the community. Whether it be recycling donated items or preparing insulation for local aviation manufacturers, Goodwill clients and employees have found success and become more independent through work in our contracts division. More than 1,200 adults work toward their GED and other certificate programs through NexStep Alliance, a partnership between Goodwill and Wichita Area Technical College. These programs are supported by 19 retail stores in Kansas along with an online division at shopgoodwill.com/ks. For more information about Goodwill, visit goodwillks.org.
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.
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