When I joined WANDA, I was making a business decision that I felt supported my goals. As a single mother already managing my finances independently, I understood how to budget, build my credit, and plan ahead. I didn’t need to start from scratch, but I did want to be intentional about building long-term financial stability for myself and my child. I saw WANDA as a powerful way to support that next chapter.
Earlier in life, I faced significant challenges, including substance abuse and homelessness. When I learned I was pregnant with my child, I made the decision to rebuild my life before he arrived, which required me to get clear about exactly what I wanted, ask for help, and change just about everything. I eventually went on to earn a graduate degree from Stanford, build a stable financial foundation, and today I’m happily married and continuing to grow both personally and professionally. WANDA entered my life during the period of time when I was rebuilding my life, and helped reinforce that I was making the right choices for my future.
What stood out to me most about WANDA wasn’t necessarily the community aspect- it was the validation. The program affirmed the choices I was already making: returning to school, building assets, and investing in my future. It reinforced that I was on the right path and gave me access to tools and insights that helped me refine my goals and stay focused.
Barbara Tyler, one of the longtime facilitators at WANDA, had a significant impact on me. We volunteered together teaching wellness and goal-setting workshops to incarcerated women in the local jail, which was a powerful experience that deepened my belief in second chances and the importance of giving back. Barbara’s guidance through WANDA echoed the same values we carried into our volunteer work: hope, support, accountability, and the belief that every woman has the power to rewrite her story.
Inspired by Barbara and the mission of WANDA, I now lead the Goal Setting workshop series she once facilitated. It’s a role that brings together many parts of my journey, including my commitment to service, my belief in the importance of financial empowerment, and my desire to help other women access the same clarity and confidence that WANDA helped reinforce in me.
I’m deeply grateful for the support systems that have helped me along the way: family, scholarships, financial aid, and programs like WANDA. WANDA meets women at all stages of their financial journeys, and for me, it served as a meaningful affirmation that I was heading in the right direction. It also reminded me that we all have something to give back and that service is an essential part of creating stronger communities.
WANDA isn’t one-size-fits-all. For some, it’s a foundation. For others, like me, it’s a catalyst. But for everyone, it’s an opportunity to grow, to give, and to step more fully into a life of purpose.