Our Programs

1. Veteran Career Transition & Mentorship Program

What it is: A 12-week cohort-based initiative pairing recently transitioned veterans with industry mentors.
Key Activities:

  • Weekly workshops on resume building, interview skills, and LinkedIn branding

  • One-on-one mentorship sessions with corporate and small-business leaders

  • Hiring fairs exclusive to program graduates

  • Objectives: 80% job-placement rate within six months; strengthened corporate-veteran partnerships.

2. Skills Accelerator Bootcamps for Veterans

What it is: Short, intensive training tracks (4–6 weeks) in hard and soft skills: Adaptability & Resilience, Empathetic Communication, Strategic Collaboration.

Key Activities:

  • Change Simulation Exercises

  • Resilience Journaling & Coaching

  • Stakeholder Alignment Workshops

  • Objectives: Accelerated earning potential; bridge programs into high-growth sectors.

3. Community Financial Literacy Workshop Series

What it is: Free, monthly workshops hosted at neighborhood centers across Chicago’s South Side.
Key Activities:

  • “Money Basics” modules: budgeting, credit scores, debt management

  • “Own Your Future” sessions: home-buying, small-business startup, retirement planning

  • Local partner booths offering one-on-one counseling

  • Objectives: Serve 500+ residents annually with 40% reporting improved credit scores within a year.

4. Financial Education Ambassador Program

What it is: A “train-the-trainer” model to certify community volunteers as peer educators.
Key Activities:

  • 3-day certification retreat covering adult learning methods and financial curricula

  • Ongoing support calls and a digital resource library

  • Micro-grants to Ambassadors to host local events

  • Objectives: Creates sustainable, grassroots delivery of financial education in 10+ neighborhoods.

5. Veteran Entrepreneurship & Micro-Grant Fund

What it is: Seed grants ($2K–$5K) and pro-bono consulting for veteran-led startups.
Key Activities:

  • Quarterly pitch competitions judged by local investors

  • Legal, accounting, and marketing clinic days

  • Alumni network for peer support and co-working space access

  • Objectives: 30 new veteran-owned ventures launched; 70% remain active after two years.

6. Youth Financial Empowerment Summer Camps

What it is: Two-week day camps for high-school students in underserved areas.
Key Activities:

  • Interactive games on saving and investing

  • Field trips to banks, credit unions, and real-estate sites

  • Capstone “Shark-Tank” style presentations with faux budgets

  • Objectives: Fosters early financial confidence; 90% of campers express intent to save regularly.

WE CAN ALWAYS DO A LITTLE MORE