YWCA SOUTH FLORIDA INC

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY PROGRAMS - THE YWCA ECONOMIC PROSPERITY PROGRAMS INCREASE OUR COMMUNITY'S ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING, UPSKILLING, CERTIFICATIONS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. YWCA HELPS INDIVIDUALS, PRIMARILY WOMEN AND TEENS, BRING THEIR PASSIONS AND IDEAS TO LIFE THOUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSES WHICH CULMINATED IN PITCH COMPETITIONS WHERE JUDGES PROVIDED FEEDBACK AND RECOMMENDATIONS. PARTICIPANTS WERE ABLE TO PARTAKE IN OVER 130 HOURS OF FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASSES/WORKSHOPS TO ADDRESS VARIOUS TOPICS THAT INCREASE FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILLS AND INFORM THEIR FINANCIAL DECISION-MAKING. IN 2024-2025, 83 WORKSHOPS WERE HELD FOR ADULTS, ON TOPICS INCLUDING BUILDING CREDIT, HOME BUYING, PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT, BANKING, UNDERSTANDING BUSINESS FINANCE, AND BUDGETING. OVER 765 ATTENDEES PARTICIPATED IN THESE SESSIONS. IN ADDITION, SCHOOL-AGED YOUTH WERE PROVIDED WITH 46 CLASS DAYS OF HANDS-ON FINANCIAL LITERACY ACTIVITIES AND INSTRUCTION, GIVING THEM A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE. FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, YWCA ECONOMIC PROSPERITY PROGRAMS OFFERED SERVICES TO OVER 1,140 RESIDENTS OF MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD COUNTIES THROUGH 6 DISTINCT INITIATIVES.IN THE TEEN360 PROGRAM FOR BROWARD STUDENTS, 34 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES LEARNED TO DEVELOP MONEY MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS IN BOTH CLASSROOM-BASED ACTIVITIES AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME. INSTRUCTORS PROVIDED HIGHLY REGARDED ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULA AND LESSONS FOR YOUTH FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. YWCA STUDENTS RECEIVED LIFE COACHING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FROM STAFF AS WELL AS MENTORING FROM AREA ENTREPRENEURS WHO WANT TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES. STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ALSO RECEIVED WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS WHEN FACING CRITICAL SITUATIONS SUCH AS HOMELESSNESS, THE DEATH OF A PARENT, AND UNFURNISHED HOUSING. YWCA'S WE360 ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASSES AND OUTREACH HAVE SUPPORTED THE LAUNCH AND GROWTH OF WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, YWCA SERVED 84 FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS, TEACHING THEM THE BASICS OF BUSINESS PLANNING, MARKET RESEARCH, BENCHMARKING AGAINST COMPETITORS, AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR TARGET MARKET. THIS YEAR, YWCA SOUTH FLORIDA ALSO HOSTED THE SECOND ANNUAL LEVEL UP! PITCH COMPETITION SPONSORED IN PART BY BANK OF AMERICA, WHERE FIVE (5) WE360 PROGRAM ALUMNI COMPETED FOR A TOTAL OF $15,000 IN FUNDS TO IMPROVE THEIR BUSINESSES. YWCA IS HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THESE ENTREPRENEURS AND HELP THEM TAKE THEIR BUSINESSES TO THE NEXT LEVEL. YWCA IS PROUD OF THE SUCCESS OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND HOPE TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO ENTREPRENEURS IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA.OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE MATCHED SAVINGS PROGRAM THAT INCENTIVIZES THE HABIT OF REGULAR SAVING THUS ALLOWING PARTICIPANTS TO CREATE A SAFETY NET FOR THEIR FINANCIAL STABILITY WHEN EMERGENCIES ARISE. PARTICIPANTS MUST COMPLETE FOUR REQUIRED FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOPS IN WHICH THEY LEARN THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO MANAGE THEIR FUNDS, THEIR CREDIT, AND THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE. THE PROGRAM MATCHED NEARLY $15,000 IN SAVINGS FOR PARTICIPANTS, IN ADDITION TO INCREASING THEIR FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE AND CAPABILITIES. THOSE WHO APPLIED FOR THE MATCH WERE COACHED THROUGHOUT THE SAVINGS PROCESS TO ENSURE THEY HAD PUT IN PRACTICE THE KNOWLEDGE FROM THE WORKSHOPS AND WERE SUCCESSFUL IN REACHING THEIR GOAL.YWCA OFFERS WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES, SUCCESS COACHING, AND ACCESS TO THE YWCA SUCCESS FUND FOR ALL OF ITS PROGRAMS, WHICH REMOVES BARRIERS TO ENCOURAGE THE COMPLETION OF THE INITIATIVES DESCRIBED ABOVE. ALL MEMBERS OF THESE COURSES AND WORKSHOPS ARE SERVED BY YWCA'S STAFF TO HELP IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE THEY NEED SUPPORT, SUCH AS HEALTH ISSUES, HOUSING REFERRALS, FOOD INSECURITY, AND OTHER CONCERNS THAT THREATEN TO TAKE THEIR FOCUS AWAY FROM COMPLETION. THE YWCA SUCCESS FUND PROVIDES EMERGENCY FUNDING PAID DIRECTLY TO THE CREDITOR, UTILITY, OR LANDLORD BEFORE ACCOUNTS ARE CLOSED OR PEOPLE ARE EVICTED. TOGETHER, THESE PROGRAMS EDUCATE AND SUPPORT ALL LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME PEOPLE, PRIMARILY WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN ALL ASPECTS OF FINANCIAL MATTERS, ASSISTING THEM IN DEVELOPING SOLID FINANCIAL PRACTICES THAT HELP THEM GROW, THRIVE, AND SUCCEED IN TODAY'S CHALLENGING ECONOMY.