When Daris Glisson, a 45-year-old African-American Clason Point resident, joined our Jobs Plus program in 2016, he was unemployed and had no clear career direction. At Jobs Plus, Daris obtained his OSHA Certification, received job readiness training, interview and resume preparation assistance, and job and career advancement referrals.

The Jobs Plus team help him get employment where he could explore different career paths. He worked in a fast food restaurant and as a warehouse worker for UPS. It was after his experience at UPS that Daris decided that he wanted to pursue a career in warehousing. With this in mind, he updated his resume and was connected to an interview with help from the Jobs Plus team.

On April 2020, he was hired for a full-time Warehouse worker position with Aerotek earning $16/hr. Still a member of Jobs-Plus, Daris loves his job and has found a career – he would like to one day become a warehouse supervisor.

Through its Jobs-Plus, Goodwill NYNJ provides members supports for employment including training, career assessment, employment, retention and career advancement, financial counseling/related supports, mental health services, and community-building activities for residents of the Monroe, Sack Wern, Clason Point, and Soundview Houses New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments. Since 2013, Goodwill’s Jobs Plus has provided services for 1,917 residents, placed 1,236 in a new job, and assisted 1,094 members achieve education and/or savings goals.

In NYC, Jobs-Plus is jointly administered by HRA, NYCHA, the Department of Consumer Affairs/Office of Financial Empowerment, and the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity.

Submitted by the Goodwill NYNJ Jobs Plus team:

Duane Brown, Program Director

Annette Hills, Job Readiness Instructor