Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa Lam. She and her team share their story with us below:
Theresa Lam joined Goodwill North Central Texas in 2018 as a Youth Specialist assisting students in completing their GED and overseeing paid work experience in the E-Squared program. Since that time, she has been consistently promoted within Goodwill’s workforce development department to supervisor, manager, director of youth programs, and now director of workforce development. Prior to joining Goodwill, Lam served in marketing capacities for several local businesses and gained experience as a site coordinator and instructor for youth programs.
Active in the community, Lam has volunteered on the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition’s Youth Action Board, the YMCA NorthPark Board committee, the Veteran’s Coalition of Tarrant County, and with Beyond a Hero. She is a member of the Community Advisory Board for Castleberry ISD and the Youth and Young Adult Affinity Group for the Goodwill network.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Theresa earned a Bachelor of Family Science degree from Texas Woman’s University in 2015. She completed Goodwill North Central Texas’ Workforce Development Leadership Program in 2019 and was named Goodwill North Central Texas Workforce Employee of the Year in 2020.
We’ve been impressed with Goodwill North Central Texas, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Goodwill is more than a thrift store. The largest employer of people with disabilities in the world, Goodwill believes that work has the power to transform lives by building self-confidence, independence, creativity, trust, and friendships. Everyone deserves this chance.
Goodwill North Central Texas is based in Fort Worth and serves 18 counties in the region. The nonprofit’s 27 area retail locations provide revenue through the sale of donated goods to support Goodwill’s mission to CREATE lives of independence and BUILD a stronger local community. Job training and career services programs for people with disabilities, such as physical or mental disabilities and other barriers to employment including lack of education or work experience and homelessness are guided by the organization’s vision of a North Central Texas where everyone person has the opportunity for maximum independence and abundant living. For more information, please visit www.GoodwillNorthCentralTexas.org.
As director of youth and veteran programs, Theresa is responsible for all youth and veteran educational, training, and placement programs for Goodwill North Central Texas. She oversees departmental staff to ensure program and grant/contract outcomes are achieved and develops community and business partnerships to facilitate program growth.
E-Squared (E2) is a program specifically for youth and young adults in Tarrant County who are out of school, aged 16-24, and that are experiencing barriers to employment and education. The E-Squared Program provides GED preparation courses taught by state-certified Fort Worth ISD and Tarrant County District instructors, paid work experience funded by Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, individualized mentoring and coaching, life and job readiness courses, as well as connections to further employment and education opportunities.
By providing comprehensive and person-centered assessment, training, and employment services to each participant, Goodwill North Central Texas will assist these individuals in overcoming the need for public benefits and allow them to join the workforce.
What do you think about happiness?
Seeing our youth and veteran clients succeed. There is nothing better than celebrating the accomplishments of these individuals who have overcome so much to get where they are today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.GoodwillNorthCentralTexas.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/goodwillnct
- Facebook: facebook.com/goodwillnct
- Twitter: twitter.com/goodwillnct
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/goodwillfortworth
Image Credits
Justan Martinez
