Kat was directed to IC$ through her college success coordinator at Portland Youth Builders (PYB), a non-profit school that provides education, vocational training, and leadership development services for youth, in hopes of finding a way to help her pay for college. She was getting her Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degree at Portland Community College and knew that whatever school she went to next would be more expensive. Kat was already familiar with the concept of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). She had successfully participated in an education IDA with PYB and was able to buy a Mac Book, cover some of her tuition and supply costs with it. Committed to continuing her education and obtaining a four year degree, Kat decided that another IDA was the way to go. She came to our IDA orientation, filled out the forms and before she knew it, was ready to start saving every month.

Now that she had some funding in order, the next step was figuring out where she would go to school. Kat looked into nearby schools and was drawn to Lewis and Clark after visiting the serene campus. She applied and got in. Kat reflects, "It just seemed like the right place for me. I didn't realize how great their reputation was until after I got in!"

She explains, "I am the first person in my immediate family to go to college and to get a degree. I grew up in a not so wealthy household and observed what that lifestyle had in store for me. I decided that I didn't want to live that way so I am trying to pursue bigger and better things through school. I love learning, I love being on campus and academia feels like home to me."

Kat has chosen to study psychology, because she "likes observing human behavior and trying to figure out why people do the things they do." She says that since mental illness runs in her family she "grew up with good examples of what abnormal psychology looks like. This is probably a big reason why I am interested in figuring it out: to learn more about my family."

In her first semester at Lewis and Clark, Kat excelled at her classes and at making her monthly IDA payments on time. On top of school and a part-time job, she found time to complete her IDA requirements which includes attending ten hours of financial education. She says that at first it was hard to get herself to attend the classes with everything else in her life, but she walked away with some valuable tools and information. She remarks, "In the budgeting class I learned about mint.com and I've been using often ever since. The banking class was co-taught by a banker who came in and broke down all the banking lingo, this helped a lot."

By December, Kat got to experience the fruits of her saving back making her first IDA withdrawal for Winter 2013 tuition. She says that the key to her IDA and financial success is online banking. "I check my bank account every day to make sure I have enough to pay my bills and know exactly how much I have to spend for all the things I need to do." She learned this skill the hard way, as most of us do: "When I was 19, I got a couple credit cards and had just moved out on my own. I got myself into a lot of debt and lowered my credit score significantly." Kat ended up moving back home and attending credit seminars at her local credit union to learn how to repair her credit so she wouldn't make the same mistakes again.

Right now school is Kat's number one priority, but beyond school, Kat says, "I want to travel and experience different cultures as much as I can!" She is saving up money to go visit a friend in Paris this summer and is thinking about joining the Peace Corps after college. Innovative Changes is lucky to have Kat as a model saver in our IDA program and excited to see her grow, learn and explore in the coming years (all while avoiding some student debt!). 

The IC$ IDA program offers a 3:1 match for those saving to attend an institution of higher education. Savers must put at least $25 into an account every month, complete financial education requirements and plan to go back to school or already be attending school. Savers can save for themselves or a loved one. 

If you are interested in the IDA program, or know someone who may be interested,come to our next orientation which will be:

• Thursday, January 24th, 5:30-6:30 pm at our office in Suite 2010 of the Lloyd Center.

To Register: visit our website or call or email Misha at (503)-249-5205/ misha@innovativechanges.org. For more information about the IDA program visit our website.

You care about helping people achieve and maintain household stability. Now you can join our efforts at Innovative Changes as we expand our reach to serve more clients. Your generous donation will be put to good use!