“I care about people who have been impacted by predatory financial systems and institutions.”
—Maven Tremaine Jones

Miami-born strategist Tremaine Jones brings a clear, grounded lens to equity and financial empowerment. At Working Credit, he leads national communications that push credit building forward as a tool for racial justice.

Before that, he supported LGBTQ people navigating carceral systems, earning recognition nationwide. A Capoeira instructor and community leader, Tremaine moves with discipline, intention, and a deep belief in people’s right to thrive. Click here to watch Tremaine in our B.A.R.E series.

We had the opportunity to catch up with Tremaine. This interview has been edited for brevity.

Who are you & where are you? Houston-based, Miami-made.

What do you care about, and why is it important to care about? Protecting people from predatory financial systems—because stability shouldn’t be a privilege. I care about making sure communities have the tools, knowledge, and access to thrive, not just survive. For me, it’s about equity in practice, not just in principle.

What made you get into this work? Over the years, working in public health organizing and supporting people coming home from jails and immigration detention, I realized that one of the biggest barriers people faced was a lack of resources to truly thrive. Capitalism affects everyone, but its structural inequalities make financial stability especially hard for some communities.

What prompts you to pivot in your professional life? I listen to my intuition, and know that it’s time to make a change.

What was the last thing to make you laugh? A friend teasing me about interrupting me having a full-on concert in the car. He wasn’t wrong.

Who have you learned something from that serves you well? Corey Davis said, “Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.” It taught me that service means nothing if you’re running on empty.

What do you do or call on when you get discouraged? I call my people, zoom out, and ask myself where I actually want to go.

What is your morning routine? Stretch, tea, breakfast, and either music or affirmations—then I look at my day.

Do you make wishes at 11:11? No, but I think it’s interesting when my friends do.

What is your zodiac sign? Aries

What do you do to restore your energy or rest? I lie down—simple, necessary, non-negotiable.

What are you particularly good at? Connecting people—to resources, to information, and to each other.

Recall a meeting that could of been an email. An all-day staff meeting at a former job—useful in parts, but mostly time stolen from the work that mattered.

This piece is part of the ongoing Meet the Maven series.