Past Feature Stories

WHI Collaboratorium Is Catalyst for Goodwill Houston Innovation

May 21, 2021

When Goodwill Houston saw a need to develop innovative strategic solutions to further expand its mission services and create added value for shoppers and donors, they turned to the Collaboratorium, the collaborative solution design center at HCC’s West Houston Institute, for assistance.  

Through a series of in-person facilitated workshops at the Collaboratorium, as well as extensive field work, HCC’s expertise in design thinking provided the foundation for Goodwill to develop its new “Goodwill Connect” model.  This in-store connection hub adds value for shoppers and donors by providing opportunities to discover Goodwill mission services, connect to programs and community resources, and engage with community offerings and resources. 

Goodwill recently launched its first Connection Center at the City Centre store location, and hopes to scale this concept out across Houston and possibly at a national level.

 Alma Ybarra, Vice President of Workforce Development at Goodwill Houston, praised the impact of the Collaboratorium: “HCC’s Collaboratorium has been catalytic in guiding Goodwill Houston with design thinking, capturing shopper and donor feedback and experiences, and developing innovative strategic solutions.  We are grateful to the Collaboratorium for the project management expertise, finding ways to help during the implementation phase, and being a constant supporter of changing lives through the power of work.” 

For more information about how the Collaboratorium can help your team develop innovative strategic solutions, visit our website at hccs.edu/collaboratorium, or contact Program Director Dr. Laura Williamson at laura.williamson@hccs.edu.