Detroit – Focus: HOPE and several area financial partners will host multiple free financial education
programs for Detroit-area residents on Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Focus: HOPE, 1400
Oakman Blvd. This Saturday event will be among the more than 3,000 free financial programs taking
place during Money Smart Week, April 5-12, 2014.
The free educational courses will focus on financial literacy, credit repair, financial aid and student loans,
homebuyer and homeowner education, and entrepreneurship. The workshops will be held at different
times during the four-hour event. In addition, there will be an ex-offender seminar from 11:00 a.m. until
3:00 p.m. to help individuals become more employable through mock interviews and free consulting from
lawyers and other experts.
Children and teens in grades K-8 can attend a “Kids Dollars Matters” program with their parents
throughout the day. Local partners include the Center for Empowerment and Economic Development
(CEED), FirstMerit Bank, Flagstar Bank, Global College Planning, and Public Service Credit Union.
These partners are funding the costs of the financial education programs and their in-house experts will
serve as course instructors.
“This event is perfect for anyone who has questions about how to better handle their own finances, from
paying down debt, to buying a home to basic saving and lending practices,” said Focus: HOPE CEO
William F. Jones, Jr. “It is open and free to everyone and the information you receive is priceless.”
Money Smart Week is a public awareness campaign to promote financial education across all age groups.
Launched in 2002 by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the program is now active in more than 45
states through national partnerships with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Cooperative Extension,
and the American Library Association.
“We thank our partners for their support in helping to educate our community on such a variety of
topics,” said Focus: HOPE Housing Rehab and Development Specialist Esteria Rogan. “This is an event
where couples, neighbors and family members can all attend, and the children’s program makes it
convenient to bring kids along as well. It’s never too early to understand how to manage your money.”
Dean Trudeau, CEO of Public Service Credit Union, says his staff has been working to change “an
epidemic of financial illiteracy in Wayne County” by going into schools with the “Smart Kids Program”
and teaching money management skills. “In the five years this program has been in place, more than 1600
children have received training, opened bank accounts and are saving and investing in their future,”
Trudeau said.
Money Smart Week began as a coordinated effort among a small group of Chicago-area organizations
working to promote financial literacy, said Alejo Torres, Senior Outreach Manager at the Federal Reserve
Bank of Chicago. Money Smart Week continues to expand nationally, providing greater awareness of,
and access to personal finance resources for all.
“FirstMerit Bank is pleased to partner with Focus: HOPE for Money Smart Week,” said FirstMerit Bank
Vice President for Community Reinvestment Lysa Davis. “This is a great opportunity to serve our
community by teaching about the value of home ownership and how best to realize this goal.”
Money Smart Week events are open to the public at businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries,
nonprofits and government agencies throughout the country. The programs cover a variety of topics
including kids and money, unemployment, managing student debt and retirement.
People interested in attending the financial education programs at Focus: HOPE on April 12 are
encouraged to pre-register by calling 313-494-4922 or emailing esteria.rogan@focushope.edu. To find
additional programs in the area visit www.moneysmartweek.org.
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