What a month! So much has happened in the last four weeks:

• We made our 100th loan on October 20th.
  
• We received our 501(c)(3) tax exemption from the IRS.
• We submitted our Certification application to the Community Development Financial Institution Fund
• We were awarded Innovator of the Year by the Credit Builders Alliance in Washington DC. Click here for details on our award and a profile on our work.
• We received a generous grant of $1,000 from Sterling Savings Bank, AND a $2,000 award from Key Bank two of our banking partners dedicated to helping us ensure that our un- and under-banked clients have access to responsible traditional banking services.
  

Innovative Changes is grateful to all of its partners and supporters. This month, we bring you a profile on Human Solutions, which has been working to eliminate barriers to escaping poverty through emergency family shelter, job training, affordable housing, eviction prevention, and emergency household assistance in Portland for over 20 years. Human Solutions was an early advocate for Innovative Changes and to-date we have served almost a dozen of their residents with loans and financial coaching.

We also introduce you to Amanda G., one of our clients whose commitment to improving her financial and household circumstances exemplifies what we can all achieve together.

As the holiday season swings into full gear, we know how much fun but also how stressful this time of year can be. In December we are kicking off the first of our new monthly seminar series with a "Holiday Finances 101" workshop and resource fair.

We wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Sarah Chenven
Program Director