For Ronald Brooks, January marked more than just the start of a new year; it marked the beginning of a brand-new life. After being incarcerated for 27 years, Brooks found himself in an unfamiliar world. Technology had changed, job applications had moved online and the process of reentering society felt overwhelming. But everything began to shift the day he attended a local job fair at the Berglund Center.
Encouraged by a friend’s daughter to attend, Brooks decided to take a chance and put himself out there. “We made resumes and passed them out to all the businesses there,” he recalled. “That’s where I met Amber.”
Amber Haddouch, a Career Navigator with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, was one of many people at the job fair that day. But for Brooks, her presence proved to be life-changing.
“She helped me with everything, and from that time on, things started getting easier for me,” Brooks said. “She actually helped me get the job at Goodwill. She has been a blessing in disguise.”
Goodwill’s Career Navigation services are built on the belief that no two journeys are the same. That’s why their Career Navigators work one-on-one with individuals like Brooks to provide personalized support. Whether it’s job search assistance, skill development, training or credentialing, they are committed to helping each person navigate their unique path to a fulfilling career.
Haddouch didn’t just help Brooks apply for jobs. She walked with him through the entire journey of rebuilding his life—retrieving his high school transcripts, submitting applications and even teaching him how to use modern technology.
“If it weren’t for Amber, I would still be sitting at home looking for a job,” Brooks said. “I don’t even see her as just a career navigator; I see her as a friend now.”
Today, Brooks works at Goodwill’s Cave Spring location in Roanoke, where he processes donations and prices items for resale. It’s a job that’s brought him stability, purpose and, most importantly, a community.
“Amber helped me apply for several jobs, but I like the people and the management here at Goodwill,” he said. “They all gave me a second chance. That’s something you don’t always get in life.”
The path isn’t always clear for someone reentering society after nearly three decades. Brooks was introduced to an entirely new world, but through the support of Goodwill’s individualized career navigation services and the people who believed in him, he found a way forward.
Brooks’ story is one example of how Career Navigators are working every day to help our friends and family find the right job for them, in any circumstance.
When asked what advice he would give others considering using Goodwill’s career navigation services, Brooks doesn’t hesitate: “I would recommend it highly. Get in touch with Goodwill because they will help you.” To learn more about the Career Navigation services offered by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, visit https://www.goodwillvalleys.com/job-and-training-services/#career-navigation.
