Meet Dr. Ashley Lowe-Simmons

Hi Dr. Ashley , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
It was accidentally on purpose; I was working in juvenile corrections after getting my Bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University. My BS is in criminal justice sciences, so I thought I was doing something that I would enjoy. While holding this position, there was a psychologist on staff that held weekly groups and had to choose one staff member whenever she conducted a group with the juveniles. The staff member that was always chosen was me and I had no idea at the time that God was preparing me for my next.

I got pregnant with my first child in 2010, struggled with postpartum depression and my doctor placed me on a restrictive work schedule. I believe it was 20-25 hours per week not the full 40 hour work schedule. The adminstration allowed me to work this restrictively schedule for quite some time, then told me that they needed to fill a full-time position to cover the facility staffing needs. I was informed that I could return when I was ready to fulfill a 40 hour schedule, if a full time position was available upon return. This would be considered unpaid leave and as a new mom, I had a decision to make so I requested that my doctor remove my  restriction so I could return to full-time. Over half of new moms go back to work before it’s time. This is something that over a challenge that many new moms face. or I wouldn’t be able to support my child or myself.

In the process of this situation, my good girlfriend and co-worker told me that I should go back to school to get my Master’s degree. I knew that I didn’t want to get it in juvenile justice because quite frankly, I didn’t like seeing so many black and brown children go from the juvenile corrections to the adult correction system. It really hurt my soul; she told me that I should go back and get my Master’s in social work and she would help me to apply. She assisted me with the application process. I procrastinated and only submitted one application to Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. I prayed and told God that if I got accepted that I would go. I received my acceptance letter, so my one year old daughter and I relocated.

I had never been to Baltimore and only had a couple relatives that lived in the DMV area. This leap of faith was the start of my journey in the field of social work. Along my journey, I have found my niche in the field working with women of color to manage stress, anxiety, generational trauma and unhealthy financial behaviors.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Dr. Ashley is a licensed clinical social worker, serial entrepreneur, wife and mother. Dr. Ashley’s mission is to educate the masses about moms, money and mental health; she is an advocate and expert in each of these areas. Dr. Ashley understands the importance of exposure, so all her work is surrounded by providing opportunities to Black and Hispanic families that are less likely to be included and receive the same opportunities as their counterparts.

I am certified in financial social work and I offer financial coaching and workshops around the fin-emotional relationships (Why do people spend the way that they spend?). I help women of color develop understanding of their emotional connections to their financial behaviors. My own personal money story was the driving force for my passion for financial health. I’ve worked in community mental health for several years, I’ve experienced poverty and I’ve seen the impact of poverty on low to middle income families. My desire has been to be the change that I want to see; I use my passion to promote the financial work that I do.