Port Jobs staff
	Rene Taylor meets with a car owner in the Financial Mentoring Program.

When she began to receive better-paying job offers, Khamala found it too difficult to pursue them without a car. 

Enter Working Wheels, a local car ownership program operated by Fremont Public Association and designed by Port Jobs. 

Khamala heard about Working Wheels through a local Work-Source Center, and thought she might be able to purchase a car to help her move to a better job.

Mentoring offers stability 

While applying to buy a car, Khamala was invited to participate in the Financial Mentoring Program, a new service offered by Port Jobs to help Working Wheels car owners meet their financial goals. Curious, she called to find out more. “The flyer asked if I wanted to feel more financially stable. That is what I wanted,” Khamala recalls. 

The Financial Mentoring Program gives car owners the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about money, using credit, accessing financial services, and planning for their family’s futures. 

“We are excited to offer Working Wheels car owners an extra hand in managing their money and getting ahead,” says Susan Crane, Port Jobs’ Executive Director. 

Personal attention means individual assistance

Participants work one-on-one with Renée Taylor, an employment specialist with Pacific Associates, a local employment and training provider. 

Taylor helps clients figure out where they are financially, where they want to be and how to get there. Some participants also receive employment and training assistance through Pacific Associates - from reworking resumes to finding a new job.

“Pacific Associates has a long history of providing excellent case management and employment services,” says Crane. “They’re helping us test, learn and improve the program. We’re thrilled to be working with Renée.”

With support from the National Endowment for Financial Education®, Port Jobs created an assessment process to determine where there are opportunities for learning. Taylor conducts a 45-minute intake session with clients to learn more about their financial habits.

Later, participants take a short quiz that covers topics such as credit reporting and car insurance. The intake and quiz are used to develop an action plan tailored to each client’s needs. 

Participants see immediate benefits

About twenty car owners have participated in the pilot program since its start in March. 

Says one participant, “The Financial Mentoring Program has got me thinking. I’m an impulse buyer, especially at grocery stores. Now I think ‘do I need this?’ before I buy.”

For her part, Khamala has been rolling ever since purchasing her car from Working Wheels and starting the Financial Mentoring program. She has started a second job, and she’s planning to go to school to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. 

“I’ve opened a savings account, and I’ve helped my sister go to college in Kenya,” she says. 

Expansion ahead

Port Jobs plans to launch a financial mentoring website in 2004. “We want to share what we’ve developed with organizations serving low-income populations,” says Crane. The site will have training modules and other resources, including a case manager training manual. 
For more information, contact Stephanie Kellner at Port Jobs (206-728-3883).