Starting Over and Staying Committed
Everyone's financial journey is different.
For some, it's the dream of owning a home. For others, it's improving their credit, paying down debt, building savings, or simply gaining confidence in their ability to manage their money. No matter the goal, the path forward often begins with a single decision: to invest in yourself and your future.
The Financial Literacy And Matched Earnings (FLAME) program was created to help people take that next step. Through 10 months of matched savings and one-on-one financial coaching, participants work toward their goals while building the knowledge, habits, and confidence needed for long-term financial success. Along the way, participants save $60 each month and receive a 3-to-1 match on their savings, earning up to $2,400 to help support their next financial milestone.
But FLAME is about more than dollars and cents. It's about perseverance. It's about overcoming obstacles, celebrating progress, and discovering what's possible when determination is met with support and opportunity.
The story you're about to read is one example of that journey.
Meet Sojourney.
When Sojourney joined the FLAME program, she was in the middle of rebuilding.
Originally from Milwaukee, she had spent time living in Arizona, hoping for new opportunities and more stable work. But things didn’t unfold the way she had hoped, and eventually she made the decision to return home and start again.
Like many people trying to regain financial footing, the transition wasn’t easy.
When she came back to Milwaukee, Sojourney worked hard to piece things together — taking on gig work, driving for Uber, and doing whatever she could to stay afloat while searching for stable employment. Eventually, she secured a position with a local school bus company, which provided more consistency, though seasonal work still brought financial challenges.
At the same time, she was trying to find affordable housing, manage bills that had fallen behind, and create stability for herself and her 10-year-old daughter.
Despite everything she was carrying, Sojourney showed up to the FLAME program prepared, honest, and determined to create something better for herself and her child.
At her very first meeting, she arrived organized and ready to face her situation head-on. “She laid everything out,” her coach, Terina, shared. “There was no pretending. She knew exactly where she stood financially, and she was ready to work on it.”
Still, opening up about finances wasn’t easy.
Like many participants, Sojourney initially worried about being judged because of her credit and financial struggles. But one of the biggest turning points in the program was realizing she didn’t have to navigate those challenges alone.
“There’s no judgment here,” Terina reassured her. “Life happens. We’re just here to work through it together.”
That support made a difference.
Throughout the program, Sojourney stayed engaged, communicated openly, and consistently followed through on the goals and action steps she set with her coach. Whether it was asking questions, checking in about financial decisions, or working through setbacks, she stayed committed to the process.
And there were setbacks.
After finally paying off her vehicle, Sojourney was involved in a car accident that left the car totaled. While insurance covered the balance of the loan, it didn’t solve the challenge of needing reliable transportation moving forward.
Even through that disruption, she continued making her FLAME deposits every month. “She never stopped trying,” Terina said. “Even when things came up, she stayed focused on moving forward.”
Through budgeting, financial coaching, and additional support resources, Sojourney was able to bring several collections current and improve her credit score from 530 to 603 — a major step toward rebuilding her financial future.
She also began developing stronger savings habits, using extra income from gig work to build emergency savings whenever possible. More importantly, she became increasingly intentional about balancing responsibilities, everyday expenses, and personal spending.
The program also gave her something less measurable, but equally important: confidence.
Having someone walk alongside her — offering accountability, guidance, and encouragement — helped reinforce that financial setbacks do not define a person’s worth or future.
What stands out most about Sojourney’s story is her resilience.
As a single mother, she continued pushing forward through uncertainty, employment changes, transportation challenges, and the everyday pressure of trying to build stability while caring for someone else at the same time. Even during difficult moments, she remained focused on creating a better future for herself and her daughter.
Today, Sojourney is continuing to build toward greater stability for her family. She plans to use her FLAME funds, along with remaining insurance funds, to purchase another vehicle so she can continue working, rebuilding savings, and creating new opportunities.
Her story is not about instant success or a perfect financial journey.
It’s about resilience, honesty, hard work, and continuing to move forward even when life becomes unpredictable.
Through every obstacle, Sojourney kept showing up — for herself, for her daughter, and for the future she’s working hard to build.