In remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Society of Black Student Social Workers (SBSSW) at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work will host a “Financial Freedom Semnar: Achieving Economic Independence Through Education,” from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 20 in Brown Hall.
The event is designed for members of the St. Louis community interested in building wealth, maintaining good credit, purchasing a home or starting a business. The event is free, but participants must register.
“SBSSW’s goal is to present the King holiday not as a tradition or a history lesson, but as a call to action to fight for economic and social justice,” said Charletra Hurt, SBSSW co-chair and first-year social-work student.
“Financial management resources are often not easily accessible through local institutions for African-Americans,” Hurt continued. “In addition, these resources are usually presented with language or examples that do not capture the attention or address issues relevant to African-Americans. More information is needed to help African-Americans to wisely manage their resources and use their economic base to break cycles of poverty and build assets.”
Seminar participants will be able to attend two of the following workshops:
• “Everything You Need to Know About Your Credit,” which includes information on repairing and improving credit and the impact good credit has on purchases, employment opportunities and bank accounts
• “Qualifying to Buy a Home,” which covers obstacles to the process and ways to overcome them
• “Becoming Debt-free,” which offers financial tools and disciplines
• “Don’t Borrow Trouble,” which explores some of the predatory lending tactics used by unscrupulous lenders
• “Wealth Accumulation: With or Without Business,” which offers information on how to build sustainable wealth by making informed financial decisions, as well as tips on starting a successful small business
• “Financial Planning,” which explores investment options to make money work for investors and tips on how to plan for a secure financial future
• “Life After Prison, Who Cares?” which includes methods to help transition back into the community and discussion of re-entry, child support, and employment issues and solutions
The seminar will begin with a keynote address by John Bryant, founder, chair and CEO of Operation HOPE Inc., a non-profit organization and leading national provider of economic empowerment tools and services for the underserved.
For more information and to register, call 935-9116 or e-mail specialevents@gwbmail.wustl.edu.