Barbara Ewing: Building Assets and Changing Lives at Justine PETERSEN

My name is Barbara Ewing, and I am an Asset Building Counselor at Justine PETERSEN. In my role, I support individuals in the community with credit building and financial resources, but my connection to this work is also deeply personal.

I first started working at Justine PETERSEN when I was in high school. At that time, I had never even heard of credit. Financial literacy wasn’t something we talked about in school, and it certainly wasn’t part of my world. When COVID interrupted my job and life shifted, I eventually graduated in 2021 and stepped into the real world still feeling unprepared when it came to understanding credit and finances.

When I came back to Justine PETERSEN, it was to keep myself busy and educate myself during a time when I really needed it. What began as a job quickly became a calling. As I started my career again at JP, I noticed that so many of my clients were dealing with high-interest auto loans and suppressed credit scores. That experience opened my eyes. I began learning how to avoid those same pitfalls, and it sparked a passion in me to help others do the same.

My “why” for being at Justine PETERSEN is to educate and evolve, both myself and the people I serve. Having once been uneducated about credit myself, drives me to share everything I am learning. I want to push myself and my peers to be the best we can financially so that we can truly build assets and change lives. I also love seeing people’s dreams come true or move closer to reality with the support we offer.

In my spare time, I enjoy taking walks, going on long drives, trying new foods, experiencing new things, and simply living life. I believe we all deserve the basic knowledge to better ourselves and make the most of this life, and being educated financially is one of the first steps.

My journey with Justine PETERSEN has taught me that financial literacy is powerful. It can transform lives, starting with your own.