When I look back on my journey with WANDA, there is a stark difference between the Maribel I was before and the Maribel I’ve become with the help of WANDA’s partnerships and programming. WANDA showed me how to step outside of my comfort zone to go after opportunities I did not think were possible for someone like me.
As a lover of serving my community, it is very important to me to join spaces where I can learn and expand my skills to help others; I make it a priority to be a part of programs that empower women and our passions. It was at one of these programs that the cohort leader, Blanca Medina, introduced me to WANDA.
Even though I had prior knowledge of some of the topics WANDA taught, the most impactful part of the experience was connecting with single mothers to share our doubts, fears, and wins with each other. There is power in not having to go through struggles on your own and having a program that provides you with resources and advice to find a solution together.
Being in such an amazing cohort of WANDA women striving to do better for themselves gave me the power and confidence to keep trying, even when I had failed in the past. That confidence was life-altering, helping me believe in myself, save money, and learn how to build a business. With the knowledge and resources I was given, my life changed for the better.
By the end of the program, I had reached my savings goals, received my matching grants, and then used those funds to purchase a home. What seemed like an impossible dream became an incredible accomplishment because of WANDA.
Now that I’ve reached a place where I feel comfortable with my money management skills, I am able to use my story to inspire others and showcase how this newfound confidence has allowed me to pursue dreams I never thought I could achieve.
Through the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, one of WANDA’s partners, I received guidance and ongoing support to successfully open up my own business. Today, I own a daycare where children feel safe, loved, and respected, and I am able to continue giving back to the community that has given me so much to me.
Since graduating from WANDA, I was named Entrepreneur of the Year byThe Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and was given the opportunity to return and speak to current WANDA moms, which has been very rewarding. I find joy in helping others and sharing what I’ve learned from my experiences so that they, too, may grow and learn from it.
I hope that by sharing my journey and accomplishments with other single mothers and my children, they feel compelled to begin their saving journeys now. If I could reach my level of success and growth by just starting in the last five years, imagine what they could accomplish if they had those tools and resources to start their financial journeys young.
It can be difficult to know where and how to start to achieve success and financial freedom, but WANDA gives you the resources and guidance to change your life. They’ve given me the support, confidence, and the chance to leave my comfort zone and lean into the best version of myself. One where I can help others in my community reach their full potential, too.