Values and Mission

Our Mission

shame[less] seeks to lessen the burden of the 1.6 trillion dollar student loan bubble by creating a new narrative that centers Transparency, Community, and Empathy as keys to success. These core values are our beacons as we navigate a system that would rather have us feel shame about our debt than help us manage it. We invite you to join us in reconstructing a student loan story that prizes what you’ve accomplished and supports you in your future goals.

Photo by Ronaldo de Oliveira on Unsplash

How We Got Here

We have student loans with really high balances. They exist. We can’t go back and make different choices, and frankly, we don’t want to. Our educational experiences have shaped who we are today. What we want is to confront the shame of our student loans to reframe the narrative. Together we can push through the discomfort and fear to lighten the burden that we feel and support others to do the same.

Recently, we decided to have a private, transparent conversation about our loans and finances, and as simple as it seems, putting words to our fears extinguished the fire we’d individually built up over the decade. If we could start to extinguish the stigma and shame we felt, we could start to directly address our loans. They have informed so many of our choices and options, and we know we are not alone in this. How do we move forward as confident and empowered arbitrators of our own future?

Topics We Will Explore

• Decisions: How student loans impact our short and long term decision-making
• Relationships: Financial intimacy with friends and partners
• Career Pathways and Longevity: Job search strategy, resume revisions, changing industries, building your network, and all the other facets of career
• Help from the Experts: Resources and strategies currently offered by financial experts
• Cancellation: Is it realistic that student loans will be cancelled to any degree?
• Leadership: Who is leading this conversation in politics and pop culture?
• Shame/Judgment: Why are student loans such a divisive and isolating personal burden?
• First Time Investing: How to approach investment options
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: How do we create change for future generations and support others as they navigate education and career?