Elevate Boulder Storytelling Written Stories

Experts say that by the time you’re 30, you should have at least $200,000 saved for retirement, six months of expenses in the bank, and a diversified stock portfolio.

On my 39th birthday, I woke up and cried. Not because of the new wrinkles I noticed in the mirror, but because I had exactly $300 in savings and nothing for retirement.

For years I’d joked that the millennial retirement plan was suicide. But every year that passed, the joke became not only less funny, but darker, and more terrifyingly real. Deep down, I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to just wait until things got bad enough and then find my way out, I desperately wanted to make things better so that I could find my way through.

But how do you make things better when no amount of careful budgeting, scrimping, or planning could make up for simply not having enough money in the first place?

I tried to save for retirement all my adult life, to set aside something for emergencies. I dreamt of investing in a stock or two and having a little portfolio of my own. But the truth is, there are no portfolios in poverty. Most poor people don’t even have checking accounts. Stock options? Forget it. Saving for tomorrow feels crazy when you don’t have enough for today.

One month later (the very same month I received my first Elevate payment), my employer, after years of offering nothing, announced a new 403(b) plan with both a match and a contribution. Ordinarily, I would never have risked setting aside part of my paycheck. I needed every dollar to make ends meet. But thanks to Elevate Boulder, for the first time in my life, I had a financial cushion. And I knew exactly what I needed to do with it.

So, as I entered my 39th year, I treated myself to something I never thought I’d have: a retirement plan. Oh, happy day. It was one of the few times in my adult life that I felt like an official grown-up. “Look at me, just over here killing it,” I thought to myself, “I have a portfolio.”

In the nearly two years I’ve been with Elevate Boulder, I’ve watched my initial contribution of less than $300 grow into more than $12,000. With another 20 good working years ahead of me, predictive models suggest that I could reach close to $1 million, or at least enough to retire with dignity. Even the most conservative predictions give me hope, something I hadn’t felt in a very long time.

Of course, I try not to get ahead of myself. I’ve already survived five or six so-called “once-in-a-lifetime” financial crises. Part of me still braces for the next one. But this time, I feel ready. Thanks to Elevate, I’m in a stronger financial position and armed with greater financial literacy to help me weather whatever comes next.

Because of Elevate, I have an asset. I have a portfolio. I have a chance to potentially enjoy my retirement and maintain some dignity.

Because of Elevate Boulder, I have hope.

Now, as I prepare to turn 41 and my time with Elevate comes to an end, I feel deeply grateful. Grateful to have been selected, grateful for the experience, and grateful for the opportunity to actualize into a real grown-up.

But most of all, I am grateful that on my next birthday, I will not wake up and cry. I might not have $200,000 in retirement just yet, but because of Elevate, I know I’ll get there.

Alright, eleven new e-mails in my inbox. I sighed and adjusted myself in my seat as I looked at my computer screen. It was December 21st, 2023 and I had been working my full-time job as a salesman at a local music store for a little over a year. What a relief it was to finally get a job in the music industry! Even if it didn’t necessarily get me closer to the stage, it was helping me learn about the equipment I needed to make my dream a reality and build connections in the local music scene while I was at it. Not to mention the fact that I got some serious discounts on gear as an employee.

Before I started this job in November 2022, I was delivering sandwiches for Jimmy John’s via bicycle, which was exhausting, but also profitable, work (compared to what I was used to). It was not sustainable from a health-standpoint though. Biking a few hundred miles a week on average left me stiff and in-pain most of the time, leaving little energy leftover to practice my instruments. I was not a trained long-distance cyclist, so this was a new thing for me to be doing so much of. The main reasons I took the job was because they needed help right away and it paid pretty well.

After almost a year of it (four full seasons of all-weather biking), I was ready for a change in the right direction. I needed something that directly related to where I wanted to go. I finally mustered the energy and focus needed to update my resumé and take it to the music shop. Turns out, they were in fact hiring—within a couple of weeks, I had a job there and was able to quit Jimmy John’s! The main catch was that I would be making less money. Disappointed sigh. Back to weekly runs to Harvest of Hope food pantry and nickel-and-diming my way through the weeks. I told myself it would be worth it. At least I’d probably have more energy leftover at the end of my workday to practice and build my music business. It was still an upgrade. But the thought of going back to maintaining an airtight budget disheartened me.

I was able to make more career gains in 2023 than the previous year, but I still felt very limited as to what I could afford. It was depressing and stressful having so little money leftover after basic and semi-basic needs were met to invest in my music. I hadn’t even been dating because I didn’t know how I could possibly afford that too. It was a lonesome, albeit stable year. At least I could plan ahead because I knew how much I was making and how frequently it was coming in.

In October of 2023, I was informed that my rent would be raised by two hundred dollars a month starting in December, when my lease renewed. Two hundred dollars A MONTH??? Are you friggin’ kidding me?? Who do they think I am? I went to my boss and asked for a $1.75/hr raise, which I knew was too high to be granted. However, she was able to give me a $1/hr raise. She also gave me extra work that I could do after store hours to bolster my paycheck. That would help. But with money already so tight, where was the rest of the rent money coming from? Not to mention capital for my music business… My mind felt like an angry swarm of bees.

Around that time, I heard from a few friends about a pilot cash assistance program that was being launched in Boulder in 2024. If chosen, I would receive five hundred dollars a month with no strings attached for two whole years! That would help me out immensely! The application was easier than I expected and I felt confident that it might work out. It was a lottery, so the applicants were picked at random. I told my mom about it over the phone excitedly; she said she would pray for me to receive the assistance. And then we waited…until now.

Here I was, sitting at home at my desk, routinely checking my e-mails. One in particular caught my eye. I held my breath…The subject line read “You have been enrolled in Elevate Boulder”. OH. MY. GOD. This is for real!! I put my hand over my mouth and felt emotion rise from within me. Things are actually going to work out for me! I jumped up and danced in elation, overcome with joy and relief! What a timely blessing! Whew! I’ve got some people to text…

Since the program started at the turn of 2024, I’ve been able to purchase two acoustic guitars, one bass guitar, three amps, three electric guitar pedals, and numerous accessories such as cables and adaptors, not to mention paying my rent on-time. I also took on the massive project of building a sound insulation studio inside of my studio apartment to practice and record in. How would I have been able to afford all of this without the financial assistance from Elevate Boulder?

My primary hope moving forward is to sustain myself and thrive financially doing what I love—writing, recording and performing music. It is my soul’s yearning, my life’s purpose, to inspire others by sharing my musical gifts publicly. Especially as a trans man, I believe that this is particularly potent right now. Though I have benefitted greatly from Elevate Boulder by obtaining much of the gear I need to start my career, there are still many expenses ahead of me before I can fully get my business off the ground. These include a professional vocal training course, getting my album professionally mixed and mastered, marketing projects and materials, merchandise and eventually a car large enough to schlepp me and my gear from gig to gig. I don’t know yet where the funding will come from to finance the next pieces of the puzzle, but if I’ve come this far along the road of fulfillment, I trust that I will be provided for and my dreams will be supported.

My name is Pauline. I am from South Sudan, and I came to the United States in 2007. Ever since, I have loved living in Boulder. This city feels like home to me because the mountains and hills remind me of the mountains in my village back home.

I am a proud mother of two boys. Being their mother is the most important part of my life. Everything I do is for their future.

In 2023, I was accepted into the Elevate program here in Boulder, and that opportunity changed my life. Before, I was working two jobs just to make ends meet. I was always tired and didn’t have enough time for my children.

With the $500 a month I received for 24 months, I was able to cut down to one caregiving job. That support helped me pay for groceries, car bills, and school needs for my kids. But most of all, it gave me time to cook with my children, help with homework, and just be present as their mom.

Today, I still work as a caregiver, a job that allows me to care for others while also being there to care for my children. I manage my bills, I have a car, and I can be there to take my children to school every day.

Elevate Bouler gave me more than money. It gave me dignity, peace of mind, and the chance to build a better life for my family.

One fear I still have for the future is the loss of financial stability and the hardship of not meeting family needs. Elevate Boulder helped to pay for activities for my three boys, including swim lessons, soccer and basketball. When it ends, they will not be able to continue with these programs, which are so important for their wellbeing and their future.

I hope Elevate Boulder continues, to help my kids achieve their dreams.

My name is Martha. Eight years ago, I came to live in Boulder, leaving my family in my home country. My husband and I moved here looking for a quieter place to live and a new opportunity for a better life. It was not an easy decision, considering we are no longer young.

We moved and loved Boulder because it is a beautiful place. After eight years, I don’t know if it’s a city or a big town, but it’s definitely a small, precious place. While living here, we realized Boulder is an expensive city, and housing is a problem—the prices are extremely high. We had to adjust to our new reality and were able to buy a mobile home, which wasn’t our dream, but it became our home and everything started to flow well for us in the following years.

Then the pandemic arrived, and work started to decrease, which meant less income. My husband lost his job, and what I earned was not enough. That’s when someone told us to seek help at EFAA, and that they could advise and support us in paying the rent, which was our main concern at the time—not having the money to make payments. That was when, for the first time, I learned that the city of Boulder has different organizations that receive money for various programs. It was incredible that, without much paperwork, we were able to get help.

The difficult time passed, when everything was paralyzed by COVID, and things started to move again, but it was never the same, at least for us. Our finances did not stabilize, even though we were both working. Prices for everything were high, and I had taken out a loan to buy a car, but with my salary, I couldn’t pay for it. The money wasn’t enough for insurance, and sometimes I had to pay for other things, like credit cards I had maxed out when I didn’t know there were other options. I went back to EFAA for advice, and that’s when they told me about Elevate Boulder and the 24-month pilot assistance program. I signed up and was very fortunate to be chosen for the help. While it’s true that I haven’t resolved all my debts, it has been a great relief and comfort to know that I don’t have to worry next month about paying my debt and car insurance because they will be covered thanks to Elevate Boulder.

I would love and it would be a great support to continue receiving this kind of help, but I know there are many more people like us who need to benefit from the resources the city has.

If someone were to ask me for advice or about my experience, I can confidently say that asking for help is wise and intelligent, and by doing so, you gain much more than believing problems will solve themselves or that the solution will just fall from the sky. Thank you, Elevate Boulder!

Originally written in Spanish:

Mi nombre es Martha, hace 8 años llegué a vivir a Boulder dejando a mi familia en mi país. Nos mudamos mi esposo y yo buscando un lugar más tranquilo en donde vivir y una nueva oportunidad de una mejor vida. No fué una decisión fácil considerando que ya no somos jóvenes. Nos mudamos y nos encantó Boulder por ser un lugar hermoso, que después de 8 años no sé si es una ciudad pequeña, o un pueblo grande, pero es un lugar precioso. Ya estando aquí nos dimos cuenta que Boulder es una ciudad muy cara, que la vivienda es un problema porque los precios son altísimos, y tuvimos que ubicarnos en nuestra nueva realidad y pudimos comprar una móvil home, que no era nuestro sueño, pero se convirtió en nuestro hogar. Todo empezó a fluir bien en los siguientes años, hasta que llegό la pandemia y el trabajo empezó a ser menos y por consecuencia el ingreso. Mi esposo se quedó sin trabajo y con lo que yo ganaba no era suficiente. Fue cuando alguien nos dijo que fueramos a buscar ayuda a EFAA y que ellos nos podrían asesorar y apoyar a pagar la renta que era lo que en su momento nos preocupaba de no poder tener el dinero para hacer los pagos. Y allí fue en donde por primera vez supe que la ciudad de Boulder tenía diferentes movimientos que reciben dinero para diferentes programas. Fue algo increíble que sin muchos trámites pudimos obtener ayuda. Pasó el tiempo difícil de que todo estaba paralizado por el Covid y todo se empezó a mover, pero no volvió a ser igual, por lo menos para nosotros. Nuestra economía no se estabilizaba aunque ya estábamos trabajando los dos, los precios de todo se fueron altos y yo había pedido un préstamo para comprar un carro y con mi salario no podía pagar. El dinero no me alcanzaba para el seguro, o medio pagaba otras cosas, como por ejemplo tarjetas de crédito que me había endeudado cuando no sabía que podía haber otras opciones. Y volví a pedir asesoría en EFAA y fue cuando me hablaron de Elevamos Boulder y me dijeron del programa piloto de 24 meses de ayuda y me inscribí y fuí muy afortunada en ser elegida para la ayuda, que si bien es cierto, no he resuelto todas mis deudas, pero si ha sido un gran respiro y un descanso de saber que no debo preocuparme el siguiente mes por pagar mi deuda y el seguro de los carros porque estarán cubiertos gracias a Elevamos Boulder. Me gustaría mucho y sería un gran apoyo seguir recibiendo este tipo de ayuda, pero se que hay mucha mas personas como nosotros que necesitan beneficiarse de los recursos que tiene la ciudad.

Y si alguien me preguntara sobre si le puedo dar un consejo o hablarle de mi experiencia con certeza puedo decir que el preguntar y pedir ayuda es de personas sabias e inteligentes y que al hacerlo se gana mucho más que estar en la creencia que los problemas se resuelven solos o que del cielo (solo) va a caer la solución. GRACIAS ELEVAMOS BOULDER!!

Before the Elevate Boulder program, our lives—mine and my husband's—were a great challenge we were going through. It all started with the pandemic; our dreams fell apart, and the little savings we had ran out. We resorted to bank loans.

When we received the email from Columbine School, where my daughter studies, saying there would be a selection to see who could get help from Elevate Boulder and we were chosen, it was a big surprise and at the same time a great blessing. That’s how we started to feel less stress and were able to resolve our debts with what we receive each month.

Now we feel calmer because we know the help we receive relieves our worries, and we can buy food. It has also helped my husband pay for the dentist because he has gum disease and every four months he has to go to the dentist, and the consultations are expensive because we don’t have health insurance.

The fear is that food prices like fruits, and vegetables keep rising. The tariffs are very high, and the help will end this year, at the end of December, so I don’t know what might happen.

My hope is that prices will stop rising, that hopefully tariffs can go down, and that in the future, if there is help again from Elevate Boulder, hopefully we could be eligible. But in any case, I am eternally grateful to Elevate Boulder for that great support, and may God abundantly bless the people who have a big heart and helped us during these two years.

Originally written in Spanish:

Antes del programa de Elevamos Boulder, nuestros vidas, la mía y la de mi esposo, eran un gran desafío que estábamos atravesando. Todo comenzó desde la pandemia, nuestros sueños, se vinieron abajo, el poco ahorro que teníamos se nos terminó. Recurrimos a préstamos con el banco.

Cuando nos llegó el correo electrónico por parte de la Escuela Columbine, en donde estudia mi hija, y decía que harían un sorteo para ver quien podría obtener la ayuda de Elevamos Boulder y fuimos elegidos para la ayuda, fue una gran sorpresa y a la vez una gran bendición. Y así fue como empezamos a sentir menos estrés y pudimos resolver nuestras deudas, con lo que nos dan cada mes.

Ahora nos sentimos más tranquilos, por que sabemos que la ayuda que recibimos nos quita las preocupaciones, y podemos comprar comida. También le ha ayudado a mi esposo a pagar el dentista por que el está enfermo de las encillas y cada cuatro meses tiene que estar yendo al dentista y son caras las consultas porque no contamos con seguro médico.

El temor es que aún siguen subiendo los precios económicos de las comidas, frutas y verduras. Los aranceles están muy altos y la ayuda se terminará en este año, a final de Diciembre, y pues no se que pueda pasar.

Mi esperanza es que ya no suban los precios, que ojalá puedan bajar los aranceles y que en un futuro si hubiera nuevamente ayuda de Elevamos Boulder ojalá que pudieramos ser elegibles. Pero de todas maneras, le estoy eternamente agradecida a Elevamos Boulder por ese gran apoyo y que Dios bendiga en abundancia a las personas que tienen un gran corazón y que nos ayudaron durante estos dos años.