A new program for financial literacy comes to Centro Hispano as it looks to equip Latinas with the tools necessary to secure a solid financial future.
Cultura Y Finanzas, an expansion on Centro Hispano’s Latinas in Savings program in the past, encourages financial literacy through a series of learning opportunities. Two sessions are planned to be held, with the first already beginning on June 23 and the next on July 14.
Centro’s focus is to impact the community and provide support in the face of economic challenges. It aims to use robust programming to start a lifetime of sound financial planning for participants. Cultura Y Finanzas is open for those as young as 16 with the hope of getting the thought process started early.
(Photo courtesy of Centro Hispano)
“I’m a true believer that knowledge is power. When I was in high school, most of the time our culture was not exposed to these topics like financial literacy, how to budget, how to save, how to grow your money,” said Brenda Martinez, finance and job readiness specialist with Centro. “It’s not that the kids are not ready, it’s just that the content is not there.”
Getting teenagers exposed to financial literacy early will help them be prepared for the future, Martinez said. Early preparation will aid in hitting essential milestones in life.
Norma Valles, director of programs at Centro, points to an essential part of the American Dream — homeownership.
“One of the things within the Latinx culture is that we know part of the American Dream is to have a home, to set roots,” Valles said. “We have generations of families living here in Madison and Dane County and they still don’t own a home even though that was one of the dreams they had when they migrated here.”
A variety of issues can be attributed to the lack of homeownership, but a common theme Centro has noticed in its college programs is that not many have credit or bank accounts.
(Photo by David Dahmer)
Programming will plan to address that. Ten topics are planned to be covered, including its Latina Savings Initiative, unique challenges that women face, community challenges, retirement and its needs and sources, saving and investing, credit and debt, financial planning, and financial tips.
Centro hopes that the program will yield results for families as a whole. By getting at least one person more readily equipped through financial literacy, it may trickle down into a generational benefit.
“I’m looking at Brenda right now and I think of her two daughters. At some point, maybe next year, one of them might be able to join Latinas in Savings, and will be able to join cultivating wealth as she becomes a freshman in high school,” Valles said. “Brenda teaching her daughter all the skills at that early age… that’s the impact we are looking for.”
The next session will be held July 14 from 5-8 p.m. at Centro Hispano, 2403 Cypress Way. It is free to attend; registration is required. There is no cap for how many can register.
