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Programs


Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay, a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit founded in 1919, provides workforce development services, including transitional employment, job readiness training, and placement services to people facing barriers to employment in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties.  During 2006, we served 4,520 individuals and families and placed 1,389 directly into competitive jobs. Many Goodwill participants face multiple challenges such as a lack of work history, limited education and language skills, a history of incarceration, multi-generational poverty, chronic homelessness, and disabilities. Goodwill operates a number of programs tailored to meet the specific needs of those facing difficult challenges:

  • Calidad Industries, an affiliated nonprofit of Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay, provides vocational training and job placement to persons living with severe physical, emotional, and psychological disabilities.  Calidad participants work at one of our current federal work sites. 
  • Our Goodwill Academy provides paid work experience, classroom instruction, life skills training, and individualized services to those with little or no job experience. Participants also learn job-specific skills in retail sales, merchandising, customer service, material processing, and truck driving.
  • The Family-Based Skills Enhancement offers services to low income and working-poor parents and their children. Training includes computer skills, job search, and referral services to help parents secure employment with higher paying wages while addressing other issues they may face.
  • Our newly-created Homeless Services works specifically with individuals and families facing homelessness and the multitude of related challenges. This program offers employment and comprehensive support services to homeless people in Alameda County.

To read some of the success stories of our program participants, please visit our Publications. Also, to learn more about our programs and locate one of our vocational and job centers, please Contact Us.