As the new financial mobility Vista for the year, underwritten by B&T, I've decided to change a few things in hopes that we can reach new areas of the community.
Most of the community we try to uplift come from extremely low incomes to the point that they don't have a bank accounts or even have the means to start one presently, which made me think that there needs to be a step before our financial partners can step in and help.
In the next month or so, Nathan C
arter, Executive Director of Gentry House, and I will work together to create a curriculum for individuals that focus on the most basic beginning steps of getting acquainted with money and money management it. It will consist of 3 phases, that will be closely monitored and will be individually tailored to the client after phase one. This curriculum will be used, hopefully for Vistas to come. We will start teaching this program to the clients at Gentry house and expand from there. This program, I hope will bridge the gap for these individuals to become comfortable to talk about their own finances and eventually overcome that fear of banks, bankers setting up accounts, etc. The ultimate goal of this program is to get these individuals financially stable enough to w
ork one on one with our banking partners to
i
mprove their
financial well being. This program will be incredibly hands on and hopefully be a building block for many to get out of their current situations.
In the past few months of my service, Mr. Washington and I have been pitching this idea of a computer cart for our financial literacy program. With the mobile computer cart, we will be able to start a free technology and computer skills program for the community. Much like the one that the public library used to have. We will be sprinkling in some online banking resources and tools into the program in hopes to educate mobile banking.
Bri Stoebe
Financial Mobility Coordinator
VISTA for 2019-2020
