Financial Skills Help Senior Citizen
Ana, a janitor, calls fellow workers to let them know about BSP courses
Ana Najera immigrated from Guatemala in 1980 and has since built a life in Los Angeles, where she raised two children. For over 30 years, she has worked as a night janitor at Paramount Pictures studios, employed through ABM, an industry partner.
Ana has participated in BPS’s Health & Wellness and Financial Capabilities programs.
Making an average of $36,000 per year, many workers in low-wage industries live paycheck to paycheck without emergency or retirement savings. BSP’s Financial Capabilities programs offer training and 1-on-1 coaching to help workers meet their financial goals and achieve economic stability.
Ana has learned key financial skills through these programs, like how to save a portion of her paycheck to build wealth. She is 69 years old but continues to work because retirement income is not enough. She appreciates understanding how to put away whatever she is able to each month into a savings account and gain interest.
Ana has learned how to save and build wealth through BSP's Financial Capabilities programs
“It’s good to attend the programs that BSP offers. I enjoy the in- person classes because there’s always something to learn. I like to learn more skills.” says Maria.
As a BSP Ambassador, Ana reaches out to her colleagues and peers through phone banking, notifying them about current BSP programming being offered and engaging them to take advantage of the educational opportunities.
“I’ve learned a lot by making calls because I’ve learned how to talk to people and also tell them about resources available. It made me more comfortable when I talk to people,” she said.
Ana has also greatly benefitted from BSP’s Health and Wellness programs, which provide comprehensive, linguistically, and culturally competent training & education that equips workers from low-wage industries and their families to lead healthy lives.
“When I started working, I was struggling a lot with my work and I had depression. So when I started working at my current job, it really helped me mentally and emotionally to be working alongside the fellow SEIU-USWW members and BSP instructors – I felt very comfortable. I learned more about how to cope with stress and better my health. I’ve also participated in the classes and I appreciate the BSP staff who want us to keep learning even at my age.”