LANSING, Mich. — For four Michigan residents, financial transformation has meant something different: pursuing an education while working two jobs, breaking cycles of financial hardship, rebuilding after personal loss and taking steps toward becoming debt-free.
Those journeys have earned Tony Bell and Jamie Jozwiak of Lansing, Alexander Davis of Haslett, and Belynda Williams of Eaton Rapids each a $2,500 grant through LAFCU’s 2026 Pathway to Financial Transformation Essay Contest. The four winners shared stories of the challenges they have faced, the financial changes they have made and the goals they are working toward as they build more secure futures.
“Financial education is most meaningful when it helps people turn knowledge into action and make lasting changes in their lives,” said Shelia Scott, LAFCU community financial education and business development officer. “That’s why LAFCU invests in programs like Pathway to Financial Transformation and provides grants like these. We want to give Michigan residents the tools, encouragement and resources they need to move forward financially and build stronger futures for themselves and their families.”…