In April 2023, Nashville native Narayan Rabindranath walked into the Goodwill Career Solutions Center in Clarksville. He did not have a job, a car, a place to live or many clothes. Narayan faced significant barriers to employment due to his history of justice involvement, but he was determined to turn his life around. He met with a Goodwill Career Coach who helped him realize the future he dreamed of was still possible.

“I was caught in the cycle of incarceration and homelessness, which is impossible to get out of without the support and resources, like what Goodwill offers,” Narayan said.

Narayan’s journey with Goodwill began with the Google IT Support Professional Certificate training program he entered in May 2023. He completed the course and earned his certificate in just four months. His dedication didn’t stop there; he enrolled in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate course through Goodwill, which he also completed in about four months. Despite experiencing homelessness and navigating job and shelter transitions, Narayan’s resilience and positive attitude shone through.

Goodwill digital skills and certificate programs provide people like Narayan, who have no previous industry experience, the opportunity to learn the digital skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly tech-driven world and transition into IT careers — many of which provide higher salaries and meaningful long-term career paths.

In March 2024, just one month after completing the Google Project Management Professional Certificate, Narayan secured a job teaching project management for Persevere, a company that works with people who have been impacted by the justice system. This role, with a substantial hourly wage, marked a significant milestone in his journey. Narayan says the role is incredibly meaningful to him as it allows him to help those going through the same struggles he did.

The professional certificate programs are made possible in part due to the contribution of the Caterpillar Foundation. Thanks to funding from the Foundation, Goodwill was able to provide Narayan with a Dell Latitude laptop to keep.

He describes his success as the product of “willingness, being open-minded and action.”

Narayan says, “In a world that is always moving, if there is no movement, then it is moving without you. In order to enjoy the success of the work that you have accomplished, you must do some work.”

Narayan’s story is a powerful example of how hard work and digital skills training can transform lives. He is still connected with Goodwill and is actively saving to purchase a home next year while he currently resides in transitional housing in Clarksville where he works remotely.

When asked about his experience, Narayan said, “I would like to thank Goodwill for being a brick-and-mortar store that has been seen for years by many, for offering services to anyone who comes through the door and hires people who genuinely care about people.”