# @goodwill_inw on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CgAV1nlORbr
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/21510399-goodwill-inw-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/0a7cfdbd62.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-07-14T20:01:16.000+00:00

## Caption

Joseph “Wes” Sawyer grew up in an area where gang activity, drug use and crime were high. Without positive role models or alternate roads to take, he started down the only path he knew. 

He tried making a move from California to Washington state to escape the violence, but his life of crime and destruction continued, leading to his first stint in prison. It wouldn’t be the only time he landed in jail.

Wes's true wakeup call came when he faced a medical emergency — open heart surgery — for the second time in his life. That’s when doctors told Wes that he had a choice to make: stay his current course and confront an early death or make changes for better health and a brighter future for himself and his #family. Sawyer chose #change. 

As a result of that decision, goodwillintl is honoring him as its 2022 Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year. The award was announced during Goodwill’s annual meeting in Toronto, Canada on July 12.

It was this #motivation — and the skills that Wes learned at #Goodwill — that gave him the confidence to apply for a #job through a local labor union. He took a leap in 2020 and became a construction labor apprentice, which led to another job with an even bigger company, wmwinklerco  His current employer provides medical benefits and an increased income to help support his growing family, including a daughter who was born recently and his son. 

The stability of work has also made it possible for him to reunite with his eldest daughter, who was adopted when Wes was involved with gangs and in and out of prison. He and his wife recently bought their first home, and Wes continues to be an advocate for Goodwill and its programs.

“So many areas of my life are connected to Goodwill and its programs,” Wes said. “I am Goodwill and always will be. I love that Goodwill gave me a hand up not a handout; that I learned how to work and become #independent.”

Watch Wes's whole story (link in our bio) 
...
#Goodwill_inw #successstory #inspiration #instagood #pnw #employmentprogram #changealife #powerofwork #whygoodwill #nonprofitsofinstagram #Spokane #news #award
#lifestyle #secondchance #success

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- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 13
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## Tags

goodwill, family, job, inspiration, whygoodwill, award, success, changealife, independent, lifestyle, instagood, change, employmentprogram, powerofwork, spokane, news, motivation, pnw, successstory, goodwill_inw, secondchance, nonprofitsofinstagram

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