Prosperity for All
West Lakes Resident, Raeven Charlemagne and daughter with Latricia Holt, a Prosperity Planner for the Financial Wellbeing Center
Financial wellbeing once considered a dream is now becoming a reality in West Lakes
In 2018, Lift Orlando and Goodwill Industries of Central Florida partnered to develop the West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center. Powered by Truist and additionally supported by the Fairwinds Foundation, The Financial Wellbeing has traditionally offered one-on-one financial counseling and financial literacy workshops. Serving more than 300 residents since its creation the Financial Wellbeing Center is a key partner in Lift Orlando’s economic viability strategy.
In 2021, Goodwill Industries of Central Florida embarked on a journey to provide more holistic financial planning and literacy services, recognizing that both career and educational successes combined with financial capital and asset building lead to better long-term financial viability and prosperity. The Prosperity Platform allows Goodwill coaches, called Prosperity Planners, to invest long-term into members looking to see a lasting impact in their financial outcomes. This subtle shift in philosophy and strategy has allowed Prosperity Planners to interact on a deeper relational level with members, who are now assured the Planner is paired with them for however long it takes to meet the goals they set for themselves.
West Lakes resident, Raeven Charlemagne, was new to the neighborhood and mother to a young daughter when she began receiving fliers announcing the opening of the West Lakes Early Learning Center (ELC). Upon enrolling her daughter in the ELC, learned about the Financial Wellbeing Center from the staff and was introduced to Latricia Holt, a Prosperity Planner for the Financial Wellbeing Center.
“I’m not leaving here! Living in West Lakes has made all of the difference for me.”
The Prosperity Platform begins with a dreams and goals conversation. During their first session together, Raeven shared with Latricia her desires to identify and decrease her debt, return to school to become a pastry chef, and maybe one day own her own home in the neighborhood. Together, Raeven and Latricia got to work. They developed a plan to begin paying down Raeven’s debt. Latricia utilized her contacts at Valencia College, a member of the Prosperity Platform’s Active Referral Network, to guide Raeven in applying for and securing a place in Valencia’s Culinary program. They are now working together to secure grant funding that will ensure Raeven remains debt free as she earns her degree. They have developed a savings plan that allows Raeven to begin saving for her future dream home in West Lakes. Because in Raeven’s words, “I’m not leaving here! Living in West Lakes has made all of the difference for me. This neighborhood is how a community is supposed to be. When I came here, I met a family.”
West Lakes Resident, Raeven Charlemagne and daughter with Latricia Holt, a Prosperity Planner for the Financial Wellbeing Center
Latricia is a vital part of that neighborhood family for Raeven and her now 3-year-old daughter, Taejah. The fact that Raeven knew Latricia was there for every step of her journey to financial prosperity, no matter how many goals she chooses to set or how long it takes, gives Raeven the confidence in knowing she has the support and counsel she needs to make all her dreams come true. The Prosperity Plan gives Raeven and Latricia the capacity to develop a trusting relationship and gives Raeven the confidence to know she has the support to make all her dreams come true! Raeven’s successes are her own, but Latricia is running alongside her cheering her on with every step of the journey.
“Most of the residents I meet in this work know exactly what they want. They just needed the encouragement and support we have been able to provide. That’s what I’m here for,” says Latricia. She has loved the longer-term relationships she has been able to foster through the new model and beams with pride with every story she tells of member successes and wins.
The West Lakes Financial Wellbeing Center is a critical partner in supporting the wealth and wellbeing of the residents of West Lakes and a key component in the long-term economic viability strategy of Lift Orlando.
Learn more about Lift Orlando’s work in The Communities of West Lakes and all of the exciting events and milestones happening last year in West Lakes by reading the 2021 Annual Report!