From Career Connections to Potential Entrepreneur

Kiandra is proof that persistence pays off! She was a client in Goodwill’s Career Connections Center in Lexington on and off for over 11 years. When she first came to Goodwill, she was finishing high school, trying to work and take care of a newborn. Staff at Career Connections helped her apply for and receive benefits from Work First. Work First Family Assistance was developed by North Carolina to disperse federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds. Employment services are also provided to enable families to become self-sufficient.

On her journey, Kiandra held various jobs and stayed motivated to finish high school.

Career Connections staff assisted Kiandra with her resume and job applications as well as provided valuable training. Kiandra said that her Goodwill family celebrated her accomplishments and encouraged her when the road took a few twists and turns. Kiandra had a retail position that lasted over four years, but the company closed at the end of 2019.

Kiandra has started working for a cleaning company part-time and has secured several cleaning jobs on her own. She discovered that cleaning is her passion. As she put it, “I can clean in my sleep.”

She is motivated to start her own cleaning business and is trying to come up with the perfect name for her company. Kiandra now has three children; her son is 12 and she has two young daughters.

Kiandra credits Goodwill staff and her family for giving her the support she needs to succeed in a career and in life.