Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation
The nation’s first Community Development organization and recipient of a grant from the Foundation of Financial Planning, BSRC partners with residents and businesses to improve the quality of life in Central Brooklyn, pursuing strategies to close gaps in family and community wealth to ensure all families are prosperous and healthy. Chapter volunteers provide 30-minute one-on-one counseling sessions.
Family Justice Centers of New York City and MoneyW!se
The Centers in each of five boroughs of New York City provide criminal justice and social services in one location to victims of domestic violence (DV) and their children. Counseling and childcare services are available to clients taking job readiness classes at the centers. So where do MoneyW!se and FPA of Metro NY come in?
Few people associate the need for financial literacy with domestic violence. However, financial abuse is experienced in 99% of domestic violence relationships. Financial education is, therefore, critical for victims of domestic violence to develop the knowledge and confidence to manage their money independently. In 2009, W!se (Working In Support of Education) created MoneyW!SE to provide this much-needed financial education. MoneyW!SE is a personal finance course offered for survivors of domestic violence that guides them onto a pathway of financial independence. Topics taught include budgeting, financial planning, banking, saving, paychecks, credit, housing, investing, insurance, retirement planning, taxes and wills. At the end of the course, participants take W!se’s Financial Literacy Certification Test; those passing become Certified Financially Literate – a credential that can help them in their search for work. Chapter volunteers help by providing instruction for some of the topics and ideally they can teach several modules in order to develop a rapport with this sensitive community.
NYC's Office of Financial Empowerment
The Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) extends its reach across New York City with Financial Empowerment Centers, dedicated to supporting individuals with limited incomes. The agency develops programs and services to enhance accessibility to top-tier, cost-effective financial education and counseling, fostering safe and affordable mainstream banking, and facilitating access to income-boosting tax credits and savings. Trained financial counselors work with OFE clients on a variety of topics and issues to help them achieve their goals.
Periodically, these counselors refer clients to our chapter for specialized expertise in various financial planning areas where their knowledge may be insufficient for comprehensive advice. Here, our volunteer experts conduct 30-minute one-on-one counseling sessions with these referred clients, ensuring personalized and guidance.
Working to provide financial literacy and empowerment resources to the New York City community. Chapter volunteers provide one-on-one counseling sessions, workshop speakers, and support for NYPL's Financial Planning Day.