SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) announced the successful participation of Victoria Accorsi, community financial coach, mobility mentor, and AFC candidate, as a speaker at Economic Mobility Pathways’ (Empath) 2026 Disrupting Poverty Conference, held March 23-26 at Boston University.

Accorsi served as a panelist in the session titled “Climbing Without Falling: New Ideas to Fix the Benefits Cliff,” which explored how sudden losses in food, housing, childcare, or health benefits can leave working families worse off after small wage increases. The session highlighted innovative approaches to benefit phaseouts, income transitions, and system redesign to ensure that work truly pays.

Accorsi shared insights from her coaching work on the Bridge to Prosperity Cliff Effect Pilot, a three‑year initiative led by Springfield WORKS in partnership with United Way of Pioneer Valley and other community-based organizations across Massachusetts. The pilot supports up to 100 residents who receive public assistance by helping them pursue higher‑paying careers while mitigating the financial risks associated with benefits cliffs.

Through the pilot, families receive supplemental cash assistance when rising wages trigger benefit losses, one-on-one financial and career coaching through partners such as UWPV, and access to employer partners offering training and living‑wage opportunities. As a United Way community financial coach, Accorsi works directly with participants to navigate budgeting, wage changes, benefits reductions, and long-term goal setting, providing crucial on‑the‑ground perspective to the statewide innovation effort.

“Being able to bring the real experiences of the families I coach to a statewide stage is incredibly meaningful,” Accorsi said. “The benefits cliff isn’t an abstract policy problem — it’s a very real barrier that holds hardworking people back every day. Through the Bridge to Prosperity pilot, we’re showing that, with the right support, people can move forward without fear of losing the ground they’ve already gained.”

Megan Moynihan, United Way of Pioneer Valley’s president and CEO, added that “Victoria’s participation at the Disrupting Poverty Conference is a testament to the powerful, on-the-ground work happening right here in Western Mass. United Way is proud to be part of an effort that doesn’t just talk about economic mobility — it actively removes the barriers that stand in the way.”