A scene from the RAMP graduation, May 2011.

Recovering value through employment & environmental programs

At Goodwill we believe that everyone has the right to support themselves and their families through the power of work. We offer a wide range of career development services — which we’ll detail here and in our blogs in the weeks ahead — jobs with benefits within our agency, and something we call the value recovery enterprise, the idea of repurposing and extracting value from things that would otherwise go to waste.

In this section, you’ll find out more about:

An ecosystem for social good: How your donations support Goodwill’s work in the community
Go green!: How you can help being kind to the environment
Overcoming barriers through workplace learning: Meet some of the people at “the original recycler”
How to move the needle on poverty: We’re transforming ourselves to meet the needs of a dynamic marketplace

Employment & training programs

Some of our programs, in partnership with government agencies, businesses and nonprofits, include:

Back on Track: A partnership with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and the Family Services Agency, Back On Track provides intensive case management to individuals who’ve been arrested for a non-violent, first-time drug sale felony. Goodwill provides job readiness workshops, case management, career advising, life skills workshops and job, training and education placement.
RAMP Academy: RAMP is a six-week program that connects at-risk young adults ages 18-24 with training programs, education and services to help transition them to paying jobs.
Computer Training Skills: Goodwill supplies participants with computer skills training and puts them on a path for A+ certification, the industry standard for computer support technicians.
Community Jobs Program: Helps low-income residents transition from public assistance to self sufficiency.
One Stop Career Link Center: This federally-funded program, in collaboration with San Fransciso, offers residents a place where they can receive comprehensive employment assistance and access to workshops, computers and support services.
Bayview Hope Transportation Academy: Free training and job placement assistance.

“One year ago I was arrested for selling drugs. That day my life was forever changed. I was basically illiterate and wasn’t able to help my son with his homework. And I had a bad attitude. But because of this program I am a changed man. I gained the confidence to read to my kids and my goal is to keep improving my reading and writing skills, find a full time job, continue to live my life positively and take good care of my children so I can be a positive role model for them.”

– Chess, Back On Track graduate

Interested in learning more? Return here for updates, or contact us.