The Local Initiatives Support Corporation is a public-private consortium designed to improve communities, provide opportunities, and fight poverty across America. LISC came to us with some interesting research debunking a common myth: that the solution to poverty is jobs. They found that financial capability was much moire a predictor of poverty: the ability to get credit, to have a bank account, to own a home, to save…all of these are about establishing financial relationships. LISC wanted a way to teach financial capability in underserved communities.

I remember going through poor neighborhoods in Chicago and one thing that caught my attention was the abundance of psychics, tarot card readers and botanicas. I decided to create a deck of cards as a parody of tarot cards—but instead of telling your fortune, these cards can help you make your fortune. Each card has a unique lesson to tell, both with a humorous image on the front, and the steps to get there on the back. The cards can be used in different ways—to help set goals, feel empowered, and track progress. I created a character (based on the mystical Madame Blavatsky) called Madame Legupski (because she helps you get a “leg up,”). Madame Legupski thinks that making your fortune is a dark art, requiring mastery of ancient knowledge. But the cards say different: they tell a story that everyone can learn good financial habits and create sound financial relationships. It’s the game you can win.