A YEAR IN REVIEW
A look back on 2005
Economic Empowerment Projects:
IDA’s
C.A.S.H. Courses
EITC
Poverty Simulation
Regional Career Ladders
Individual Development Accounts (IDA’s): The Individual Development Account program works when individuals who meet income guidelines deposit earned income dollars into an account. The money saved is then matched by federal and local money up to $1,000. The funds in these accounts can then be used for a down payment and/or closing costs on a first-time buyer’s house. The Iowans Save program also offers financial planning services, such as Dollars and Sense Money Management and Homeownership Counseling.
In 2005, 10 families saved $53,750 in 5 months. This project was a collaborative effort.
Financial Education-Free Community Education: CASH Course is a free financial education course that is designed to educate individuals on how to manage money. The classes are held every Tuesday night of each month. Topics include: First Tuesdays: Money Management, Second Tuesdays: Credit Issues, Third Tuesdays: Identity Theft, Fourth Tuesdays: Homebuyers Education. Our goal was to have an average of 15 participants each week. Thus far we are averaging 4-8 participants. A large marketing effort is underway; specifically we are reaching out to faith institutions and businesses to offer “teaser” classes in order to draw participants to Tuesday nights.
In 2006, we believe we will see increased enrollments with the addition of the new bankruptcy legislation that requires financial education.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): In collaboration with ISU Extension, the Opportunity Works and Cedar Valley's Promise Economic Empowerment Task Team worked to increase awareness of the earned income tax credit available to individuals. Free income tax assistance was also provided.
2005’s Earned Income Tax Campaign
- Total Federal Refunds: $28,450 (23 returns)
- Total EITC: $15,394 (14 returns)
- Total State Refunds: $2231 (19 returns)
- Income: Adjusted Gross Income Average; $12,545
- 15 of the returns had 0 taxable income
Poverty Simulation: In September, 2005, the ISU extension, Opportunity Works, and the Community Action Agency hosted a workshop that simulated the life of low-income individuals over a 1 month period. The goal was to increase awareness. In its first year, the workshop gained 103 participants, not including staff and observers that were present.
Regional Career Ladders: The Economic Empowerment Task Team, including two Iowa Workforce Development representatives, has made good head way on developing a partnership between two food processors and the Iowa Workforce Development. More partnerships are being explored.
Health Task Team
Moms off Meth (MOM): This free support group is designed to provide a safe place for any woman struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. There are currently support groups in Waterloo, Grundy Center and Oelwein. The goal of the group is not only to be a place of safe discussion, but also for facilitating and training participants to help others. The project took off in 2005 and will continue to grow in 2006.
Education Task Team
Early Childhood Advocacy
-Pre-K Forum
-Legislative Visits
Decreasing the Minority Achievement Gap
Early Childhood Education (ECE): In collaboration with Cedar Valley’s Promise, Opportunity Works has worked to create awareness on the current situation in Iowa’s early childhood education and care policies.
In November of 2005, a Pre-K Forum about the importance of pre-kindergarten was broadcasted from Hawkeye Community College. Among the 25 people that participated, Representative Don Shoultz and Senator Bill Dotzler were also present to share their ideas. Opportunity Works, Cedar Valley’s Promise and Every Child Counts hosted the Forum. Legislators Visit Child Care Centers: Child Care centers in Black Hawk, Bremer and Grundy Counties provided personal tours for area legislators. During the tours, Early Childhood Education advocates had the opportunity to share their views and questions. Advocates included business leaders, community leaders and parents. They helped raise policy makers’ awareness on the importance of quality ECE. Legislators participating in the visits included Sen. Bob Brunkhorst, Sen. Jeff Danielson, Rep. Lance Horbach Rep. Bob Kressig and Rep. Don Shoultz. To learn more about future advocacy projects contact morgan@opportunityworksiowa.org
Entrepreneurship Development: Staff members of Opportunity Works have been working to increase a partnership with UNI through promoting presentations on campus and working toward making an Entrepreneurship certificate.
An example of a project that is underway is Making Place Matter.
Improving Minority Achievement: Opportunity Works, UNI and Waterloo Schools are working together in the recruiting and training of UNI faculty, staff and students to work with at-risk youth. The name of the project is Making Place Matter. This is a cross-campus stakeholder group of faculty and staff committed to working to reduce poverty, specifically by finding ways to assist the Waterloo Community School’s efforts to improve minority achievement.
Funding: Our goal is to increase funds for economic empowerment activities by supporting the development of grant applications. Opportunity Works received $900 from JDCCU, now Veridian, to support financial education classes. Recently, ISU Extension, partnering with Opportunity Works, has applied for $8,000 in funds for the Earned Income Tax. In the next month, applications will also be submitted to several local financial institutions to support the financial education courses. Thus far, the economic empowerment task team has also been active in seeking funding from the Opportunity Works’ mini-grant fund.
Next Steps:
In addition to the success above we have one change to report. Lori Kirchgatter, the MA student who was assisting with the above activities has decided to pursuer other opportunities and is no longer working with Opportunity Works. A new student, Brooke Adams, has joined the staff.
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