The Fledge and Astera Credit Union Forge a Groundbreaking Partnership to Foster Financial Literacy and Economic Empowerment

Martin Carter

In an ambitious bid to foster financial literacy, financial health and wellbeing and economic empowerment in Lansing, The Fledge, a radically inclusive ideation and maker space located at 1300 Eureka, has joined forces with Astera Credit Union, an innovator in the financial services sector with a rich history of empowering communities through financial education and the development of products and services that help consumers working towards their financial goals.

Newly Introduced Programs
Building on a shared vision of community enrichment and empowerment in a collaborative fight against poverty, the partnership has given rise to three pivotal programs, slated for immediate launch:

1. Financial Literacy Program: Primarily targeting individuals under the ALICE threshold, this program aspires to enhance understanding of personal and business finances, equipping individuals with the tools to manage their resources more efficiently.
2. LifeCents Financial Wellness App (Fledge cohort): This web-based, smartphone friendly initiative leverages gamification to facilitate personal finance self-learning. Providing educational modules which cover a broad spectrum of real-life financial topics, LifeCents teaches and encourages individuals to take firm steps towards securing a robust and independent financial future.
3. Dream Big - Micro Business Loan Program for Fledglings: Designed for startup founders collaborating with The Fledge, this program not only prepares them for securing a loan but instills a disciplined approach towards financial management, channeling the funds towards avenues that promise substantial revenue growth.

Launch Event
To mark the beginning of this partnership, a presentation of a $10,000 donation by Astera’s Senior Vice- President, Laura Blanding, to further The Fledge’s prosperity initiatives is scheduled for September 27 th at 11:30 AM at Astera Credit Union. A formal launch for the partnership will be held on October 4th , 2023, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Fledge. The event will feature enlightening talks by Jerry Norris of The Fledge and Martin Carter. Attendees will gain insights into the LifeCents App, the types of opportunity loans Astera offers, information about specialty savings accounts, and the structured financial literacy sessions planned for the future.

Martin Carter, President/CEO of Astera, when asked commented, “Over the past several years Astera has shifted more and more of our mission to focus on financially empowering our members and our communities. Credit Unions were founded with the purpose of “people helping people,” and that is still core to our values. There is nothing more important than being able to help people achieve financial independence. As part of that work, we’re committed to providing our underserved communities with equitable access to financial products and services, education, and literacy.”

Jerry Norris, the dynamo behind The Fledge, reflected on this partnership stating, “Astera Credit Union shares our vision of a community where every individual has the tools to achieve financial stability and realize their true potential. We are enthusiastic about the manifold opportunities this collaboration will unfold for the communities we serve, truly embodying our belief that ‘genius is lost in poverty.’

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