More than numbers, a path to independence

The room is bustling with women from all walks of life as they learn to calculate expenses and identify savings goals. For some, it is the first time they have ever drafted a budget. For others, it is a chance to rebuild after a setback. For all, it is a chance to rewrite their financial stories.

In these classes, provided by The Women's Resource of Greater Houston and sometimes taught by Bank of Texas volunteers, financial literacy becomes more than numbers—it becomes a pathway to independence, stability and self-confidence. TWR is dedicated to empowering women and girls through financial education, career support and leadership development, serving more than 2,000 women and girls annually.

Many of TWR's clients are job seekers, students or women navigating major life transitions such as recovery from domestic violence, incarceration or homelessness. Through financial coaching, career programs and long-term youth leadership initiatives, the nonprofit helps women and girls gain critical personal finance knowledge.

And on Nov. 5, the organization will host one of its most anticipated events of the year. Power of the Purse is a dazzling fundraiser presented by Bank of Texas. The silent auction event will raise vital funds to ensure thousands more can access these financial education programs.

Volunteers help deliver financial confidence
One of the cornerstones of The Women's Resource is the YourLife Finance Class program, a six-class series designed to give women practical tools for everyday money management, covering topics such as budgeting, saving, credit and debt.

For Angelia Williams, senior community relations manager at Bank of Texas, volunteering as a financial educator over the past two years has been an extension of her life's passion.

"I decided to volunteer because I love sharing information about money management and personal finance," she explained. "By the end of the program, the attendees have a well-rounded insight into finances."

Megan Elsis, the Bank of Texas consumer market director, has led virtual sessions of YourLife Finance for three years.

"The virtual class allows me to provide financial education in a place where everyone feels comfortable," Elsis said. "Some women attend from their couch, a shelter and even once from the hospital."

Many of the women have experienced a sudden change in their financial lives, coupled with not knowing how to handle it, so Williams and Elsis said they begin their classes with the basics, breaking down concepts that many participants have never been taught. The most common challenges among participants are finding stable employment, a lack of emergency funds, medical debt and student loans.

Plus, in light of the challenges presented by Hurricane Harvey, 2024's derecho and other extreme weather events common to the region, The Women's Resource is planning to add a seventh class to its series that will cover how to financially prepare for natural disasters.

"There is a deficit in knowledge about personal finance and how it affects your life," Williams said. "I was impressed with the thoroughness of the classes. Knowledge is power. If we can give them the information, it gives them an advantage they didn't have before."

Elsis also emphasized that financial education is a shield against exploitation.

“By the end of the class, they have the knowledge to confidently negotiate a finance-related situation—whether that's buying or leasing a car, renting a home, or advocating for their own credit accuracy. That's real power.”

- Megan Elsis, the Bank of Texas consumer market director

Both women said their favorite class to teach is budgeting, where they encourage participants to go on a "savings scavenger hunt" through their expenses, finding areas where small cuts can lead to big savings.

The experience has been personal for the volunteers. Williams said teaching has opened her eyes to the struggles some women face and the need for financial literacy.

"The classes have made me practice what I preach," Elsis admitted with a laugh. "I've implemented some of the same strategies into my own life." But her deeper motivation is about support. "I keep coming back because I enjoy helping these women see their own potential. I want them to understand they don't need to rely on someone else for their own success."

Beyond the classroom
While the YourLife Finance Class program is the organization's flagship, The Women's Resource launched financial coaching services in 2018 to build on the foundations created in the class series and continue women's financial journeys. Over 200 women were coached last year, increasing their credit scores, paying down debt and achieving their other financial goals. Clients on average saw their credit score increase by over 30 points.

Career coaching has become another lifeline. Nearly 100 women were coached last year for support in navigating job searches, interviews and career transitions. In 2024, the organization also launched apprenticeship initiatives in partnership with certification providers to provide direct pathways to high-wage careers in industries that are in-demand. Combined with financial coaching, these programs ensure women are not just learning about money; they're building the futures they envision.

Investing in the next generation
The Women's Resource also offers RISE!, a four-year leadership and financial literacy program for economically disadvantaged high school girls. In Harris County, where one in four children lives in poverty, early financial education can break cycles of generational poverty. The program reached 403 participants across 11 schools in the 2024-25 school year, with over 90% of students reporting they gained new financial knowledge and skills.

Every time a participant learns to budget, pay down debt, or open a savings account, she models new behaviors for her children, neighbors, and peers, Williams said. "It's generational impact."

“These classes do not just change one woman's life; they ripple outward to change families.”

- Angelia Williams, senior community relations manager at Bank of Texas

The need for this work is urgent. In Houston, women represent 46% of the Texas workforce yet earn only 84 cents for every dollar earned by men in Harris County. Two-thirds of Houston-area residents lack enough savings to sustain themselves for three months, and nearly one in 10 Harris County residents lack a bank account.

Perhaps most concerning, women who grew up in low- to moderate-income households in Harris County experienced a nearly three percent decrease in economic mobility in 2019 compared to 2005, measured at age 27. This declining trajectory makes programs like those offered by The Women's Resource not just beneficial, but essential. Empowering women is not just a personal victory; it is a community imperative. When women control their finances, they control their destiny.