What began as a pilot initiative for JEI, the Financial Opportunity program has proven to be a much needed resource for the community and has become a mainstay for the organization - anchored within the new Neighborhood Resource Hub (NRH).

Since its inception, our partnership with the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan’s (CEDAM) AmeriCorps Financial Program has allowed us to build an integrated financial education tools and knowledge based platform, second to none. Jacqueline Richmond joined JEI from CEDAM AmeriCorps, and over the past 4 years she has successfully assisted hundreds of residents with much needed financial counseling and resources. The program is supported by grants from organizations / foundations such as CEDAM, LISC, Wells Fargo, Chase Bank & others.

Utilizing budgeting workshops such as Know Where Your Money Goes, Credit Recovery & Building Credit Key Tools, supported with one-on-one financial counseling, Jacqueline has also been instrumental in helping over 500 Detroit residents to stay in their homes. She also assists residents with their property tax exemption applications (HPTAP); a service that contributes to JEI’s Housing & Neighborhood Services team remaining one of the highest performing intake centers in Detroit. 

We are proud to feature Jacqueline for this month’s Staff Spotlight! Her passion for financial education is apparent in her work with the community.  She provides an open door that allows individuals and families to be more comfortable taking control of their finances and to create a better financial future for themselves. Whether helping residents establish credit or repair their scores, she delights in teaching them how to build and maintain emergency funds, and how to track where their money goes. “People can achieve an element of financial freedom at any income level,” she shares. “It’s not an easy journey. They didn’t get into situations overnight, and they will not remedy them overnight. Financial freedom is a journey.” 

 As a long-time resident of the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood in Detroit, Jacqueline appreciates being a steward in the community she grew up in. Being able to personally impact the financial well-being of local residents through this program instills a heightened sense of pride for the work that she does. Jacqueline not only serves the community where she resides, she also supports the 5 neighborhoods of JEI’s service area, and other Detroit residents who request financial counseling.  

Annually, in collaboration with other community partners, Jacqueline plans and coordinates “Show Me The Money Day” (SMTMD), a statewide program that kicks off tax season and promotes access to free financial resources, workshops and services for low income families. Now in its 4th year of programming for JEI, SMTMD has also become a staple for the Financial Opportunity program.

 “Finance is 80% behavior and 20% education. I’ve learned a lot working at JEI. I love doing my job. I’ve always loved helping people. It warms my heart when someone tells me that they’ve accomplished their goals or that they are almost there,” Jacqueline shares.

“This is one of the reasons why I encourage people to celebrate the little steps forward, as well as the setbacks. Setbacks will always come, but when you are doing this work,  and accomplish saving as little as $20 a month, that’s something to celebrate. You don’t need hundreds of dollars to start saving for a better future”. 

 We are so thankful for Jacqueline and her generous spirit she shares with all of us here at Jefferson East. She is truly helping us make a difference in the Detroit community. To learn more about our Financial Opportunity program and services, please contact Jacqueline at (313) 314-2706 or via email at: jrichmond@jeffersoneast.org. 

“ I love doing my job. I’ve always loved helping people. It warms my heart when someone tells me that they’ve accomplished their goals or that they are almost there.” - Jacqueline Richmond