LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Inside a building Wednesday at 25th and Montgomery streets in Louisville’s Portland neighborhood, Community Connections Group and partners were bringing in tables and moving around chairs, getting ready to launch a new program focused on preparing young men for success.
“Anybody who needs help, we want them at this program,” said James Linton, president of Community Connections Group. “We’re hoping it ignites flames with other children who want to duplicate that effort.”
The program is focused on improving financial literacy for 13- to 17-year-old boys.
In an 18-week session, they’ll meet there on Saturdays, going over how to set up checking and saving accounts, understanding documents, preparing for college, managing money and more.
Community Connections Group launching program to help teens with financial literacy
“We want to give them a bank account, deposit $50 in their bank account, and show them how to maintain a positive balance with their banking,” said Linton.
Linton said the first session with 30 teens filled up in one day. He said the program will also teach young men about insurance, taxes, and cost of living expenses:
- Banking 101: checking and savings account
- Reading comprehension: understanding documents
- Preparation and paying for college: grades, ACT/SAT testing, scholarships
- Manage money: how to budget, set savings goals
- Saving and investing: basic understanding of stocks, bonds, mutual funds
- Preparing for adulthood: careers and understanding salary, benefits, financial independence, cost of living expenses
- Credit and borrowing: credit scores, student loans, credit card use
- Renting vs. owning: pros and cons of renting/homeownership
- Insurance: understanding various types of insurance including health, auto, life
- Taxes: income taxes, filling out tax returns
Patia Adonis, whose 14-year-old son is one of those signed up, said she thinks this help teach him skills she hasn’t talked to him about yet. She’s also a board member with Community Connections Group.
“I know as a parent, lots of times — especially with him being in high school now — I’m focused on grades, behavior, ACT scores and things that,” Adonis said. “‘How do you do taxes? What does it mean to take out a student loan? Credit card debit?'”
The Kemper Academy for Teaching and Learning — an affiliate of The de Paul School in Louisville’s Deer Park neighborhood that provides professional development opportunities, internships, tutoring services and community outreach — is getting involved in the program with its outreach.
“The idea is to take what we do at the de Paul School and share it with the greater community,” said Kim Landrum, executive director of the Kemper Academy for Teaching and Learning.
Volunteers will also come in as guest speakers, providing an aspect of mentorship.
“I have been in education for 20-plus years,” Landrum said. “My husband is also in the field of education, and I cannot tell you how critical financial literacy is.
As critical as the financial literacy part is, I think the mentorship is just as important.”
Linton said the plan to to have three speakers each Saturday, sharing their life experiences and information about various career fields.
“They’re also going to see adults giving,” Adonis said. “They’re going to see us trying to help the community. So, in the long run, this is going to come full circle, and we hope, when they become adults, they’ll come back and help their communities as well.”
Thanks to volunteers, Linton said there is no cost for teens who participate. He said Heaven Hill is a partner and has paid the rent for the space for the first 18 weeks as well as purchased all the computers.
“We’re looking forward to moving and just being a blessing to the whole community,” Linton said.
Because the first session filled up so quickly, there will be two sessions during the first 18 weeks: one in the morning and another in the afternoon. The afternoon session still has space available. For those interested in signing up, an email can be sent to Linton at [email protected].
He said Community Connections Group has made a commitment to run the program for three years.
A ribbon cutting will be held Dec. 16. The first sessions will launch in January.
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