From time to time, we’ll be highlighting our wonderful community partners and the fantastic work they are doing in our community. Up first – our friends at Innovative Changes that we have partnered with to provide financial education and services to underserved populations.

Innovative Changes is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) loan fund providing financial education, small-dollar consumer loans, and access to credit building techniques and asset building opportunities. Located at nearby Lloyd Center, their mission is to help people build their longterm financial health, with a vision of a society where all people have access to safe, affordable financial products and services and the ability to use them well.

Innovative Changes works to advance economic justice for those disenfranchised and excluded by the mainstream financial services sector, as well as to celebrate the diverse cultures in our community through culturally responsive programming.

Founded in 2009 by Innovative Housing, Inc., a nonprofit affordable housing developer serving low- and moderate-income residents, Innovative Changes was born out of the realization that people of low income need access to financial education and services that help them achieve and maintain household financial stability. They specialize in building the financial capabilities of people of low income by combining financial education with products and services that enable people to experience real improvement in financial stability. For more information on this wonderful community partner, visit them online at innovativechanges.org.