SparkPoint San José is a financial capability program providing students and community members integrated, co-located service providers, who’s mission and common goal is to improve participants financial health. SparkPoint staff provides a holistic approach to ensure that participants overcome financial barriers that directly impact their economic mobility and self-sufficiency.
SparkPoint San José is part of a regional United Way Bay Area network of financial capability centers designed to serve individuals and families who are working to achieve financial self-sufficiency.
SparkPoint Services Provided:
Financial Coaching
Meet one-on-one with a financial coach who will work with you to create a personalized financial path to achieving your financial goals. Learn how to create spending plans, build savings and plan for expenditures.
Career Coaching
Strengthen your employment success by meeting with a career coach who will assist you in creating or updating a resume, practice your interviewing skills, alert you to employment possibilities and much more.
Credit & Debt Coaching
A financial coach with expertise in credit and debt counseling will work with you to understand how credit works, teach you tips to improve credit and/or build credit, review your report to dispute inaccuracies and much more. They can also help with homeownership dreams and debt relief strategies.
Free Legal Clinics
Twice a month, Bay Area Legal Aid, provides a Debtors' Rights Legal Clinic, providing free information and an opportunity to meet one-on-one with an attorney to discuss your consumer legal issues or bankruptcy consideration.
CalFresh Screening & Enrollment
Struggling to put food on the table? We can help, ask us how.
Free Workshops
Every month SparkPoint hosts workshops aimed at providing participants valuable information that directly impacts your financial health. Workshops are facilitated by experienced and expert staff. Click here for up-to-date workshops offerings.
MEET SPARKPOINT TEAM
SHANDRA THOMAS
Financial / Credit Coach
25 Years Experience
"My job is to educate people on their options, allowing them to make their own educated financial decisions. You can't give what you don't have."
EFRAIN SEGUNDO OROZCO
Financial / Economics Coach
Empowerment Program
Efrain holds a B.S in Business Management, Minor: Human Rights, San Jose State University
"I have worked in the Non-Profit sector for the majority of my career; working with student and families at the YMCA and now at Sacred Heart Community Services on the Economic Empowerment team."
SARI FITZWATER
Financial Coach
30+ Years Experience
Sari holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University
"I establish a rapport through listening, compassion and nonjudgement. I work with my clients to develop a set of obtainable and measurable goals. I partner with my client to support and guide them through change and growth."
VICKY VAN DEN BERG
Financial / Career Coach
Retired after 30+ years with Hewlett-Packard
Vicky holds a B.S in Computer Science & M.B.A from Santa Clara University
"I specialize in budgeting, cash flow planning, understanding debt, creating an action plan, & long-range financial planning (retirement)."
SAUL A. GONZALEZ
Principle Consultant & Professional Coach
10+ Years Experience
Saul holds a M.A in Organized Psychology and a professional coaching certificate from John F. Kennedy University
"I specialize in conflict management, financial capability, and asset-building systems. You are the architect of your own destiny!"
ARELY VALERIANO
Benefits Enrollment
14 Years Experience Serving in Non-Profit
Arely attended Evergreen Valley College Job-Link Coordinator at Sacred Heart
"I have been working with clients finding jobs and getting them back into the workforce. I want to be the ray of light at the end of the tunnel when clients feel everything is dark."
Our Impact
Looking to tackle your financial challenges and build a brighter future for yourself and your family? Here’s what one of our clients shared:
Since I’ve been a part of SparkPoint I have received the proper life skills to strengthen my financial literacy. I find myself budgeting, saving money wisely, and have cleared one of my debts. The confidence that grew from that has encouraged me to spread this resource to others by doing outreach work [as a student at EVC] and I am sincerely grateful for this program.