Opportunity Alliance Nevada

To build financial stability for all Nevadans

New Merger to Create Financial Stability in Nevada

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Click Here to Download Press Release

November 15, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lynda Hascheff, Opportunity Alliance Nevada, 775-771-7592, Lynda@opportunityalliancenv.org

Opportunity Alliance Nevada & Bridges to a Thriving Nevada Unite!

Working together to create financial stability in Nevada!

Reno, Nevada: Opportunity Alliance Nevada (OA-NV) has merged with Bridges to a Thriving Nevada, effective June 2019.

“We are thrilled with the capabilities of the newly formed organization,” says David Crumbley, OA-NV VP & Co-Chair. “Additionally, we are very grateful to Reno Central Rotary Club and the Food Bank of Northern Nevada who graciously helped guide us through this transition.”

Regarding her experience with OA-NV, Liliana Wilbert of Northern Nevada HOPES and an OA-NV Board Member says, “Working with OA-NV has given me the training, technical support and connections to the resources I need to feel confident about the services I provide for my clients.  Additionally, OA-NV is my connection to the field at a national level and provides the most current information on policies and newest resources necessary to drive my program forward.”

As a result of this merger, OA-NV is pleased to announce a new Suite of Programs designed to assist Nevada employers in reducing costly employee turnover by providing financial capability learning opportunities to their employees. The Suite of Programs also includes tools and resources to increase individual self-sufficiency and financial stability in Nevada.

For example, employees will be eligible to receive financial coaching through programs like our Coaches Network, EARN SaverLife and Your Money Your Goals. Additional training includes the full spectrum of the Bridges Out of Poverty offerings like Getting Ahead, Microloans and Wheels2Work.

The Suite of Programs helps create more sustainable communities through the recent merger of OA-NV and Bridges to a Thriving Nevada, now operating under the Opportunity Alliance Nevada name.

Employers and all interested parties are encouraged to take advantage of this OA-NV Suite of Programs. For additional information, contact Lynda Hascheff at 775-771-7592 or visit OpportunityAllianceNV.org.

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Opportunity Alliance Nevada’s Board of Directors:

  • Nancy Brown, President, Co-Board Chair, Charles Schwab Bank
  • David Crumbley, Vice President & Co-Board Chair, CVirtual, Inc.*
  • Miki Allard, formerly with State of Nevada
  • Ta-Tiana Anderson-Hall, Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
  • Kellie George, Certified Human Behavior Consultant & Leadership Speaker & Trainer
  • Eric Hollen, Treasurer, Open Window Financial Solutions, Ltd.
  • Cherie Jameson, Food Bank of Northern Nevada
  • Leanna Jenkins, Nevada Women’s Business Center
  • Lisa-Marie Lightfoot, Washoe County School District
  • Jessica Price, Nursing Student, Getting Ahead Graduate
  • Sidney Sullivan, Truckee Meadows Community College
  • Brandon Thompson, World Financial Group
  • Tracy Turner, Philanthropic Advisor
  • Dian VanderWell, Northern Nevada Building Trades
  • Liliana Wilbert, Northern Nevada HOPES

Nevada Scorecard 2019

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Millions of U.S. Families Face Economic Uncertainty Despite Reports of a “Healthy Economy”

New Research Shows Exacerbated Vulnerability Along Racial Lines at State Level

Click Here for Nevada Scorecard 2019 | Click Here for Key Findings of 2019 Scorecard

Nevada Profile 2019 (click image to download)

Washington, D.C. – Despite headlines touting America’s booming economy, the reality is that millions in the US are living in financial uncertainty. According to new research from Prosperity Now (formerly CFED), an alarming number of families don’t have the resources to withstand an economic downturn, which many analysts predict is around the corner.

The 2019 Prosperity Now Scorecard shows that millions of families are either struggling to make ends meet, or are just one emergency away from a financial disaster. Forty percent of American households lack a basic level of savings. According to the Scorecard data, these “liquid asset poor” households don’t even have enough savings to live at the poverty level for three months if their income was interrupted. The data is even worse for people of color with nearly 57% of households of color being liquid asset poor.

For the first time, the 2019 Scorecard includes ranks the states on racial disparities—the gaps in 26 outcome measures between White residents and residents of color—and factors this into a state’s overall performance. Prosperity Now is increasing its focus on racial economic inequality because, as the data illustrates, structural inequality in the United States means that race and ethnicity have an outsized impact on economic well-being. Black, Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people fare worse across all Scorecard outcomes and issues.

Key Findings (click image to download)

“Even where there have been some gains, the gaps between White households and households of color have persisted or widened. It was time to be explicit about the impact race has on economic outcomes and to center race in our conversations about solutions,” said Kasey Wiedrich, Prosperity Now Director of Applied Research. “If this inequity is the reality during a ‘booming’ economy, how will households of color fare when the next economic downturn hits?”

The Scorecard also examines the policy choices of lawmakers at all levels of government.
Additionally, it illustrates how those choices affect the ability of households—especially households of color and those with limited income—to create a more prosperous future. The Scorecard recommends policies that first and foremost serve the individuals and families whose lives they intend to improve while also building economic strength and resiliency in the broader communities in which we live together.

University of Nevada Reno Makes Top 50 List

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LendEDU just released its annual Top 50 Financial Aid Counseling Programs report. The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) made the list! After analyzing more than 1,000 colleges and universities based on LendEDU’s unique scoring system, UNR earned a spot in the top 50 at #18!

Check out the full report here: https://lendedu.com/blog/top-50-colleges-financial-aid-programs/

In just the last year, Nevada Money Mentors at UNR provided:

  • over 135 financial coaching appointments with students,
  • more than 30 community outreach events,
  • 65+ workshops and tabling events on campus, and
  • support from 35+ departments on campus.

Nevada Money Mentors impacted the financial lives of 2,450 students at UNR! Looking forward, we have established a community partner buy-in helping the program become self-sustaining in years to come. Like most new programs we had a few obstacles, but with our continued growth, we are confident that in 2018 Nevada Money Mentors will be a “household name.”

The Nevada Money Mentor Program had a pivotal year. Starting in early 2017, we focused on re-branding into a unique and personalized financial literacy program for Nevada students. We enhanced the financial coaching program by facilitating more one-on-one sessions with students than ever before. For the first time, we captured data supporting the importance, that as a university, we should continue to offer money savvy resources to help our students achieve financial success. With these improvements we are bridging gaps, motivating change, and improving the confidence in our students’ lives as a whole, as we have already seen through some mentee testimonials:

“I feel more confident in my money handling abilities and being able to stay on track”

“I am less worried and feeling more confident on the direction I am going especially after I graduate”

”I set up a savings plan, am paying off my debt, and I made a budget for my current situation and future situation”

Click Here for Fall 2019 Newsletter