Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina is launching multiple new programs to support justice-impacted youth and young adults in South Carolina. These initiatives aim to provide education, training, and mentorship to young individuals who have been involved with the justice system or are at a higher risk of exposure to trauma.

The Young Adult Reentry Program is designed to introduce and prepare justice-involved youth and young adults for the workforce through placement into paid work experiences. This initiative ensures participants are on a path toward equitable career opportunities alongside their peers. In addition to paid work experiences, the program provides:

• Occupational education and training for in-demand industries
• Leadership development
• Mentorship opportunities
• Post-work experience placement into unsubsidized employment and/or continuing education

Through this program, participants will gain essential conflict resolution skills, develop strategies to prevent and avoid violence, explore career interests, attain relevant job skills, and earn income as they transition to living-wage careers.

The RYZE (Reigniting Youth, Zero Excuses) program, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, New Mind Health & Care, Greenville Police Department, Path2Redemption builds on Goodwill’s best practices in mentoring, job readiness training, and community engagement. The program incorporates evidence-based approaches, including:

• Credible Messenger Mentoring – pairing participants with trusted adult mentors who have shared life experiences
• Leadership Development – fostering confidence, resilience, and decision-making skills
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy – helping youth process and heal from past trauma

RYZE is designed to improve positive outcomes for youth, ages 12-21, engaged with the juvenile justice system or those with family involved in the criminal justice system. Participants will engage in structured and supportive relationships with adult mentors in individual, group, or peer settings. The program provides both prevention and intervention services, ensuring youth receive comprehensive support.

Goodwill is actively seeking mentors who can commit to guiding and supporting these young participants, fostering personal growth, and offering valuable life skills that contribute to their successful reintegration into the community.

Over the next 36 months, Goodwill aims to enroll 225 youth participants, ages 12-21, and a minimum of 105 mentors in the Greenville area. By leveraging mentorship, workforce training, and community partnerships, Goodwill is committed to connecting young adults to a brighter future through education, free job training, and essential wraparound services.

“Goodwill believes in the power of second chances. These programs provide justice-involved or impacted youth with the mentorship, training, and career opportunities they need to succeed,” said Monique McDaniels, Vice President of Community and Workforce Development at Goodwill. “By investing in young people today, we are helping to shape a stronger, more inclusive workforce for the future.”

For more information about Goodwill’s youth programs or to get involved as a mentor, please visit https://www.goodwillsc.org/career-services/young-adults/.