This story is part of a series that spotlights our employees here at GreenPath. The stories give a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how our team makes an impact by helping people improve their financial wellness. Today’s story is about Deb Green, bilingual Financial Wellness Expert.
Deb Green, based in GreenPath’s San Antonio office, has a passion for connecting people to practical information about what it takes to become financially healthy.
To bring that passion to the work she does each day, Deb draws upon experiences that have inspired her along the way.
“It’s important for me to provide education to my community – whether it was when I tutored kids in an after-school program, or when I volunteered as a teacher in my church in past years.”
“Before I came to GreenPath, I worked in a bank. I saw folks in the community who struggled with their finances. I saw first-hand people burdened with credit card debt, or having trouble accessing funding to make large purchases like a car or home.”
Deb notes, “Everybody has financial goals but might not necessarily know how to achieve them.”
By joining GreenPath three years ago as a financial counselor, Deb now helps close the “information gap” she witnessed, sharing trusted information and guidance that provides a positive path for people to reach their financial goals.
Access that Makes a Difference
“I emigrated to the U.S. from Mexico City when I was in high school. So it’s especially meaningful for me to help Spanish-speaking clients access information that makes a difference in their financial resiliency and literacy.”
A conversation in a client’s language of origin allows people to be comfortable and connected. Once that sense of connection is established, clients are better able to embrace information — whether it’s about how to pull a credit report, what to do to get credit card debt under control, or the factors that go into a credit score.
Some of Deb’s most gratifying conversations occur when she is leading a counseling session with two generations of a family.
“A daughter, son or even a niece or nephew will tell their elder “Hey I was able to get my credit card debt under control and save to put a down payment on a house. You can do it, too! Let’s call GreenPath together.’
Typical counseling sessions involve providing options to restructure debt, stabilize credit history, understand how to remain current with rent or mortgage, or how to budget when a household experiences loss of income during the ongoing pandemic.
Deb adds. “When families are dealing with their money, they want to be confident in the source of information. So having family members encourage each other to call GreenPath is amazing.”
Along the Journey
For Deb, it’s about showing up as an ally – presenting positive solutions to not only meet people’s immediate need, but to provide caring guidance that opens new doors on a lifelong journey to financial resiliency.
“Maybe the first counseling session is with a single mom who wants to find ways to stay in her home, or get positioned to purchase a home. Maybe the call is with someone looking to figure out how to manage issues with collections. Or maybe someone can’t find the money in their monthly budget to keep up with grocery bills. These are not easy conversations to have. That first call takes courage for sure.”
Deb is with people throughout their entire journey – connecting and encouraging along the way.
