"My name is Stephanie Elise and I'm proud to be an ECS Goal Getter! I’ve been a MindSet participant for almost two glorious years. I began in August 2023. I set goals that would alleviate some of the stress I was experiencing which took over mentally and physically. I felt like my financial chaos was suffocating me. I wanted to get rid of debt, put myself in a position to have savings set aside and work on several personal relationships. I believed I would reach my goals by the end of my program participation. Almost immediately, I saw a change. I have been fortunate to work with both Alexander and Dominic. They are knowledgeable, empathetic and committed to our success. They walked me through options and developed a course of action. The snowball effect did wonders. I was also encouraged to do some soul searching to better understand how I got here and the why of my habits. My coach, Aliya, is a beast. I was initially assigned to another coach and Aliya stood in until that coach’s return. But I knew after our first few meetings, Aliya was the one. And God said it is done. Even with a demanding workload, Aliya makes herself available. She makes me accountable and reminds me to give myself grace. If she says she’s going to do something, she always follows through. Aliya is committed, thorough and wise. I believe my daughter is most proud of my progress and growth. It was important for me to be transparent with her. She needed to know that the struggle is real and that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Sometimes there are sacrifices to be made but they are for the greater good. Achieving these goals have given me the confidence to believe I can accomplish more. I (just) want to keep on going. I know I can, and I will. My confidence also encourages me to give myself grace when things do not go as planned. Success for me is sleeping soundly, having a savings stash just because and appreciating the little things in life. Additionally, it is walking into my favorite stores and leaving out with only the items on my list; -0- balance credit card statements would be a bonus. With my head held high and my daughter by my side, I am so proud to be ECS Goal Getter!"
MindSet Impact: 100% of second-year participants engage in the IDA, a 2:1 matched savings program where participants have the opportunity to graduate with up to $10,000 total in savings.