$120,000 grant serves as a catalyst for diversity training

Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids received great news with the announcement of the $120,000, two-year grant from the Kellogg Foundation.   The grant will provide Goodwill with the resources to conduct a very comprehensive diversity training program that has the potential to impact their service delivery on multiple levels, as well as create a culture of inclusion among their nearly 400 employees. According to Susan Oestreich, marketing manager, Diversity Works! has two immediate audiences. “For our case managers, it will give them the tools to communicate more effectively with our clients, (who) represent a  very diverse group of people,” she says. “For our retail staff, it will help them better serve the people that shop in stores.” Oestreich points that the diversity among Goodwill clientele includes “education levels, income levels, ethnicity — all the demographics. The training will strengthen our employee base and give our staff a broader understanding and help with our retail and job training programs.” The training, conducted by an outside contractor is slated to begin in the spring and, according to a press release from Goodwill, will feature Cultural Competence and Micro-Inequity Training.      For more information on Goodwill Industries, you can visit their website here. Source:  Susan Oestreich, Goodwill Industries Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor