On Friday, October 25, 2024, the Lawrenceburg Rotary Club had the pleasure of hosting Freddie Friend, a Workforce Development Coach from Goodwill Industries, who delivered an engaging presentation on the Connecting Forward initiative. This innovative pilot program aims to help families in Middle Tennessee access both public and private resources to achieve their personal and familial objectives.
Connecting Forward is a collaborative effort involving a variety of public and private organizations dedicated to providing essential support to families. The initiative is bolstered by grants from esteemed institutions such as Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee, ensuring a robust framework for assistance. Within this program, Goodwill Industries plays a pivotal role by offering Workforce Training and Employment Coaching, with Ms. Friend overseeing operations across a seven-county region that includes Lawrence County.
In the previous year, the program successfully engaged 768 families, with 17 of those coming from Lawrence County, highlighting its significant impact on the local community. For those interested in learning more about the Connecting Forward program, additional information can be found at https://giveit2goodwill.org/connecting-forward/. The session was introduced by Rotarian Olivia White, who set the stage for an informative discussion on this vital community resource.