Man Overcomes Barriers, Lands Job After Completing Goodwill Training

In April 2023, Narayan Rabindranath walked into the Goodwill Career Solutions Center in Clarksville with just the clothes on his back and a glimmer of hope. The Nashville native had no job, car, home, or belongings.

For five years, he lived on the streets of downtown Nashville, setting up tents in parking lots and alleys. “I was the menace behind Planet Fitness,” Rabindranath told NewsChannel 5. “I lived right next to the NewsChannel 5 parking lot. All these places were meant as refuge.” His struggles stemmed from a felony conviction that made finding work nearly impossible.

“I was caught in the cycle of incarceration and homelessness, which is impossible to get out of without support and resources, like what Goodwill offers,” he said. Determined to rebuild, he met with a Goodwill career coach and enrolled in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program in May 2023. The free course, part of Goodwill’s digital skills training, equips job-seekers with technical skills for today’s job market.

The program combines online instruction with in-person labs and includes job placement support. Rabindranath completed the training on time and went on to earn a second certificate in Google Project Management in early 2024.

A month later, he landed a job with Persevere, an organization that helps justice-involved individuals with job training. Now, he teaches project management and helps others build a fresh start.

He also serves as director of Covenant House, a men’s transitional home connected to The Way Church in Clarksville, and teaches at the Clarksville School of Fine Arts. Goodwill also provided him with a Dell laptop to support his learning and job search.

Now living in transitional housing, Rabindranath is saving to buy a home. He credits his success to “willingness, being open-minded and action” and hopes his story inspires others.

“I’d like to thank Goodwill for being a place that offers services to anyone who walks through the door and hires people who genuinely care,” he said.

See Narayan’s video on NewsChannel 5