The Voice of Southwest Louisiana September 2019 Issue

Q&A By
Brenda Hill
SWLA news
Back to School
on the Yellow
School Bus
You Can
Have a
Better
Future
Q&A with Caleb & Eden
Summer break has ended,
and school has welcomed
back its staff and millions of
bright and creative minds to come
and explore themselves with new
learning opportunities. Caleb has
finished Kindergarten and is in 1st
Grade. His sister, Eden, finished
Head Start and is in Kindergarten.
The Voice of Southwest Louisiana
reached out to ask them about
their experience of riding the “Big
Yellow School Bus” for the very first
time and hear their early on and
fresh perspective of ‘Back to School.”
Maybe they can come back to share
end of school year details.
QWhat does it feel like to ride the
“Big Yellow School Bus” to school
for the very first time?
Caleb: It feels good to ride the bus
to school.
AEden: I wasn’t nervous.
QWhat seems different to you
between Kindergarten and First
Grade?
Caleb: I don’t know. There are
big kids.
QWhat seems different to you
between Head Start and
Kindergarten?
Eden: Head Start had a different
lunch, and…my old friends do not
go to this school with me…and
there are no centers with kitchen,
cafeteria, family, etc., to learn
through play.
QDo you enjoy the school cafeteria
food or prefer to bring your
lunch as before?
Caleb: I like bringing my lunch
to school so I can show off my
superheroes on my lunch bag.
Eden: I like bringing my lunch
because I don’t like the school food.
QWhat is your favorite school
activity in the day?
Caleb: Reading books.
Eden: I like reading books too.
QHave you gone to recess?
Caleb & Eden: We don’t go to
recess. We do library instead.
QWhat is the most favorite fun
activity your teacher introduced
you to so far?
Caleb: The promethean board on
the wall.
Eden: Time on the iPad is my
favorite activity.
QWhat is your favorite activity to
do?
Caleb: I like caring for my dog and
playing with him.
Eden: I like painting and artwork.
New Southwest Louisiana
Credit Union Program
Helps People
Afford Training for Better Jobs
Want training for a better job,
but think you can’t afford it?
Southwest Louisiana Credit
Union has a program that can help.
The credit union’s “Better Future:
Southwest Louisiana” program can help
you afford short-term training from a
local technical school—a step that could
double your monthly income.
The program is made possible by a
federal community development grant,
which allows the credit union to offer
rates and terms that other financial
institutions could not.
“We are so excited that Southwest
Louisiana Credit Union can now offer this
unique program that can help people
in our community obtain higher skilled
jobs that will improve their future,” said
Jessica LaRocca, Chief Strategy Officer at
Southwest Louisiana Credit Union.
The “Better Future: Southwest Louisiana”
program features include the following:
Tuition Loan*
This Tuition Loan is uniquely designed
for tight budgets. It’s a flat-rate loan with
flexible terms catered to you.
••
Loans up to $5,000
••
Competitive flat rate— 12% APR**
••
Flexible terms—up to 5 years
••
3 options for deferment to give you
time to find employment
••
Convenience—members can apply
online, by phone or in person
Plus—since Southwest Louisiana
Credit Union specializes in serving the
unbanked and underbanked—your
financial history shouldn’t hold you back.
Student Retention Loan
So… what about my debt? There’s help
for that, too. You can get a loan that
consolidates your debts and monthly bills
into one, lower monthly payment that’s
easier on your budget.
••
Not based on your credit score.
••
Terms up to 5 years.
The purpose of the Student Retention
Loan is to get your debt under control, so
you can focus on training for a better job.
Reduced Auto Payment Loans
Car notes can be a massive drain on your
monthly budget and a source of stress
when returning to school. This product
can help lower your monthly auto
payment by refinancing your auto loan.
••
Quick loan approval process.
••
Affordable monthly auto payment to
fit your budget.
••
Competitive low rates.
Daycare Vouchers***
For parents, the program offers daycare
vouchers for up to 12 weeks, and up
to 100% cost assistance to those with
an active Tuition Loan at Southwest
Louisiana Credit Union. The amount of
assistance is determined by income—the
lower the income, the more the voucher
covers.
For more information about the Better
Future: Southwest Louisiana program,
call the credit union at 337-477-9190
today or visit one of its three branches in
Lake Charles or Sulphur.
*APR = Annual Percentage Rate
** This loan program is not meant for
financing 4-year accredited college courses.
Excludes refinancing of existing Southwest
Louisiana Credit Union personal loans.
Restrictions may apply.
***Voucher availability will be distributed
on a “first come, first served” basis until
designated funds are exhausted. Conditions
and restrictions apply. See the credit union
for details. The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
also offers a Child Home Daycare Program.
For information, visit cppj.net or call
Department of Human Services at 337-721-
4030 ext. 5102.
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