Stability is a crucial foundation for any family, yet for many low‑income households, achieving it is far from immediate. According to the Economic Policy Institute, a family of four in 2025 struggles to avoid poverty and housing insecurity with an annual income below $64,300. Rising food and housing costs only deepen the challenge, leaving many families searching for reliable pathways toward financial security.
The Family Success Center at GenerationEd—funded by United Way of Greater Greensboro—offers one such pathway. The center provides integrated services that help families further their education, build essential skills, and secure sustainable employment. Through GED preparation, money management classes, and workforce development training, the Family Success Center equips participants with the tools needed to make steady, meaningful progress.
Amanda Cook, Lead Success Coach at the Family Success Center, has seen the program’s impact firsthand.
“At FSC, I’ve witnessed how career support can change the trajectory of a member’s life,” she said. “Whether it’s helping someone rediscover their confidence or coaching them through job readiness and applications, the impact is lasting. Watching members pursue dreams like becoming a CMA or early childhood teacher—and seeing that success ripple through their families—is incredibly rewarding.”
Workforce development is a core component of the center’s approach. Participants receive support in résumé building, interview preparation, and job placement, ensuring their education aligns with employer needs. They also gain digital literacy and soft skills essential for today’s job market, with many advancing into roles that offer family‑sustaining wages. Ongoing supports, such as money management classes, peer networks, and regular check‑ins with coaches, help families maintain momentum and adapt to new challenges. By focusing on transferable skills and long‑term growth, the Family Success Center empowers families to build and sustain stability.
Education is another powerful driver of economic mobility. Through United Way of Greater Greensboro, GenerationEd offers childcare scholarships that help local families offset the rising cost of care. These scholarships make extended care and afterschool programs more accessible, allowing parents to pursue higher education or work additional hours without sacrificing their children’s safety or well‑being.
Miracle Lawson, Scholarship Specialist at GenerationEd, emphasized the program’s lasting value.
“The program is designed to help alleviate the burden of the continually rising cost of childcare. Although the scholarship is available for up to one year, it has a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of the individuals and families who participate,” she said.
By easing childcare expenses, these scholarships give parents the time and flexibility needed to advance their careers. National data reinforces this connection: 85.7% of Class of 2024 graduates were employed or continuing their education within six months, demonstrating how access to education supports long‑term stability.
Across all these programs, the message is clear: stability is built step by step. With access to supportive communities, educational opportunities, and practical resources like coaching and childcare, families can move from instability toward lasting economic security.
