Good financial decisions, sticking to a budget, improved credit scores, and increased confidence were on full display at the recent Financial Futures graduation. Eleven women, along with their coaches, celebrated the completion of a 12-week financial literacy program.
In partnership with Women’s Money Matters, a Boston based non-profit, Women United hosted the third cohort of Financial Futures for women in Greater New Bedford. The program focuses on teaching core money-management skills to increase women’s economic self-sufficiency and focus on long-term financial goals.
To date, 33 women have graduated from the program and 34 women have served as volunteer coaches. Graduates of the program have reported improved credit scores, reduced debt, increased savings, and an overall feeling of greater confidence in managing their personal and household finances.
Lara Harrington, owner of Boutique Fitness, served as a coach in the recent cohort and had this to say about her experience. “It's easy to take for granted the simple skills around money management. Witnessing how these skills transformed the lives of women in our community was incredible. It was also grounding to witness the vulnerability and openness to making changes. Week by week the successes piled on and you could feel the confidence building within each participant. As coaches, we offered support and accountability, but we also received so much from the shared resilience and determination of the group. This was a very rewarding experience all around.”
For program participants the experience can be life-changing due the increased confidence and skills but also through the relationships and sense of community. Jackie Do Rosario shared, “for me one of the best parts of the program was hearing from amazing women, their experiences, struggles and joys. My cohort's experiences revealed a community pursuing financial success.” She went on to say, “ the program was the motivation and the first step to improve their goals. It also opened a path of financial connectivity, involvement and responsibility that, I am pretty sure, will still go on in the future. From my experience I can affirm that the program has a positive impact in the community through engaged learning.”
Women United is so proud of all the program participants and thrilled to be able to invest in their personal growth and goals. Congratulations to all the graduates and thank you to the volunteer coaches for their investment of time, talent, and compassion.
Women United is working on new programming and offerings for 2025. Learn more about Women United.