Frank Blake sits down with Goodwill Industries CEO Steve Preston and truck driver Michael West to discuss the organization’s "second chance" mission. From running adult high schools in prisons to providing career paths for those overcoming addiction and incarceration, this is the story of how a 125-year-old mission is still changing lives today.
In this episode, we discuss:
The surprising scale of Goodwill: 650 job centers and 50 adult high schools.
Michael West’s personal journey from addiction and incarceration to homeownership.
Why Steve Preston left the C-suite and the Cabinet to lead a "difficult-to-hire" mission.
The "Edgar Helms" philosophy: Turning charity into a chance.
How employers can unlock a massive, untapped labor pool.
Chapters:
[01:38] The Personal Mission: Steve Preston on transitioning from HUD Secretary to Goodwill CEO.
[06:02] A Missionary in Boston: The 125-year history of Edgar Helms and the birth of Goodwill.
[12:22] From Processor to Driver: Michael West shares his path from community service to a career in trucking.
[16:55] A Goodwill Wedding: The community and family culture within the organization.
[21:33] The Untapped Labor Pool: Why employers should look "beyond the label" of past incarceration.
[26:52] The Future of Work: How AI and tech-skills training are reaching low-wage workers.
[31:33] The "Internet Trash" Problem: Steve addresses the common false narratives about the organization.
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