A Mission Moment

Rodney Brooks
Environmental Science Instructor

One day last summer, Goodwill’s usual receptionist was out of the office. When a man, “Tom”, came in inquiring about a job opportunity, the temporary receptionist was unable to answer his questions. Rodney happened to be walking up to the front desk at the time and offered to assist Tom.

As Tom was speaking, Rodney could tell he had a disability by the way he was communicating, and may face barriers in his job search. When Rodney and Tom were discussing the job application process and what opportunities might be available at Goodwill, Rodney decided to take Tom outside to analyze some of the challenges he faced and ways to overcome them. -- Read More

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Goodwill Celebrates Black History Month

Goodwill is celebrating Black History Month by featuring a series of important moments in black history through audio messages inside many of its retail stores. Below is one of those featured moments.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson is responsible for the study of black history. He spent most of his childhood working in the Kentucky coal mines. At age 20, he enrolled in high school and graduated within two years. He continued his studies at Harvard earning a Ph.D. Throughout his education he noticed there was not a great deal of information on African Americans in his history books.

Therefore he decided to write black Americans into U.S. history by introducing their numerous accomplishments into mainstream America.

Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915. A year later he created the well respected Journal of Negro History. In 1926, Woodson began Negro History Week as a way of acknowledging African American successes. The second week of February was chosen as Negro History Week because it marks the birthdays of two important people in African American history: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.

Without his drive to educate the nation we would not be able to give respect to the leaders who have shown us what it means to accept people of different races. Frederick Douglass said it best, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

Credit: Elissa Haney (www.Infoplease.com)

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The Goodwill Book Nook Opens in Columbia Pike Store!

Goodwill of Greater Washington opened the doors of its new bookstore, The Goodwill Book Nook, on February 4th. The bookstore will sell quality new and donated books and is located in the basement of the Goodwill Retail Store at 4714 Columbia Pike in Arlington, VA.

“The Book Nook opened with people waiting in line to enter. Each day, through word of mouth, more and more people are visiting and loving the experience. We have shelves and tables FULL of books. Restocking occurs at least three times a day. It’s reminiscent of the old book sale days and will only grow larger and more exciting,” says Judy Sklar, Regional Director.

Anyone interested in volunteering at The Goodwill Book Nook can contact Goodwill at 202-636-4225.

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Goodwill of Greater Washington Welcomes New Board Chair, John D. Kemp

In January, Goodwill of Greater Washington welcomes aboard New Board Chair, John D. Kemp. He is a principal at the Washington law firm of Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC.

He has a federal law and legislative practice in the areas of disability, rehabilitation, health care, and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Kemp graduated from Georgetown University in 1971 and from Washburn University School of Law in 1974. Mr. Kemp was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Washburn University School of Law in May 2003.

Mr. Kemp currently serves as a member of the nonprofit Boards of Directors for several organizations, including: the United States International Council on Disabilities; the National Rehabilitation Hospital of Washington, DC; and CAST of Wakefield, MA.

What makes Mr. Kemp dedicated to his work is his own personal experience with disability. He was born without arms below the elbows and legs below the knees. With the help of four prostheses he is able to live an industrious life.

In 1997, he was recognized as Washburn University Law School's Distinguished Alumni Fellow, and in 1991 was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, an honor extended to singularly accomplished individuals in recognition of their achievements in the face of extraordinary challenges.

As a board member of Goodwill of Greater Washington he will serve as an excellent example to others in their endeavors.

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Jeff Cole Hired as New Chief Information Officer of Goodwill of Greater Washington

Jeffrey “Jeff” Cole has been hired as Goodwill of Greater Washington’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO), where he is responsible for setting the non-profit agency’s technology strategy and managing its IT infrastructure and activities.

Jeff brings to Goodwill over twenty years of management and leadership experience.

Prior to joining Goodwill, Jeff spent five years at Capital One, where he was a three-time winner of the prestigious Circle of Excellence award. Jeff was the Business Information Officer for their $15 billion internet banking business, and played a critical role in several large-scale IT infrastructure initiatives. Pryor to joining the banking segment, he worked in the Enterprise Risk Management and Global Financial Services divisions of the company.

Jeff is a Director of The Ashley Fister Cole Foundation, a non-profit foundation established in 2002 in memory of his sister-in-law. He is also the former President and current Vice President of Education for the Fairfax Chapter of Toastmasters International.

Jeff earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The College of William and Mary and a Master of Business Administration degree from George Mason University. He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife Donna, sons Randy and Nathan, and their dog Capone.

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Rob Bryan Hired as New Vice President, Contracts for Goodwill of Greater Washington

Rob Bryan has been hired as Goodwill of Greater Washington’s new Vice President, Contracts, where he is responsible for directing the non-profit agency’s government and commercial custodial, landscaping and pest control contracts.

Throughout his career, Rob has worked as a contract administrator and project manager demonstrating hands-on skills in contract compliance, negotiations, and operations.

Prior to Goodwill, Rob was a contract administrator for The Chimes, Inc. in Baltimore, MD, where he led a results oriented and innovative contracts team. Rob restructured previously unsuccessful contract operations into profit generating ventures. Also, while at The Chimes, Rob was elected as the Environmental Stewardship Coordinator for the Department of the Interior National Headquarters to contend with such issues as the implementation of environmentally safe cleaning practices, improving working conditions, and increasing recycling efforts.

Before coming to The Chimes, Rob managed service contracts for Easter Seals of Western Pennsylvania. He worked as an Intensive Case Manager providing social services to persons with disabilities.

Rob received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh, has two daughters and currently resides in eastern Maryland.

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Goodwill on the Hill

Goodwill asks you to support federal legislation that will help Goodwill provide more people with job training and employment services, so they can become self-sufficient.

There are currently three key issues that are crucial to Goodwill’s mission:

* The Second Chance Act would provide states and localities grants to offer job assistance, drug treatment and mental health services and job training to former prisoners returning home.

* The IRA Charitable Rollover Provision would extend a tax provision that allows U.S. residents to make a direct contribution from their Individual Retirement Accounts to a charitable organization.

* Personal Retirement Savings for Persons with Disabilities (HR 3696) would allow Americans with disabilities to achieve self-sufficiency through work and personal savings for retirement.

Goodwill needs your support to help get these legislative proposals passed.
Support these proposals by contacting your congressional representative.

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