Helping people prepare for, find, and keep good jobs is what Goodwill is about.

 August 24, 2020

Hi Everyone –

These letters began as a way to keep everyone informed about what was happening at Goodwill during a time when all of our routines, ways of communicating, and opportunities to be with one another were upended by the pandemic. They are still valuable for that purpose, but I will be moving them to every other week after next Monday, to match up to the weeks when our full leadership team meets to give updates and to talk about successes and challenges.

As part of our Diversity and Inclusion efforts, I will begin sending an email on Friday with a brief video or article to help expand perceptions and to increase our understanding of one another and the realities of the world we live in. This week, the City of Holland approved a non-discrimination ordinance that protects everyone from discrimination based on age, race, national origin, color, disability, education, familial status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, height, marital status, religion, source of income, or weight. The vote to approve came after hours of impassioned public comment, particularly around the rights of LGBTQ residents. Congratulations to Holland! As the mayor said, “We should protect the rights of all of the people equally. Why wouldn’t we?”

While Holland had success in promoting and advocating for the rights of all people, other news reminds us that even though protests demanding equal justice under the law for Black Americans have diminished across the country, the need for this work is still vitally important. Today our prayers and thoughts for healing go out to Jacob Blake, a Black man shot in the back seven times by police in Kenosha Wisconsin yesterday. He is fighting for his life, for himself, and for his four young children. We must continue the work to be part of the solution to systemic racism, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because our vision at Goodwill demands it.

Make a plan now for VOTING! www.michigan.gov/vote has all the information you need to register to vote, check that you are registered, and to vote by mail. It will also help you to find Election Day drop off and polling locations. This is one of your most important rights – make sure your voice is heard!

My best –

Jeanette