| January
11, 2007 / Issue 2.1
Dear Members,
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Advisory Group
of the California Jump$tart Coalition, I want to thank
you all for your interest in improving the personal
financial literacy of California’s youth. You
are making a difference. Financial literacy is gaining
momentum. There is a lot going on…and a lot to
do.
Personal financial literacy means different things
to different people at different stages in their lives.
But suffice it to say it is a life long journey to achieve
financial success through practical and emotional knowledge
of how to make good decisions -- and avoid bad decisions
-- in the following areas: money management, earning,
saving, investing, spending and credit. No matter which
areas you focus on, thanks again for your interest in
and efforts to improve financial literacy. Please contact
us and let us know how CA Jump$tart can help you.
MEMBER PROFILE
ByDesign Financial Solutions. ByDesign
Financial Solutions, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit education
organization, is dedicated to helping individuals and
families learn money management skills to prevent and
solve financial difficulties. With offices in Los Angeles,
Fresno, Sacramento, and Stockton , the organization offers
youth and adult personal finance education courses, confidential
budget and housing counseling, credit report and identity
theft awareness and resolution services, and debt reduction
plans. Financial Firsts, ByDesign’s new financial
literacy program for foster youth, is a five course program
covering: First Checking Account, First Credit Card, First
Job, First Car, and First Home-Away-From-Home. This program,
which reached more than 600 foster youth in 2006, is free
to participating students, independent living centers,
and other foster youth care centers in California . Learn
more about ByDesign by visiting their website
or calling (800) 750-2227.
FINANCIAL LITERACY RESOURCES
Department of Financial Institutions (DFI).
The California Department of Financial Institutions
(DFI) has partnered with The Center for Student Credit
Card Education, Inc. (CSCCE) to offer The ABCs of Credit
Card Finance – Essential Facts for Students, a
free credit card literacy program for high school juniors
and seniors. The program teaches students how to wisely
choose and responsibly use a credit card before they
move on to college or join the workforce. Over the past
three years, more than 1,000,000 students in all fifty
states have participated in the program. Course materials
include a primer for each participating student and
a trainer’s guide and PowerPoint presentation
for each participating school. For more information,
contact Alana
Golden or visit the DFI's website.
Fitting PFL into the Classroom. The
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published an interesting article
this week on incorporating personal financial literacy
into high school curriculum. The story gives a good
overview of the significant challenges teachers face,
despite rising personal debt levels in this country.
Read the story here.
SUCCESS STORIES
Nominate a Leader. The California
Jump$tart Coalition is looking for success stories about
California teachers, volunteers, students, donors, and
members of the state legislature or other government
offices who have improved personal financial literacy.
We will recognize important achievements in and worthy
contributions to improving personal financial literacy
in California . The first awards will be announced at
the California Jump$tart member meetings in April 2007.
Please send your nominations, with a brief description
of the nominee and what they have done, to the Awards
Committee: Karen
Anderson and Norm
Greenbaum.
EVENTS & MEETINGS
Save the Dates. The California Jump$tart
Coalition’s Half State Member meetings facilitate
face-to-face networking and exchanges that result in
effective and efficient use of financial literacy resources.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. You’ll
receive more information in the coming months.
April 24, 2007 (Tuesday) – in Los Angeles at the
LA Federal Reserve Bank
April 26, 2007 (Thursday) – in San Francisco at
the SF Federal Reserve Bank
Remember to visit California Jump$tart’s newly
redesigned website regularly to submit your upcoming
events, resources, and success stories.
Have a successful and prosperous 2007.
Have Fun,
Jim Greenwood
Chair
CA Jump$tart Coalition
info@cajumpstart.org
http://www.cajumpstart.org
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