At a time when job openings are hitting record high levels, Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana (GINLA) remains more committed than ever to helping people re-enter the workforce and learn new skills to better position individuals for future employment. And there is no better time to help people than during Second Chance Month.
The National Reentry Resource Center (NRRC) hosts Second Chance Month every April to help raise awareness of the barriers and opportunities for individuals with justice involvement.
“All month, we will highlight our ongoing job training and social service offerings that help people who have justice-involvement find jobs and support their families when they return to their communities,” said David Tinkis, GINLA President/CEO. “We know from our job training and skills development programming that when people return from correctional facilities and then find and keep good jobs, they build brighter futures for themselves and their families, and strengthen their communities. Goodwill is proud to do its part to help people transition from justice involvement to advancing in their careers.”
Among the Goodwill programs and training opportunities available to those reentering the community, Goodwill offers the EXIT-318 Program, which serves ten northern Louisiana parishes; the Open Placement Program, which serves the Shreveport MSA; and serves as the single point of contact, convener and implementer of reentry efforts for both the Northwest and Northeast Louisiana Reentry Coalitions. In addition, Goodwill also offers work readiness trainings to those incarcerated at both Caddo and Ouachita Correctional Centers. All of these offered programs help individuals learn new skills, get relevant training or start new career paths.
As part of Goodwill’s commitment to Second Chance Month, the organization will participate in or host the following activities:
April 3: Healthy Blue/Sportran Outreach Fair, Shreveport Intermodal Terminal -1237 Murphy Street, Shreveport, 10am to 1pm
April 4: Return for Good Job Fair, Probation & Parole Office, 24 Accent Drive, Monroe, 9am to 2pm
April 5: Job Fair & Resource Expo, Minden Civic Center, 520 Broadway, Minden, 10am to 2pm
April 6: Return for Good Job Fair, Goodwill Job Center, 800 West 70th Street, Shreveport, 9am to Noon
April 21: Natchitoches Work Summit, Natchitoches Events Center, 750 Second Street, Natchitoches, 8am to 5pm
April 24: Return for Good Job Fair, Alexandria Mall, 3437 Masonic Drive, Alexandria, 11am to 7pm
“Even with more available jobs, we’re seeing an ongoing and widening skills gap that is preventing many of those from the most vulnerable communities from reentering the workforce,” said Lynn Stevens, Director of Workforce Development. “That’s why job training and re-training programs, along with industry based Job Fairs and Hiring Events, offered continues to be an important and essential way to help people navigate past these obstacles.”