Our mission keeps us

on a steady course!

A New LeafHelping Families, Changing Lives

• Behavioral Health Agency since 1971– Primary focus areas

• Homeless and Domestic Violence Shelters• Residential Treatment for Youth• Outpatient Community Counseling

• Merged with Community Action Program in 2006

• Emergency Shelter• Emergency CAP services• IDA program• VITA site

Mesa Community Action Network

• Services the third largest city in the state

• 300-450 families served/month• Home to MariSol Federal Credit Union

Branch since 2005• Home to Maricopa County WIC and

Immunization services since 2008

MariSol Federal Credit Union • Began as Maricopa County Employees

Federal Credit Union in 1954• Changed name to MariSol FCU in 2003• MFCU purpose

• …To deliver savings, solutions and service to its membership.

• MCFU Mission• …To deliver high quality member services that meet the financial

needs of our members while maintaining a strong financial condition. As a financial cooperative, we leverage our members' resources to directly benefit them and the communities in which they live. MariSol Federal Credit Union is committed to financial inclusion and empowerment by expanding access to affordable and equitable financial services for all.

MariSol/Mesa CAN partnership

• Opened their 3rd Branch in our lobby in 2005– Our zip code is home to the most low-income

people in the county

• Became a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2010– Strive to provide products as an alternative to

payday lending– Cater to low income, unbanked and under-banked

(Will make $25 first deposit for customers)– Microenterprise initiative

• Services for ANL employees and clients

Partnership (cont.)

• MariSol CEO serves on our Tripartite Board (since 2008)

• MariSol has hosted resource fairs for our shared clients at Mesa CAN.

• In 2008 and 2012, MariSol board provided non-federal match dollars for our IDA grants.

• MariSol houses our IDA customer accounts and assists with IDA customer mortgages.

• MariSol provides our financial literacy classes free of charge to our clients.

Mesa CAN:

• Started the IDA program and from 2000-2005 received 5 subsequent AFI grants

• Merged with A New Leaf -2006

• Little IDA activity at time of merger-30 total participants, most for home ownership

• Began focusing on education IDAs to improve college attendance/graduation rates in Mesa.

Mesa Community College/Mesa CAN partnership

Partnership (cont.)

Mesa Community College:

• Is the largest community college in the state

• Has four separate campuses (2 in Mesa)

• Serves many low-income students

• Began looking at ways to serve more students and improve associate degree or certificate completion

PROGRAM…

What is an Education IDA?

It is an OPPORTUNITY for a low to moderate

income student to save their earned income and have it

matched thoughFederal and private funding.

Logistics

• A New Leaf had over one million dollars in AFI grant dollars that weren’t being utilized.

• Began discussions with Mesa United Way and Mesa Community College regarding potential partners to assist us in leveraging funds.

• In summer of 2008entered partnership with all 3 entities to create Fast Tracking the Dream

Logistics (cont.)

• All 3 partners engaged in funding requests with other Mesa stakeholders– Banks, foundations, non-profits

• Close to 180 participants and over 60 graduates

• Main premises:– Low-income are disadvantaged and need access

to post-secondary education– Reduced private and government grant aid

available – Increased cost of higher education resulting in

staggering debt that a typical student will acquire

Recent Successes

Fast Tracking The Dream Press Conference

All partners will promote:

• Operational Support• Program Awareness • Recruitment of Students• Acquiring non-federal match• Successfully acquiring future Assets for Independence Grants (AFI)

Thank you!

Questions??

Kathy Di NolfiExecutive Director

Mesa Community Action NetworkA New Leaf

480-833-9200 X 3404kdinolfi@turnanewleaf.org