When you sadly were out on the streets and using drugs, and the stigma attached to that when youre trying to get clean and stay sober, and work, and turn your life around, the goodwill welcomes you with open arms. When you have a criminal past, and you want a Second Chance, and you dont want people to keep judging you because you made a mistake in the past, the goodwill welcomes you with open arms time and time again. So i just wanted to be here to express my true appreciation for the work that you have done and what you will continue to do and thats why we have to be a Good Community partner with you. The city has to be willing to make things easier for you to do the incredible work that you do to change and save lives. We know the challenges that exist around homelessness in the city and people struggling with Mental Illness and addiction and we are working on a number of Innovative Solutions to try and address what is a real crisis on our streets. But the good news is, the good news is when we are able to help somebody, we know that we can rely on the goodwill to be there for us and say yes each and every time. When i decided it was time to open a Job Training Center and the o. M. I. Community of San Francisco, because we saw that the unemployment numbers were higher there than most parts of this city, goodwill, again, was right there. We will be hosting a job fair in that location with you tomorrow. So time and time again we know that when we bring forth the kinds of ideas that really help people and open the doors, we know that good things can happen so i am just grateful for your work and your service and i wanted to do something really special. Clearly theres a lot of enthusiastic and excited people that are here today because this place is absolutely beautiful, and more importantly, the people who work here, the people who work for goodwill are absolutely beautiful because they love this organization and they love the work they have been able to do to really help so many people. So today, william and eric, i will ask you both to come up. Do you want to join us, supervisor, since you are here and i know you have your certificate . But mine first. [laughter] on behalf of the city and county of San Francisco, i would like to declare today goodwill in San Francisco day in that city and county of San Francisco. [cheers and applause] thank you. [applause] thank you. Thank you so much actually, mayor breed, we have something for you. So we have, as you know, our microsoft maker space. Do you have a coupon for me . [laughter] right . We have our microsoft maker his space and the joke was supposed to be that you can never be duplicated, but then we were able to duplicate you in our microsoft space. But then we decided not to. [laughter] we want to give you two things. The importance of the space is not only so we have all sorts of things in the space that folks can create things. Theyre learning about software and they are also able to do 3d printing. What we wanted to give you today is actually on the escher, we were able to at a photo of the mayor. [applause] we want to give you that and that is something. [laughter] do you know the first idea was . Somebody suggested we make in many all of you and we said, lets not do that. [laughter] than the other thing we want to give you, and this is actually something that was 3d printed, and this is a key to goodwill because we want you to know this is always your home. Thank you so much. [cheers and applause] thank you so much. Thank you. Now i would like to taken opportunity to introduce a supervisor for the district who has been a fierce advocate for goodwill. Im so happy we really admire your willingness to tackle the tough issues and we really look forward to working with you. Thank you so much. Roger stole all my material. I was going to tell that story. But it speaks volumes, not only about goodwill goodwill, but about will rogers and the way it will has gone about this truly is goodwill. And i say that because he doesnt just walk the walk, he actually talks the talk. When i say that, i say he talks to the community. So when i freaked out, when you were leaving bay street, i thought, oh, no, i will have to drive further. Remember, i used to be able to go by city hall, and of course, the city and county has been linked with goodwill for many years because of that. I found that that they were coming to the southern end of my district. So appropriately so, and then he asked how who do i reach out to . How do i become a part of the community and she said i dont want them in my neighborhood and i thought, well, thats exactly what the people bay street said when they moved there that has been the case here. I want to thank you for really walking the walk and reaching out to the community. We have more exciting things that are happening. You will see soon, the mayor announced the mayor will announce a new partnership between the city and county of San Francisco and goodwill just down the street that involves tidewater. [applause]. I would like to introduce another trailblazer. This is incredibly meaningful to me because this is someone who ive known for a long time over the last six years. He deserves he got a muchdeserved Second Chance here at goodwill and he has gone on to create incredibly meaningful Job Opportunities for himself after getting after coming here, he had some justice involvement, he came to goodwill and worked in retail, and everyone his things everyone doesnt want a real chip retail job, but we really try to think about what people want to do. We found that this young man had an aptitude for technology and so we put him into an Internship Program and technology. He did very well. We hired him into our program. He did exceptionally well and then at some point, he said, we said you have to go from a hobbyist to a professional. And what that means is you have to get your industry certifications. And he said, i cant do it. I did not do well in school, i have struggled on tests, et cetera et cetera, and that prompted us to create a training in growth mindset to help everybody who comes through because we know that a lot of folks who come through goodwill have been beaten down and we need to create opportunities, we need to make sure that folks have a level of confidence in their ability and in their innate abilities. So he is someone where is mr . There you are right there. Dumping nervous, chris. It is all good. [laughter] what we are doing is i typically do not like to celebrate people for the worst thing they have ever done in their lives, i like to celebrate people for their accomplishments. And today we are celebrating chris for his accomplishments. He actually came to us about six months ago. He worked for goodwill. Im sorry, he no longer works for goodwill and thats because about six month ago, he came to us and said, you know, i got another job. They will pay me x amount per year and blah blah blah. And i have to go. I two daughters and i said i got you. You have become way too valuable to us and with all your certifications, i remember when you got your certifications. You to me after you got your certifications. [laughter] and he wound up we wanted saying you were too valuable, we will beat the offer and we did. And then about three months later he came to us and he says, will, they are offering me another 25,000 a year and we said, chris, that is a great opportunity. [laughter] which is really the points. It is really helping people. Our values are learning, belonging, and safety. And chris was able to develop the skills, get some certifications, theres a point in which she would never have been hired anywhere else because people would have labelled him in a particular way, but he did this. So we are here to celebrate you. We have a Little Something for you. But before, i would like to introduce you so you can address everyone. [cheers and applause] good morning, everyone. My name is chris blaser. It feels good to be here home at goodwill. One month before i was supposed to graduate from high school i was arrested and i had squandered my opportunity to get my diploma, which set a negative trend that my life would follow for the next few years. All the way up until i was about 23, i was in and out of jail. At the time, my oldest daughter was three years old and i didnt have a legitimate means of supporting her. A friend suggested i go for the goodwill to look for a job and goodwill hired me and gave me my first real introduction into the workforce. Soon after i was hired, as will stated, they saw i had the aptitude for technology so they moved me into a paid intership with their i. T. Department. They recognize something in me that i hadnt even recognized in myself at that point, quite honestly. They put me in a position to have a career, but they did tell me i had to go from hobbyist to professional, which meant i had to go out and get my certifications, which i am now a plus security and network plus certified. [cheers and applause] i was nervous, but google reassured me they were fully invested in my growth professionally. Soon i had Work Experience and tech certifications including the goodwill google i. T. Certification which i got right before i left. [laughter] goodwill of the only place where i didnt have to choose between working and gaining tech skills. I was able to do both. Their constant reassurance that they would help me do my with through my barriers to appoint to employment made me feel safe here. The diversity of the workforce gave me a sense of belonging. I never felt judged when i passed. And because of their willingness to invest in my growth, i learned here, which are the three core values of goodwill. Safety first, belonging, and learning. Eventually came the day when a different employer was willing to offer me more money. They were definitely happy for me, but they definitely said, we do value you a lot so we want to beach that offer, which they did so i stayed. [laughter] but as they say, all good things must come to an end. [laughter] and eventually i was offered a second position and like you said, that sounds like an excellent opportunity. You might want to go pursue that so now i work as an engineer as a Tech Consulting firm. [cheers and applause] thank you. Thank you. Now i have two daughters and they have watched me grow pathetic professionally and our lives have gotten so much better because of my economic stability. Seven years ago i couldnt imagine anyone offering me the type of position that im being offered now, but today i expect to continue to get those offers. I want to thank goodwill for putting me in a position to chase this career and just like goodwill, i ask you to take a closer look at me and my true value. I am giving back to my community by remaining a leader and an inspiration, especially to those who also may need a Second Chance. Thank you. [cheers and applause] [laughter] chris has one request to get a photo with you. [laughter] thank you, thank you, thank you. Do you want me in this . Okay. Im really proud of you. Thank you. Congratulations. [laughter] so we just want to honor chris today with really dont know why im a little. Lumped right now. My nervousness has transferred. You know how i feel about you and im incredibly proud of you. Thank you. So you are getting the achievement of goodwills workforce warrior. [cheers and applause] and this is in honor of your demonstration of a successful and inspirational professional pathway within goodwill and beyond. Best wishes for your continued growth. We know theres so much more you will continue to accomplish. We also have gift for you, which i hope you and your family enjoy but you have done a tremendous job both for yourself, for the community, for your family. Im really proud of you. I know your daughters are really proud of you. They saw you go from not working , to working, and now you are in the field, my friend. Trying to thrive. Congratulations. Congratulations. Thank you. [applause] [laughter] all right. I now have the honor of introducing two people in the same breath that you might not always thinking think of in talking about in the same breath these are two of the top competing Global Tech Industries just saying. [laughter] google and microsoft, who are coming together. Lets be clear, you compete, we were coming together to support people with barriers to employment. I will start by introducing katy brown. Katy . There you are. Come on up. Katy is the Vice President of Enterprise Sales of the west region at microsoft who is a lead sponsor of our good will microsoft space and with the grant that allows for learning possibilities beyond what residents have had in their past welcome. Thank you. [applause] so thank you so much. I have to tell you it is absolutely in honor to be here and be part of this project. I am deeply touched by what i have heard this morning and all that has been accomplished at the goodwill. Chris, i think we might be able to up that offer if you are interested. [cheers and applause] come talk to me. I am serious about that. [laughter] i have been a resident in San Francisco for 30 years and i have had the opportunity to work for three Companies Based here as well. I care deeply, very deeply about this city and this community. I cant even tell you have touched i am to see what is happening today with goodwill and all that you guys are doing. Very much appreciate it. We are thrilled to be part of this process and we have been a partner of goodwill for the last 14 years. Jason ford who is on my team is a member of the board and unfortunately couldnt be here today, but very much sends his well wishes. We have been able to donate not only in software grants and in training and education and curriculum, as well as the building out of the maker space, which was incredibly important to us because we feel as if we need to actually help the people that you are training here, to learn some of those advanced hightech degrees. There is advanced learning and innovation that you will see. I really encourage you to visit it. We are thrilled to be here. We appreciate the partnership and all that you do for this city and worldwide. Thank you. [applause] i now have the pleasure of introducing the Bay Area Giving Program manager from google. Google is supporting a future of work initiatives that funds digital training and Certification Programs in partnership with goodwill and you spend your career supporting social Impact Initiatives throughout the bay area. Welcome. Thanks. [applause] thank you so much. Before i get started, you also have to take my call, too. Make sure we connect. [laughter] that is right. Thank you for letting us join this beautiful space. Im really excited to be here. I lead bay area area giving. We really strive, specifically to introduce make sure people can work with the economy. Thank you for being our spokesperson. Goodwill is one of the most innovative ones in the country and very near and dear partner to google. Was this visit to San Francisco in our meeting with tanya which inspired us to do a 10 million nation will nationwide grant to goodwill across the country. Since we supported this initiative, the goodwill Digital Career accelerator has supported over 93 good wills across the country and has helped more than 250,000 people received training and Digital Skills that are required in a majority of jobs, much like the training that chris has received. We are proud of the fact that goodwill is part of this program and proud of the fact it was born here in the bay area in San Francisco, in our home base. In particular, we are proud of the i. T. Support professional certificate, the program that teaches anyone who requires skills for a role. Without the need for a bachelor s degree. Nineteen people have graduated from this Program Thanks to google and we have had the honor of meeting many of these graduates. You all have met chris here today. We appreciate we appreciate the work you are doing. We are looking forward to hearing more stories like this one in more story like chris and looking forward to hearing the impacts that this new Community Space will have on the acceleration of the Economic Opportunities of others. Thank you so much. [applause] thank you. Last but not least, we have i would like to invite mar and adam. They are both from phil tangs office and Kamala Harris office who would like to share a few words. [applause] thank you, will. I am with Assembly Member philip tang. Something cathartic about being here 30 years ago about this week, i bought my first halloween cost costume when i moved to San Francisco. I was younger, thinner, think judy garland, that was my goal at the time. That was about the timing met you, too, will. Phil couldnt be here today, but , you know, San Francisco, i thank you said we are a city for everyone that works for everyone , and where everyone can work. Theres something really powerful about that statement. The state legislature has worked very hard over the last nine years to reduce prison sentences , review prison sentences, to make sure that we have opportunities for californians and goodwill has been a leader in that to allow people, as mayor breed said, with criminal histories to be able to get jobs and we want to thank you. And for people with Mental Illness and Mental Health challenges, they say the best thing you can do for a person with a Mental Health issue is to get them a job. So we want to thank you, goodwill, for all you have done. Thank you, google, microsoft, all of the other partners who have supported goodwill. We can only turn around the challenges of our city