Goodwill salutes workforce development, direct support professionals

 9/24/2018

Goodwill Tulsa took time to last week to recognize the employees at the front line of our mission — our direct support professionals and workforce development staff.

Goodwill’s events coincided with national commemorations. Direct Support Professional Week, Sept. 9-15, is organized by Ancor and Relias to recognize DSPs’ hard work and positive impact on their communities. September is also Workforce Development Professionals Month, which honors workforce development organizations, professionals, and partnerships that play a vital role in the U.S. economy. It was created by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.

		Goodwill treated Supported Employment staff and employees at our group worksites and hospital enclaves to a hearty breakfast.
Employees with Goodwill Contract Services and Goodwill TulsaWORKS Career Academy joined the others for a red-carpet Hollywood-themed social at the Edgar Helms Center.

 

	Rebekah is an employee training specialist at Goodwill. She coaches supported workers with disabilities at several sites, working with them on their customer service and proper workplace behavior. Rebekah feels she can clearly see her work changing lives even more than when she was a social worker before joining Goodwill. “It’s very rewarding work,” she said. “I love the people I work with.”
Kelsey is a career navigator at Goodwill TulsaWORKS Career Academy, where she supports students. She began at Goodwill as an employment training specialist. A similarity with the two jobs, Kelsey said, is that she is still coaching: Before it was on how to do the job; now it is how to get out and find a job. “Goodwill can help anyone that wants to help themselves,” she said.

 

Goodwill salutes all of DSPs and workforce development staff for their compassion and dedication. And we thank them for their wonderful work.