Financial Access Fair Held In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT - From Building One Community: The Center for Immigrant Opportunity and Qualitas of Life Foundation held a free Financial Access Fair for Spanish-speaking immigrants on Saturday, October 27, 2018. The fair featured banks, credit unions, and the Consulate General of Mexico, as well as other organizations who offer financial services. Approximately 60 immigrants attended.

Exhibitors provided immigrants with the opportunity to open checking and savings accounts and obtain pre-approval for credit and business loans. Additionally, they passed out information on how to save for retirement and prepare for tax season.

Workshops including “My Finances and My Business” took place throughout the afternoon and advised attendees on how to better manage their personal or business’ assets. Participants were eager to learn from the experiences of presenters such as Alida Boer, former Miss Guatemala and the Founder and Director of ethical fashion brand Marias Bag, as well as gain tips and skills that will help them and their families’ to be financially stable.

Volunteers from Greenwich High School and Qualitas of Life Foundation helped attendees navigate the fair and provided translation services where needed.

Nilbia Coyote, Program Coordinator at Qualitas of Life Foundation said, “The goal of the Financial Access Fair was to create a bridge between financial service providers and the community in an environment of trust, maximizing the impact of our financial education program. We want to continue working in partnership with Building One Community to offer reliable, free and accessible services and resources to the Hispanic community in Stamford, CT, and at the end of the day, enhance their financial capabilities.”

Workforce Development Manager Ivonne Zucco, who led the effort to organize the fair, echoed Ms. Coyote’s sentiment and added, “Building One Community is proud to be a source of information for our immigrant community and assist them in gaining access to financial resources and opportunities.”

About Building One Community

Building One Community is a nonprofit organization, established in 2011, that provides a comprehensive resource center for immigrants in the greater Stamford area. The mission of Building One Community is to bring passionate people together to help immigrants and their families succeed in the community. For more information, visit www.Building1Community.org.

About Qualitas of Life Foundation

Qualitas of Life Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides basic financial education to Hispanic individuals and their families, in order to foster their financial security and improve their standard of living. Qualitas works hand in hand with community-based organizations based in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts to provide basic financial education workshops to the Hispanic migrant community. For more information, visit www.qualitasoflife.org.

Photo courtesy of Building One Community