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Who first taught you what it means to “have credit,” or helped you open a checking account? Many of us learned financial literacy from family members or trusted mentors. Noelia first learned these things when she joined Mile High United Way’s Bridging the Gap program.
Bridging the Gap connects young adults who have exited the Colorado foster care system to stable housing. Once participants are safely housed, we provide other wraparound support, including education or career assistance, mental health services and workshops for key topics.
Noelia had racked up some credit card debt after her grandmother suddenly passed away. She relied on the card to cover expenses for herself and her daughter. Now, Noelia is working toward her financial goals with support from Bridging the Gap and our community partner, Huntington Bank.
Recently, Huntington Bank staff offered Bridging the Gap participants financial literacy classes and one-on-one counseling, providing valuable insights to help them establish financial goals.
“I feel a greater sense of relief now,” Noelia said. “The balance was high, and I thought, ‘How am I going to pay this?’ but I’m working on setting up a payment plan that’s within my budget.”
The classes focused on credit scores and building a financial future. More than 20 Bridging the Gap participants joined one or both classes or met individually with Nicole Marquez, VP, community development relationship manager, to review their finances and establish a plan. The one-on-one counseling was especially helpful for Noelia, who is finding financial stability after recently starting a new job with University Prep Charter School.
“I want to do things correctly and properly, but I didn’t know you could ask for a payment plan,” Noelia said. “I’m just a single mom trying to do her best. I’ve had a bunch of ups and downs, and I just keep pushing forward.”
These workshops often help Bridging the Gap participants establish steps toward their dreams of a bright future for themselves and their families.
“Huntington is thrilled to partner with Bridging the Gap to pilot this financial education series,” Nicole said. “It was inspiring to see such high engagement and a collective commitment to fostering meaningful financial change in our community.”
We are grateful to community partners like Huntington Bank who join our work to ensure everyone who calls Metro Denver home has the resources they need to thrive.
