FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 7, 2023

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Michelle Blundell, EMPath
media@empathways.org

Ellen Ishkanian, City of Newton
eishkanian@newtonma.gov

BOSTON, MA – Today, Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) was announced by the City of Newton as the selected partner to lead the City’s initiative to boost economic mobility among low-income residents. EMPath, a nearly 200-year-old Boston-based nonprofit that dramatically improves the lives of people living in poverty, will support 50 Newton families with economic mobility coaching and provide $250 of monthly cash assistance and incentives. The program will support families for two years.

“The City of Newton will be partnering with an experienced, effective organization to lead our Economic Mobility Initiative and provide under-resourced families disproportionately impacted by the pandemic with individual, intensive support for economic stability and mobility,” said Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller. “As a national leader with a long history of supporting thousands of low-income families in the Greater Boston region to increase their income and more, I look forward to working with them to assist Newton families.”

In EMPath’s economic coaching model, called Mobility Mentoring®, participants work one-on-one with a mentor to set a range of goals focused on education, career advancement, finances, family stability (including housing), and wellbeing. The model gives families the tools and resources to climb the economic ladder. EMPath will also provide families with a $250 monthly cash assistance/incentive. Research shows that a predictable monthly cash payment is one of the best ways to promote and free up space to focus on long-term economic stability. This initiative joins the dozens of other guaranteed income programs that are being piloted across the country.

“We thank the City of Newton for instilling their trust in EMPath to lead this critical initiative for the families of Newton,” said EMPath President & CEO Kim Janey. “Our coaching model has seen tremendous success in supporting families as they work towards economic stability and has been adapted globally through the member organizations of our learning network. We hope it will continue to make the same kind of life-changing impact for Newton families.”

The relationship between participants and their coaches in EMPath’s Mobility Mentoring model is based on what research says people need to get ahead in life: sound advice from a trusted mentor as well as individualized support to help families not only achieve their basic needs, but truly thrive. Mobility Mentoring is participant-centered, holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally competent.

Since its launch over a decade ago, the model has helped families with low incomes to double and even triple their incomes, in addition to earning degrees, saving money, improving their credit scores, and caring for themselves and their children.

A priority of the City’s Economic Stability / Mobility Initiative is to support the economic stability and mobility of individuals and families with low incomes who were impacted most by the pandemic, disproportionately Black and brown families.

The criteria for eligibility will include low-income Newton families who are at or below 50% of the area median income (AMI), have children under 18 years old (or are pregnant), and who are interested in working and increasing their income. Families who are interested in learning more once recruitment is underway may fill out an interest form on EMPath’s website.

After the two-year program concludes, participants will have the opportunity for longer-term support by enrolling in EMPath’s “flagship” program – the Career Family Opportunity program which continues for up to five years.

EMPath will recruit Newton families in the late spring and the program will launch in the summer. EMPath will also work closely with City of Newton’s Health and Human Services and Planning staff, as well as with the City’s partners at the UMass Donahue Institute to develop a monitoring and reporting timeline, define outcome measures, and implement a data collection plan.

In addition to its economic mobility coaching model and global learning network, EMPath conducts research to inform and evolve its coaching approach as well as legislative advocacy to advance policy change.

To learn more about the Economic Stability / Mobility Initiative, visit empathways.org/newton.

Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) is a nearly 200-year-old organization that dramatically improves the lives of people living in poverty. Because creating economic opportunity is multifaceted, EMPath’s approach is too. EMPath offers a unique combination of direct services; a learning network of human services organizations; and research and advocacy for what works. This “virtuous circle” allows each part of the organization’s work to inform what it knows, does, and shares with others to seed systemic change. To learn more, visit empathways.org.