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Greetings!
We believe that when families living in poverty are aware of good options and choices, have control over decision making, and can access resources and positive social support to engage and expand their options they will achieve success in improving their economic situation.
People are highly motivated by the ability to choose their own path, to direct their own lives, to learn, grow and do better. When social isolation and lack of hope is interrupted, and replaced by real choices, people begin to identify self-determination and self-efficacy as their new normal.
We think a lot about self-efficacy as we help folks build their financial capabilities. Our clients have taught us that building that confidence comes from knowledge, such as learning how to track your spending; ability, such as plugging spending leaks to free up some money; and access, such as getting a bank account. Sometimes it comes from incentives, like matched savings. Karina, an IDA saver and this month's featured client, says is so well, "It is so encouraging to think that I can save my own money for me." That's our aim! Wishing you all the best,
Nancy Yuill
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Take a Chance on Me!
We are collecting stories about a time when someone took a chance on you. How did it impact your life? We will be displaying these stories at our fundraiser in June. You can decide if you would like your name displayed or not with the story.
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160 Families will earn $130 for doing three short surveys
Innovative Changes and CASH Oregon are doing a Family Economic Opportunity Research project at tax time. We are enrolling 160 families in a research assignment on the impact the earned income tax credit has on our families' economic opportunities. Each family will fill in three short surveys over the course of 90 days. They will be paid $40 for turning in survey #1, $40 for survey #2 and $50 for survey #3. The surveys and all related communications will be done in English and Spanish.
To qualify a family needs to qualify and file for the Earned Income Tax Credit and have at least one child aged five or under. Families will be recruited from the Lloyd Center site on a first come first serve basis.
Please encourage your families who qualify to come to the CASH Oregon / AARP Tax Aide site at Lloyd Center to get their taxes done as early as they can. We only have 160 researcher slots and we envision the slots will fill up fast. Please contact us if you have any questions.
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 Get Your Taxes Done!
CASH Oregon Tax sites open January 26th.
The Lloyd Center tax site located in room 2027 will be open Saturday through Wednesday 9AM-4PM, Thursday 1PM-8PM, Friday CLOSED. Our last day will be Monday April 18th. We will be closed Easter Sunday March 27.
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Partner Spotlight: Mark!
Our mission reads: "Metropolitan Family Service helps people move beyond the limitations of poverty, inequity, and social isolation," and the services that Innovative Changes provides are a frequent and valuable support of this. Your agency is a powerful resource and partner to our financial capabilities work at MFS -- our team relies on the services offered by your agency to help build credit for our participants and expand our capacity for financial education opportunities.
Read more about Mark here! |
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Client Spotlight: Karina!
How did you first hear about and get involved with IC$?
Impact Northwest referred me when I mentioned I was thinking about going back to school.
What and where did you study and what interested you in this subject? Architecture at Portland State University. I have been interested in design since I was a little girl. I loved to decorate my room and felt that a person's space is extremely important to their well-being. In order to become a licensed architect in the State of Oregon, I needed to get my masters degree. Fifteen years after I got my undergraduate degree, I decided to go back to school. I just had my 40th birthday this summer. It's never too late to go back to school!
Read more about Karina here! |
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Upcoming Workshops & Orientations
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The next Financial Household Resiliency workshops will be:
- Tuesday evenings, 5:30-7:30 pm
Jan. 19th: Hands on Banking
Jan. 26th: Building, Repairing and Protecting Credit
Feb. 2nd: Making Ends Meet
Feb. 9th: Budgeting and Savings
February 16th: Hands on Banking
This workshop series will be held at our NEW office in 2027 Lloyd Center Mall. You can register for the classes here.
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Our next Credit Builder Orientations will be:
Thursday, January 21st, 5:30-6:30 pm
ESPANOL, viernes 29 de enero, 5:30-6:30pm
Friday, February 5th, 1-2 pm
ESPANOL, martes 9 de febrero, 5:30-6:30pm
Tuesday, February 16th, 5:30-6:30pm
All take place at our office, 2027 Lloyd Center. Register here.
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As of 12/10/2015
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Partners:
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53
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Loans:
Total disbursed:
| 870
$393,971 | | Financial Education Clients: | 3,532 | | IDA Savers: | 117 | |
IDA Graduates:
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18
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IDA Wait List:
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--
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IDA Interest:
| 256 |
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About Us
Our inter-related programs of responsible lending, credit building, financial education and savings acceleration build people's financial capabilities and put them on the path to long term financial health. Join us in our work!
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You Can Help!
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!
Whatever amount you can afford, you can set it up for monthly automatic payments to ease your cash flow. If you have bill pay service with your bank you can set up Innovative Changes to receive regular monthly payments. If you prefer, we can process a monthly ACH transaction on your behalf. Contact us at contact@innovativechanges.org to set up your monthly giving program.
Thank you for your support!
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STAY CONNECTED  
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