Free Financial Literacy Workshops In Newark Will Empower Residents

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the United Way of Greater Newark. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The United Way of Greater Newark, convener of the Newark Asset Building Coalition, is collaborating with six partners to host four free Financial Literacy workshops as part of a four-week series in September.

The four seminars address student loans and reducing the price of education, a dive into life insurance, how to qualify and apply for home energy assistance, and an introduction to investing.

This free Financial Literacy Partnership Series, which is funded by Capital One, coincides with the United Way of Greater Newark’s mission to disrupt the cycle of poverty by convening, collaborating, and investing in strategies to improve outcomes for children and families and the Newark Asset Building Coalition’s goal of promoting well-being and financial stability for all Newarkers by increasing savings, reducing debt, increasing financial knowledge and skills, and improving access to wealth-building programs.

Those interested in participating in the series can sign up online at www.bit.ly/NABCFinLit. All classes will take place on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Early Learning Center at 30 Demarest Street and will also be offered virtually.

“Together with our Newark Asset Building Coalition partners, we empower residents of Greater Newark to forge the pathway to financial stability by streamlining key financial services and programs," United Way of Greater Newark President and CEO Catherine Wilson said. "Hosting programs like the Financial Literacy Partnership Series are essential in providing the tools to guide community members toward making positive and long-lasting financial decisions.”

The United Way collaborates with New Jersey Citizen Action, The Ironbound Community Corporation, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Newark Alliance, La Casa De Don Pedro, Greater Newark LISC, Urban League of Essex County, New Community Corporation, and Clinton Hill Community Action to make up the Newark Asset Building Coalition.

"It's crucial to demystify financial topics that can feel so weighty and difficult to understand, and our NABC partners are able to do this in a way that is accessible and even fun," United Way of Greater Newark Director of Financial Stability Danielle Corea-Smith said. "We encourage everyone to come out for some free financial wellness tools and tips, and to learn how to go deeper into any of these topics following this series."

The series kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 8 with its first workshop “The Price of Education, Reducing Student Loan Debt.” The hybrid session served 83 people both virtually and in person at Clinton Hill Community Action’s Early Learning Center on Demarest Street in Newark. Clinton Hill Community Action’s Laura Cole and New Jersey Citizen Action’s Beverly Brown Ruggia and Paula Mirk conducted the first workshop.

"Many have not had the privilege of receiving financial literacy that enables them to thrive, improves quality of life, generates generational wealth, and provides economic liberation," Cole said. "This workshop was a needed example of how sharing information and resources can tangibly change one's circumstance and life for the better. A life without debt is an unrealistic dream for many partnerships such as this make it attainable."

The series continues on Thursday, Sept. 15 with a dive into how to insure your income through life insurance. This workshop will feature Jonathan Beaubien, a certified financial representative of the Guardian Life Insurance company of America and a volunteer for Urban League of Essex County, and Tamara Brown, a financial coach consultant and inter-agency collaborator to the NABC.

The third session will be on Thursday, Sept. 22, and will explore saving money through Home Energy Assistance. La Casa de Don Pedro’s Percival MacMaster, a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Representative and Supervisor, will lead this session.

The Financial Literacy Partnership Series concludes with its Investing 101 class on Thursday, Sept. 29. The final workshop features Kamilla Johnson, who operates Resourceful Coaching LLC, and Safet Musovic, a certified Wealth Advisor and AVP in Personal Wealth Management at Citi.

All classes will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Early Learning Center at 30 Demarest Street and also be offered virtually.

For more information about the United Way of Greater Newark or the Newark Asset Building Coalition visit their respective websites at www.uwnewark.org and www.nabcnj.org.

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