LAFCU Personal Finance Course Creates Pathways to Success

The profound impact of LAFCU’s award-winning, comprehensive personal finance course was palpable during the graduation ceremony of its 2022-2023 cohort April 20.

Amid celebratory hugs and the tossing of graduation caps, the graduates proudly shared with attendees what they learned and gained from the eight-month, 16-module course, which ranged from a credit rating boost of more than 100 points to debt repayment of more than $20K to the establishment of savings accounts for their children.

“I’ve gained so much invaluable information during this course and have already made huge strides to change certain behaviors and feel more secure and confident in my financial future,” noted Belynda Williams of Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

The graduates of the 2022-2023 Pathway to Financial Transformation cohort are Elizabeth Ronning, Lansing; Renola Wells, Waterford; Alex Morris, Waterford; Cyrene Irelan, Jackson; Belynda Williams, Eaton Rapids; Denise Clark, St. Johns; and Don DeBaptiste, Rockford.

Participants had diverse backgrounds, ranging from age to education to financial status. Yet they all shared the desire to better themselves financially. Participants Belynda Williams and Cyrene Irelan are sisters who used each other as accountability partners to complete the course and improve their financial well-being. Renola Wells and Alex Morris are married and have not only made a commitment to each other as a couple but also to complete the finance course together.

“There were seven total graduates in this cohort, but it was the perfect sized class because these were the students who showed up week after week, were committed, and did the work,” said Shelia Scott, community financial education & business development officer who led the course. “Each student had their own story and goals, and we all worked together to create budgets and better habits to help them improve their financial behavior throughout the course as well as beyond the virtual classroom.”

The classes were spread over a span of eight months so that students could see the benefits of making changes in their financial behavior and habits.

"During the Pathway to Financial Transformation course, these individuals were the students,” said LAFCU CEO Patrick Spyke. “However, they can now go out into the community as teachers, sharing what they’ve learned with their own families, friends, and acquaintances. They are not only bringing about financial change in their own lives, but they’re creating pathways for others to do the same.”

The Pathway to Financial Transformation personal finance course complements LAFCU’s financial literacy program, which includes free classes for adults on financial topics and real-world financial education opportunities for K-12 students.

The Pathway to Financial Transformation Course is free of charge and structured like a college course, complete with a curriculum, assignments, and quizzes. LAFCU staff as well as a representative from LAFCU’s financial counseling partner, GreenPath Financial Wellness, were also featured speakers and discussed ways students could achieve financial stability.

LAFCU plans to continue offering the course to help others improve their financial future. The next cohort will begin in the fall of 2023.