meet ashley bonilla TEO program GRADUATE
Congratulations, JO WILSON MYRICK GIA’s 2024 GRaduate of the year
The Graduate of the Year is awarded to an outstanding person who completed a Goodwill program, is com- petitively employed outside of Goodwill, and who over- came barriers to attain and maintain employment. Jo Wilson Myrick’s life hit rock bottom at the age of 35 when she was incarcerated during a battle with drug addiction. Upon reentering society, she found it difficult to find em - ployment, even after previous- ly working for a number of law firms. Eventually, a friend rec - ommended Goodwill’s Transi- tional Employment Opportunity (TEO) Program in 2014 where she found support, accep- tance, and the tools needed to turn her life around.
What does a second chance look like? For Ashley Bo - nilla, it looked like a forklift certification, computer skills training, and the tools to rebuild healthy relationships. But most importantly, it looked like five children reunited with their mother. Ashley’s journey is one of resilience, hope, and the trans- formative power of opportunity. After facing incarceration and struggling to find her footing, Ashley found a lifeline in Goodwill Industries of Arkansas’s Transitional Employ - ment Opportunity (TEO) program in the fall of 2023. “Goodwill really empowered me and motivated me in ways that I’d never been before. They celebrated each of my successes along my journey.” Through the TEO program, Ashley: • Earned a forklift driving certificate • Developed crucial computer and job-seeking skills • Learned financial management • Rebuilt her self-confidence and sense of purpose But Ashley’s path wasn’t without setbacks. Even after nearly completing the program, she faced a relapse that threatened to undo her progress. Yet, with the unwaver - ing support of her Goodwill TEO specialist, Ashley perse- vered. Today, Ashley is a full-time forklift driver at Goodwill. More importantly, she has been reunited with all her chil- dren in their own apartment. Her story is a powerful tes - tament to the impact of second chances and the vital im- portance of programs like TEO. “I’m not proud of my past, but that won’t define me. I want my children to learn from my successes. I want them to see my resilience, honesty and grace.” Ashley’s transformation was made possible in part by the generosity of our donors and shoppers. Every do- nation to Goodwill Industries of Arkansas and purchase at our retail stores directly funds programs that provide skills, opportunities, and hope to Arkansans striving for a better future.
GRAD OF THE YEAR VIDEO
As a TEO graduate, she is now referring people to the same program that helped get her life back on track. She currently serves as the staffing supervisor for Operation Restore at City Connect, a faith- based organization connecting the church and city to fulfill needs in Little Rock. Her organization serves those individuals coming out of drug and alcohol rehab and those coming out of prison.
faulkner county drug court GIA’s 2024 community partner of the year
Community partners are vital to the success of Goodwill’s mission. The Community Partner of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding organization that has con- tributed to the advancement of Goodwill’s mission of changing lives through edu- cation, training and employ- ment. In Faulkner County, Judge Chuck Clawson presides over the Drug Court Program which is a specialty court focusing on nonviolent drug offenders. Through their referrals of in- dividuals to our TEO Reentry program, Goodwill can provide them with the training and help they need to successfully reen- ter the workforce.
PARTNER OF THE YEAR VIDEO
learn more at goodwillar.org/reentry
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mission magazine / volume 1 / spring 2025
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