New opportunities available for local Black Talent without four-year degrees
MARCH 1, 2022 — Goodwill of the Heartland is endorsed by OneTen, a coalition of leading executives who aim to close the opportunity gap for Black Talent in America.
OneTen, which launched last year, set a goal to upskill, hire and advance one million Black individuals in America during a 10-year period. With the help of local, regional and national talent developers like Goodwill, OneTen is preparing job seekers without four-year degrees for family-sustaining careers with opportunities for advancement.
“Working together, we can cultivate equitable access to opportunity and advancement for our participants as well as create a more flexible talent pipeline that allows employees and employers to thrive,” said Amy Winslow, career services and development manager at Goodwill.
“We are very excited to begin this new collaboration and do our part to nourish a more equitable workforce.”
By targeting more equitable work environments, OneTen and talent developers like Goodwill believe they can drive better business outcomes and benefit all employees.
A key feature of the new partnership is local access to a national portal of work and training opportunities. Once a Goodwill program participant gains access to the portal, he or she is able to view existing job opportunities as well as the requirements for those opportunities. Job seekers without the required skills can connect directly with a training partner on the portal to obtain the qualifications needed to apply for positions.
Goodwill follows and supports participants for at least a year after employment to provide the hard and soft skills necessary for career success and advancement. And, because the OneTen portal is driven by workforce needs, Goodwill course offers will expand to support evolving business needs.
Training courses and eligible wrap-around services necessary for success are provided at no cost to participants. In addition, like-minded businesses are invited to join the collaboration and access the pool of highly trained workers.
“By removing structural barriers that have disproportionately hindered Black talent from joining the middle class, we also will lift all talent and drive better outcomes that benefit all employees,” said Goodwill CEO Pat Airy.
Local Black talent without an existing four-year degree should contact Winslow for more information about this opportunity.
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About Goodwill of the Heartland
Our mission is to help people reach their full potential through education, training and the power of work. We accomplish this through life and job skill development, work experience, job placement assistance, day habilitation, veteran reintegration, supported community living and workforce development throughout our 19-county service area. We operate 18 retail locations, which accept and sell donated goods, to fuel our mission. Learn more: www.goodwillheartland.org, 1-866-466-7881.
About OneTen
OneTen is a coalition of leading chief executives and their companies who are coming together over the next 10 years to upskill, hire and promote one million Black Americans who do not yet have a four-year degree into family-sustaining jobs with opportunities for advancement. They connect employers with talent partners, leading nonprofits and other skill-credentialing organizations who support development of diverse talent. OneTen recognizes the unique potential in everyone – every individual, every business, every community – to change the arc of America’s store with Black Talent. Learn more: www.OneTen.org.