Our participants are at the very heart of who we are and what we do at Working Credit. Today, we’re spotlighting Michael Givens and celebrating his ongoing credit-building journey. He came to Working Credit by way of Boston Builds Credit, one of our partner organizations.
Michael remembers learning about Working Credit a few years ago, “I was initially struck by the fact that it is a free service, and also that it is a year-long program that gives you access to a credit specialist.”
Michael has been working with his counselor, Derison, for a year, and his credit score has increased by over 70 points! “It’s been a wonderful experience! I never felt judged by Derison; I always felt a sense of, we’re in this together. Like, I may have made [credit] mistakes in my past, but now I have a partner to help me. He is knowledgeable and explains things in a way that makes sense. I feel confident in Derison, and that confidence has grown with each session,” he beams.
When Michael relocated from Boston to Washington, DC, he realized just how vital credit can be. “Good credit was one of the things that was key in terms of applying for an apartment. “So much of our worthiness, unfortunately, is tied to our credit score in this society,” Michael lamented.
Like many of us, Michael didn’t learn about building credit as a young person. Sometimes, he’d get nuggets of wisdom from his mom, but mostly, he learned by finding out the hard way and making mistakes. Michael admits, “When I grew up, things like [building] credit weren’t taught in school. No one taught us how to balance a checkbook, manage a credit card, or even the difference between a checking account and a savings account. Working Credit provides a service that is just so vital to people of all age ranges to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge they need to help them build good credit and maintain good credit.”
