Entertainment, food, behind-the-scenes tours, an exclusive thrifting experience and virtual reality headset demonstrations!

On April 18, Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota (GESMN) hosted its second “Behind the Seams” open house event at the St. Cloud Goodwill store and program location to showcase the impact of GESMN’s mission in the community and throughout greater Minnesota. The event was attended by local employer partners, nonprofit leaders, donors, program participants and city officials including Waite Park Mayor Rick Miller.

Guests had the opportunity to tour the St. Cloud Goodwill building and learn how donated items are processed and sold to fund nearly 20 career training programs that support over 5,500 Minnesotans each year. GESMN provides disability benefits assistance, resume assistance, industry-specific credential training and resources to help job seekers reach higher levels of employment. Guests also got to engage with the VR headsets used in GESMN’s career training programs to break down learning barriers. The virtual reality programming features a hands-on career exploration module that allows Central Minnesota students to “try on” a variety of in-demand careers – from manufacturing to automotive.

“Immersive learning experiences transform the classroom and allow students to practice soft skills and gain exposure in safe and controlled spaces,” explained Julie Danda, GESMN Workforce Development director. “This can be especially powerful for youth with disabilities and other barriers. We see students’ confidence increase when they use the headsets.”

“This event was a great way to demonstrate our commitment to the community and how we help people throughout the state of Minnesota experience the power of work,” added Mary Jones, GESMN’s chief philanthropy officer.

Learn more about the Power of Work Comprehensive Capital Campaign, which is helping to fund
this exploratory learning programming. To attend future special events and learn more about how you can support GESMN’s mission to provide career training and resources in your community, consider making a donation or email Naomi Prabhakar at nsprabhakar@gesmn.org for information.