More than a hundred turn out for money management trainings, despite the heat

As an intense heat wave baked the East Coast, driving many to seek relief at the beach or pool, Consumer Action’s community outreach managers Linda Williams and Nelson Santiago stayed dry, delivering three free financial empowerment trainings in late July to community-based organizations in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. The Money Management 1-2-3 trainings covered all aspects of financial health, from building a strong foundation to achieving budgeting goals and planning a secure future.

As the name reveals, the Money Management 1-2-3 module consists of three segments: Part 1 guides those who are starting out or starting over by presenting them with strategies to manage their income, use credit wisely and live within their means. The strategies presented in Part 2 can help consumers achieve financial goals through budgeting, accumulation of a nest egg and protection of their assets. Finally, Part 3 helps consumers plan a secure future as they prepare to leave the workforce for retirement.

Those attending the trainings came from banking and academic institutions, government agencies and faith-based groups, as well as non-profits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable consumers, such as those who were formerly incarcerated, young people, homeless people, senior citizens, veterans, and those seeking employment.

In Reston, Virginia, Williams and Santiago trained 30 representatives of community-based organizations. Of those, more than 95% responded in a post-training survey that they believed the training information and materials would be valuable in helping their clients understand the impact that life changes have on their finances.

In the District of Columbia, Williams and Santiago reached 55 staff from community-based organizations, nearly 90% of whom indicated that they found the training information and materials useful in helping their clients develop a plan to manage their money in order to build a safe financial future.

Finally, in Columbia, Maryland, Williams and Santiago trained people from over 40 community-based organizations, with 90% responding that the training provided them with needed resources and tools to help their clients meet unique and changing financial needs.

Summarizing how many felt, one participant stated: “I have been attending Consumer Action trainings for over 10 years, and I have never been disappointed. It was a great training!”

Williams and Santiago will return to Washington, D.C. on October 16 to present the Money Management 1-2-3 module to cafeteria employees in partnership with the Metro Washington Council’s Community Services Agency and Teamsters Local 639.