Springboard To Opportunities

TO CONNECT FAMILIES LIVING IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH RESOURCES TO HELP THEIR SCHOOL, WORK & LIFE.

CREATING NEW NARRATIVES:IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION SET A GOAL TO CHANGE THE HARMFUL NARRATIVES THAT SURROUND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, AND PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN, BY CHANGING THE NARRATOR. THIS PAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERED MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN EVER FOR FAMILIES TO SHARE THEIR OWN STORIES. 14 MOTHERS SHARED THEIR STORIES AS FRONT & CENTER COLUMNS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MS. MAGAZINE, 5 RESIDENTS PROVIDED VIDEO STORIES THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S NEW DIGITAL STORYTELLING SERIES, AND 3 WOMEN PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST STORYTELLING NIGHT FEATURING MELISSA HARRIS-PERRY.THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE VOICES OF MOTHERS WERE FEATURED IN POLICY BRIEFS, NEWS ARTICLES, AND WHITE PAPERS WITH NBC, NPR, PBS, CNBC, THE NEW REPUBLIC, NEXTCITY, THE 19TH, THE ASPEN INSTITUTE, THE INSIGHT CENTER, AND OTHERS SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH GUARANTEED INCOME, THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, AND ACCESSING SOCIAL SAFETY NET BENEFITS.THE MAGNOLIA MOTHER'S TRUST:THE SECOND COHORT OF THE MAGNOLIA MOTHER'S TRUST, THE ORGANIZATION'S GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM PROVIDING $1,000/MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS TO BLACK MOTHERS, WRAPPED UP IN MARCH 2021. THIS COHORT INCLUDED 110 MOTHERS AND OVER THE COURSE OF 12 MONTHS...- THE ABILITY OF MOTHERS TO PAY ALL THEIR BILLS ON TIME INCREASED FROM 27% TO 83%.- THE PERCENTAGE OF MOTHERS WHO HAD MONEY SAVED FOR EMERGENCIES INCREASED FROM 40% TO 88%.- MOTHERS REPORTED AN INCREASE FROM 64% TO 81% IN THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR FOOD. BUT BEYOND THE NUMBERS WERE INCREDIBLE STORIES OF HOPE, EMPOWERMENT, AND AGENCY. SPRINGBOARD TO OPPORTUNITIES' FULL EVALUATION REPORT IS AVAILABLE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. A THIRD COHORT OF 100 MOTHERS BEGAN IN APRIL 2021 AND RAN THROUGH MARCH 2022.RESPONDING IN CRISIS:- PROVIDED 114 COVID-19 VACCINES AT ON-SITE CLINICS- DISTRIBUTED 2,126 VACCINE EDUCATION MATERIALS- DELIVERED 6,290 MEALS AND 646 CASES OF WATER DURING THE JACKSON WATER CRISIS IN EARLY 2021- GAVE OUT 1,166 BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLY SETS TO STUDENTS RETURNING TO IN-PERSON LEARNINGBUILDING ECONOMIC JUSTICE:- $1,075,00 OF UNRESTRICTED CASH WAS DISBURSED DIRECTLY TO RESIDENTS.- 180 NEW 529 SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WERE OPENDED AND SEEDED BY THE ORGANIZATION.- 1,537 INSTANCES OF CHILD TAX CREDIT OUTREACH TO FAMILIES INCLUDING SUPPRT SIGNING UP IN THE NON-FILER PORTAL, CORRECTING MYTHS AND MISINFORMATION, AND TROUBLESHOOTING ISSUES WITH RECEIVING PAYMENTS.OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:- 4,930 PARTICIPANTS IN THE SPRINGBOARD TO OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAMMING- 6,419 INSTANCES OF STAFF SUPPORTING RESIDENTS WITH HOUSING STABILITY- 1,133 ITEMS DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS FROM COMMUNITY CARE CLOSETS- 12,363 MEALS OR FOOD BOXES DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS IN COMMUNITIES