Community Action News
January 2022
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HAPPY NEW YEAR
During 2021 WCAC delivered on our commitment to helping those in need throughout our community. The year began with the hope of recovery from the impact of the pandemic and progressed through various phases of optimism and uncertainty as COVID and related variants continued to affect our community. As the year continued, we recognized that the need for stabilizing services which include access to housing, food, and health care was magnified by the impact of the pandemic on the individuals and families we serve.
In working towards advancing our mission of “moving people to economic self-sufficiency”, WCAC offers programs intended to educate, empower and connect people to financial opportunities and support them to reach their self-identified goals. To kick off the new year, this month we are pleased to provide an overview of our growing financial empowerment programs.
We are enthusiastic to continue our mission and know we cannot do this work alone. We thank our community partners, committed staff, talented board members, and the many volunteers and donors who share this vision. Your continued support transforms our goals into realities and benefits our clients every day. This is an extraordinary time in our history, and we enter 2022 feeling inspired, purposeful, and relentless in our mission and vision.
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Marybeth Campbell
Executive Director
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VITA IS VITAL!
Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, IRS-certified volunteers prepare taxes and specifically look for tax credits the household may be eligible for, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), Circuit Breaker Tax Credit, and others. Utilizing the free tax preparation services allows families to retain their full refund, avoiding typical preparation fees which can often cost hundreds of dollars.
For 2022, WCAC’s VITA program will open on February 1st, and will once again operate virtually offering options for those seeking free preparation software, those seeking assistance from a virtual preparer as well as those needing assistance uploading documents. Additional details are available online.
For those with an adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less but with electronic access, there is an option to submit your tax documents online and work with a preparer virtually. You’ll be contacted throughout the process by a preparer via phone call, text, or email and e-sign your return before we e-file it for you. Typically returns take about a week but will take longer during the beginning of the season when we receive many applications at the same time.
For those households or individuals with an adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less and who are unable to upload documents via a smartphone or computer, beginning February 1st, documents can be dropped off without an appointment to WCAC’s VITA office, 484 Main Street, Suite 202 during the following times beginning February 1st: Tuesdays, 5-7 p.m.; Wednesdays, 3-7 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m. – 12 noon; and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 12 noon.
WCAC is grateful for our dedicated VITA volunteers who make this program possible. Last year 32 volunteers donated 630 hours to prepare income tax returns at no cost for 664 low-income households, an increase of 120 households over 2020 despite the program operating fully remotely. The average client return was $2,442, with a total of $1,375,000 dollars being returned to the community.
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Join MASSCAP, Berkshire Community Action Council, and our colleagues from throughout the Community Action Network for the (virtual) VITA Statewide Kickoff and EITC Awareness Day on Friday, January 28th, at 12 noon. Event will be livestreamed from the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA
Click HERE for Zoom link.
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PUT ME IN COACH
As part of its commitment to enhancing financial empowerment for area households, WCAC recently added a Financial Coach to its team. The new position allows clients to have a quick question answered by a financial coach/financial social worker; work with a financial coach over several meetings to establish and achieve financial goals; apply for a zero-interest loan of up to $600; work to improve credit score; understand expenses and build a personal spending plan (budget); establish an emergency savings fund; and/or examining debt and options for repayment.
WCAC's Director of Financial Empowerment Terra Oliveira said, "It's not about where you are now, it's about where you want to be. Previous bad outcomes are not the end of your story." Individuals interested in meeting with WCAC's Financial Coach can request a meeting by completing this online form.
To further bolster its financial empowerment team, WCAC is currently recruiting to hire a new Cliff Effect Coach. The Cliff Effect Coach will meet with clients to provide guidance as they return to the workforce or face an increase in income combined with a decrease or loss of relied-upon public benefits. The Coach will utilize planning and financial empowerment tools to develop a plan of action with clients, taking into consideration family needs. Through a client-centered lens, the Coach will consult with and coach clients using knowledge of the wide range of public benefits, ensure access to needed benefits, and make referrals to community resources. Additional details about the position are available here.
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MOBILITY MENTORING
The Worcester Mobility Mentoring Project, an initiative of the Worcester Economic Mobility Task Force, welcomes applicants to join the project and partnership. During 2020-2021, we completed a successful pilot with 9 community partner organizations. We are ready to welcome new organizations to continue learning and sharing how to integrate this evidence-based, client-centered approach into the fabric of Worcester’s social service network.
Years ago, the Worcester Economic Mobility Task Force collaborated to bring families back to work, knowing that many wrap-around supports provided by Worcester-area organizations were needed to support families. The Task Force also recognized the immense need for coaching families through the often multiple-barrier process to gaining living wage employment and providing for all their family’s needs. Now more than ever, families need support.
Moving out of poverty is complex, a multi-year process that requires families to juggle maintaining their health, taking care of their kids, managing their money, gaining post-secondary education or credentials, and moving into a family-sustaining career – all at once. At the same time, the ongoing stress of poverty can compromise the very planning and organizing skills necessary for this complex juggling act. EMPath created Mobility Mentoring as a way to provide comprehensive support to families—across all the domains of their lives—in a way that supports their key planning and organizational skills.
If your organization is interested in joining the project, please complete a brief application through this link. Please feel welcome to reach out to WCAC's Chief Impact Officer Charla Hixson with any questions. Once applications are received, members of the Worcester Mobility Mentoring Project will conduct brief interviews with applicant organizations.
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Profiles With Purpose is a series of periodic profiles of members of WCAC’s team, highlighting their unique purpose, connection and commitment to supporting the agency’s mission
Despite being born in the Dominican Republic, Laura Martinez considers Worcester home. She emigrated to the City with her mom at just nine years of age and hasn't left. A graduate of South High School and Worcester State University, she recently joined WCAC for a twelve-month contract as the agency's first-ever Financial Coach. She is simultaneously pursuing her Master’s degree in Project Management from Georgetown University. "I like to do the work that I do in Worcester," she says, "I feel a closeness to the community having grown up here - I have a real sensitive spot."
Prior to launching her own consulting business 4-1/2 years ago, Laura worked in auto financing for many years where she found learning and understanding systems really important, before transitioning to retail banking and gaining that perspective. "I've always found it very interesting," she said. "It's not anything that's taught, it's very much learning as you go."
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Her professional experience led to volunteer opportunities throughout the Worcester community to share her knowledge in providing basic financial literacy instruction first to summer youth employed at the Regional Environmental Council. "I shared lesson plans about opening a checking account and planning for what to do with their earnings, setting up savings accounts, etc." she recalls. Her first touchpoint with WCAC was in presenting similar financial literacy workshops to youth enrolled in the agency's Job & Education Center. She found great fulfillment in working with youth who she found to be very honest and transparent in their need for help, and in seeing them share lessons learned with their own families.
"Our money behaviors and how we spend our money directly affect our community," she says. "Constantly making bad decisions has a broad impact. The student debt crisis, as an example, maybe the result of some not fully understanding the financial commitments they are making but it is also a result of inequitable education about financial literacy."
Now in her role as WCAC's Financial Coach she wants the public to know that financial literacy is available to everyone. "Whether you're from a low or high socioeconomic situation, everyone can benefit from learning more about financial wellness," she says.
The most fulfilling aspect of her job is helping people achieve a sense of independence. "Something as seemingly as simple as helping an underbanked individual open a bank account gives them the power of independence. It's the best feeling to help them move past fearful thoughts and past difficulties to be empowered and independent," she said.
She noted that, unlike financial planning, financial coaching is all about having real conversations. "Going forward my hope is that we can begin to normalize conversations about money without fear, without whispering... let's talk about it! Let's create equitable opportunities to navigate systems without worry to meet essential needs," Laura says. "And get people into situations where they can take resourceful steps to get to where they want to be."
Interested in learning more about WCAC's Financial Coaching initiative? Learn more here. |
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JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR HEROES
Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor: National Grid
Additional sponsorship opportunities available.
Free to attend. Register via button below to receive link for virtual ceremony.
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Looking for a new job in the new year? WCAC is hiring!
We have a variety of positions available across the agency. Full and part time positions are available offering an excellent benefit package including health, dental, vision, 403(b) retirement plan with Agency contribution, flexible spending account, paid holidays, vacation, personal and sick time.
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For the month of February,
WCAC will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of the $2.50 reusable
GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Bag at the Shaw's store located at 14 West Boylston Street, Worcester
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www.WCAC.net Info@WCAC.net |
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