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Goodwill Keystone Area bringing mobile workforce learning to the Lehigh Valley
Stacy Wescoe//May 26, 2022
Goodwill Keystone Area bringing mobile workforce learning to the Lehigh Valley
Stacy Wescoe//May 26, 2022//
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Goodwill Keystone Area of Harrisburg is bringing its workforce training to the Lehigh Valley with a new mobile unit.
The organization announced its plan at its recent “State of the Art Experience” held at the ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem.
The new mobile learning lab will be used to bring the organization’s programming to the region starting this fall. It will be used to assist its own employees as well as others.
The learning lab allows the organization to bring job training in essential skills and emerging technologies directly to those who need it, upskilling employees in the parking lots of its Goodwill stores or bringing virtual reality training to locations throughout the Lehigh Valley.
“Currently in the Lehigh Valley, there are large gaps in vocational programs and job-readiness services provided to those experiencing mental health, substance abuse and/or re-entry,” Goodwill Keystone Area’s Chief Culture Officer Jennifer Diaz said. “This learning lab allows us to create an experiential training ground for where people are.”
The learning lab will also allow Goodwill to provide additional training and support for its employees. The organization will provide digital skills, Goodwill technology, financial literacy and job-readiness training to upskill employees and help them move up the career ladder at Goodwill and beyond.
The 24-foot mobile learning lab trailer will be pulled by an F-250 truck and include six learning stations with computer and Wi-Fi access.
A portion of the $10 million donation Goodwill Keystone Area received from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott is being used to fund the learning lab.
Goodwill Keystone Area serves 22 counties in central and southeastern Pennsylvania. As a nonprofit, revenue generated from the sale of donated goods in its retail stores and online auction site directly supports Goodwill’s mission to help people with barriers to employment build skills, find jobs and grow careers.
