Mickey’s Story: From Laney College to Financial Wellness

I was recently laid off due to COVID-19, which has made me doubly grateful that I happened to stumble across the Sparkpointprogram through one of my classes at Laney College. Prior to participating in SparkPoint Oakland, I knew that financial coaching programs existed. However, I never knew how to find them, or whether or not I would qualify or be able to afford them, and I never thought they would be as extensive as the help I’ve received through SparkPoint Oakland.

I initially thought the SparkPoint Oakland matched savings account program, which positively incentivizes savings, was just another nice little perk of being a student, with a few paperwork hoops to jump through. Little did I know, that along the way, I would end up conquering seven years of back taxes, reducing a mountain of credit card debt, substantially increasing my credit score, and–most unbelievably–actually learning to enjoy creating and sticking to a budget. In the end, the matched savings program was just a bonus – the tip of the iceberg, the cherry on top!

Facing our financial problems is difficult. All of my SparkPoint Oakland counselors were patient and encouraging. They helped me take my overwhelming, paralyzing money worries and break them into manageable, bite-sized pieces. I always felt like I had a realistic plan–and when reality inevitably got in the way of that plan, we revised it together. While I know that I was always capable of handling these problems on my own (hopefully, eventually, someday) SparkPoint Oakland counselors were the perfect accountability-buddies, helping me to set and stick to deadlines and actually face my financial fears. Working with SparkPoint Oakland has given me some of the most immediate, tangible, and unexpected benefits of my time at Laney College.

— Mickey, SparkPoint Oakland client

An initiative of the United Way of the Bay Area started in 2009, SparkPoint Oakland helps build financial health and access to good jobs for Oakland and Bay Area residents. With EBALDC as the lead agency, SparkPoint Oakland is providing free financial coaching and resource support during the COVID-19 crisis via remote, 1:1 phone/video conferencing appointments. Please fill out this form to set up an appointment with one of our financial counselors!