Our impact extended nationally when we were selected to lead a workshop at the Coalition for Juvenile Justice’s Youth Justice in Action Conference. During our session, Money Talks: Investing in Youth informed and Justice-informed Financial Literacy Education, we engaged advocates and practitioners from across the country in meaningful dialogue about the importance of financial education that acknowledges trauma, disrupted financial histories, and systemic exclusion. This moment affirmed that the need for justice-informed financial literacy is not isolated; it is widespread and urgent.

Direct outreach has remained central to our mission. Over the course of the year, we donated more than 300 financial literacy worksheets and educational booklets at reentry and resource fairs throughout northern and central Ohio. These materials placed practical information directly into the hands of justice-involved individuals, offering guidance on budgeting, credit, banking, and long-term financial planning at a critical point in their reentry journey.

Education and access also guided our digital outreach. Beginning in September 2025, we launched our monthly email newsletter as a way to share timely, relevant information related to reentry and financial literacy. Through 4 newsletters, we provided encouragement, resources, and education to individuals and organizations committed to supporting returning citizens. In December 2025, we led our 1st public webinar, Stewardship Simplified: What is Credit?, creating a virtual learning space where participants could ask questions, build understanding, and gain confidence around a topic that often feels intimidating or inaccessible. Building on this momentum, we plan to offer webinars quarterly in 2026.

Each of these milestones represents more than growth for our organization; they represent moments of access, dignity, and empowerment for justice-involved individuals. Our impact is measured not only in events attended or materials distributed, but in the belief that returning citizens deserve financial education that recognizes their resilience and supports their ability to build stable, thriving futures.