Pilot Program Uses Virtual Reality to Help People Discover Their “Agilities”

The DeBruce Foundation and Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas Partner to Use VR Technology

The DeBruce Foundation and Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas are teaming up to pilot an innovative virtual reality program to help Goodwill staff members expand their career pathways. The Agilities VR Project includes facilitated scenarios driven by human avatars that allow learners to practice using The DeBruce Foundation’s “Agilities” as transferable skills that learners can apply and grow throughout their lifespan.

“Through this virtual reality pilot, we are learning more about how individuals can be equipped to discover and use particular Agilities like Managing, Selling and Communicating, and Innovating,” said Daryl Williams, Senior Director at The DeBruce Foundation. “We’re excited to partner with Goodwill to empower people to use their Agilities in order to expand their career pathways.” 

“The team at Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas are honored to pilot and partner with The DeBruce Foundation on such a cutting edge training tool. We believe VR/AR/MR will be the future of experiential learning and this partnership starts us on this revolutionary path. This is a powerful partnership and is a fantastic segue into our Artemis Initiative launch,” said Edward Lada, Jr., MoKan Goodwill President and CEO. 

Pilot participants will include Goodwill front line associates, leads, and management of all levels of ability. Eighty-five employees are taking part, and each person will take the scenario two times with at least one week in between. Surveys and manager feedback will be used to track retention of skills learned based upon their performance in the scenario. Each session will occur at the Goodwill employment site to reduce transportation issues, and the project staff will utilize the Mobile Lab which includes laptops and a hotspot. The project will include 150 thirty-minute virtual reality sessions by August 31, 2020. 

About Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas

Founded in 1894, Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas has been providing service to our communities for more than 125 years. MOKAN Goodwill is a CARF-accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment obtain jobs, essential skills training, and personal development opportunities. On average, 88¢ of every dollar Goodwill spends supports individualized programs and services that empower job seekers with different abilities. With 14 retail stores and two attended donation centers, Goodwill has an annual economic impact of more than $16 million in Kansas City and its surrounding communities. As a 2018 Kansas City Industrial Council (KCIC) gold medal winner, Goodwill is also recognized as a leader in sustainability, annually diverting more than 17 million pounds of donated materials to resell, reuse or recycle.

Learn more at www.mokangoodwill.org and www.artemisinitiative.com.

About The DeBruce Foundation 

The DeBruce Foundation is a national foundation whose mission is to expand pathways to economic growth and opportunity. The Foundation is geared toward helping individuals unlock their potential and find career pathways. By developing solutions such as the Agile Work Profiler, we change how people pursue careers. By partnering strategically, we increase experiences and exposure to widen career opportunities. We develop young people by engaging them in decision-making through initiatives such as DeBruce Career Corps. Learn more at www.DeBruce.org.

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