Like many nonprofit organizations, Goodwill of Greater Washington prides itself on the importance of giving back to its community. Being that our mission is to transform lives through the power of education and employment, we ensure that the same resources we lend externally are also provided to team members.  

Here at Goodwill, we have RISE Coaches whose primary focus is to assist individuals internally in reaching their highest personal and professional goals. By providing FREE resources such as career growth opportunities, financial literacy, and emotional, physical, and mental health assistance, our team members feel safe and supported and know that they have the potential to RISE.  

We sat down with a RISE Coach to gain a more in-depth understanding of the role and how their job responsibilities help members of our organization thrive.  

1. What is your name and position, and how long have you been with Goodwill of Greater Washington? 

Annette Johnson, RISE Coach. I began my employment with GGW on 8/8/22. 

2. Why did you choose to work for a non-profit? Or what led you to a career with GGW? 

The job description for the position brought me to GGW. I thought it was a wonderful opportunity and a great fit for me. I was impressed that GGW had positions like this to support employees – I’d never seen this level of support from any previous company I had worked with! I also wanted to work for a company invested in the community. I had no idea about all the wonderful things that GGW does. 

3. What does RISE mean to you? 

Besides (Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence) RISE means to conduct myself in a professional manner that consistently demonstrates an excellent work ethic in all that I do. To show up and support! 

4. How does a team member benefit from having a RISE Coach? 

RISE Coaching can be an integral part of a team members' experience at GGW because RISE Coaches assist in a variety of ways as a support system. Whether that means answering a general question, directing someone to or locating resources for them, or helping them to identify, address, and resolve challenges, we are here to help. There are so many ways in which coaches provide assistance, and I can honestly say that the RISE Coach team GENUINELY cares about helping people! We are here to assist you and work with you to remove barriers.  

5. What services does a RISE Coach provide?  

A sample of what services RISE Coaches provide - Career development and planning, job readiness skills, locating resources and referrals, answering questions on and providing benefit information, interpersonal coaching, financial literacy, and goal planning… just to give a snapshot. This is a hard question to answer because we do a lot to support our team members, and the depth and breadth of our services are widespread.  

In your opinion, what is the best part about being a RISE Coach? 

There are so many best parts for me: 

  • The moment when you witness a team member overcome a barrier or address and resolve a concern. 
  • When I know that I’ve done my best to assist, and it made a difference.  
  • When a team member knows they have someone who can support/motivate/encourage them through life’s unexpected demands.  

I value the relationships I build with team members, and I love seeing them win! 

7. How can businesses and organizations best support their team members during these fast-changing times? 

I think every company should have “RISE Coaches” or something similar to support staff. Also, it is important for companies to have support/interventions in place to promote mental health wellness. That may mean building mental health wellness days into the work calendar to support staff and encourage the opportunity to regroup and refresh. In general, burnout and job stress are major workplace problems, and businesses need interventions to address mental health and wellness and invest in the well-being of their employees. A happy employee is a dedicated employee.   

8. Is there any additional information you’d like to provide? Words of encouragement/wisdom?  

My mantra is every day that you wake up, you have another chance to do something better. Be a blessing! 

Thank you, Annette, for taking the time to speak with us today.  

For more information about Goodwill of Greater Washington and the support we provide individuals internally and externally, visit Stay Informed with DC Goodwill's Community Updates, to sign up for newsletters and become a part of the Goodwill family.