Outreach & Training

Consumer Action’s multilingual and multicultural community outreach managers work to empower individual consumers and community educators nationwide through free, unbiased, rights-focused consumer literacy information and training. The team works with a nationwide network of community-based organizations (CBOs) and host many free educational webinars. Please join us! Click here and register for these upcoming webinars.

Our Events

• Webinar explores role of homeownership in wealth creation
  Consumer Action hosted a webinar on July 12 that focused on homeownership as a catalyst for wealth-building for low-income families and households of color.
• Spreading the word about the Affordable Connectivity Program
  Consumer Action offered a train-the-trainer webinar on June 21.
• Money- and energy-saving programs for PG&E customers
  This page provides links to downloadable paper applications for energy savings and discount programs.

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Training Tools

• New video educates consumers about COVID-19 vaccine fact and fiction
  We've produced a new video to help dispel vaccine myths and to equip community educators with one more tool for use in their community education efforts.
• Resources for Learning About Scams
  This two-page handout outlines resources for learning about scams.
• Consumer Action reaches Spanish-speakers through print and TV coverage during COVID
  Consumer Action's diverse, multilingual staff regularly works with local, national and ethnic media to bring attention to key consumer issues, expose anti-consumer practices and warn consumers about the newest scams to look out for.

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Our Network

• Nasdaq Foundation funds investor education initiative
  The Nasdaq Foundation has awarded Consumer Action a grant to fund an investment literacy and engagement project geared to women and BIPOC consumers.
• Experian funds financial capability/credit education initiative with DEI lens
  Experian has made a commitment to Consumer Action for a multi-state financial capability and credit education initiative with a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) lens.
• Out and About: Debt and the racial wealth gap
  In June, Audrey Perrott attended a presentation on Debt: When It Helps, When It Hurts, What It Could Do to Build Household Wealth.

( View More Our Network )  

Best Practices

• CFPB Watch: Elders at risk of eviction, credit bureau lapses, and a big birthday
  The Bureau’s newest tool helps renters (and landlords) locate local emergency rental assistance programs for help repaying up to 18 months in back rent and utilities.
• Don’t leave thousands on the table this season
  Consumer Action has just published an updated version of our Get Credit for Your Hard Work guide reflecting increases in income limits and credit amounts. The guide for the 2021 tax-filing season (i.e., 2020 tax returns due in April) is available to download now in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. A Korean translation will be available by mid-January.
• The enduring impact of racism on your finances
  In an era of “alternative facts” and the ongoing systemic persecution of Black Americans, Consumer Action felt it critical to dedicate our Fall 2020 Consumer Action News to the impact of race on personal finances. The latest free quarterly newsletter examines the areas of individual and household finances most affected by entrenched racism—from car and student loans to mortgages and auto insurance. In each area, Consumer Action explores leading proposals for dismantling these barriers to financial inclusion.

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Recommended Training Tools

• Living Life Online (FTC resource)
  The nation's consumer watchdog offers great guidance for staying safe and avoiding scams online.
• CTIA’s Your Wireless Service
  CTIA - The Wireless Association has many solid resources to add to your wireless education efforts.
• Avoid ID Theft Training Kit
  The Federal Trade Commission offers a training package on ID Theft.

( View More Recommended Training Tools )  

Videos & Webinars

• Housing insecurity during the pandemic (Webinar)
  Even before the COVID pandemic, millions of Americans faced housing insecurity or instability—especially communities of color. During the pandemic, housing costs skyrocketed, leading to even more housing insecurity, despite COVID-era eviction moratoria that has now ended.
• How Inaccurate Private Data Leads to Loss of SSI Benefits: What advocates should know
  In this webinar, experts discuss how a private database used by the government to verify eligibility for SSI benefits is full of errors and can cause vulnerable beneficiaries to lose their benefits through no fault of their own.
• After a Disaster: ID Theft, Scams and Insurance (Presentation)
  Consumer Action's Linda Williams explains common scams and problems encountered by consumers who have been affected by a disaster.

( View More Videos & Webinars )