Meet our 2016-2017 Interns

JEFRE BARRERA (Cabrillo College) - "The majority of youth in my community are financially illiterate but I want to provide them with information and resources that will give them opportunities to create a better life for themselves. I want to show them that someone does care about them, their future, and wants them to succeed." 
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KIANA MORALES (UCSC) - "What we are doing  really hits home because when I was younger my mom and I went through financial hardships and no one was there to help or guide us. I want to reach out to teens girls that are in Middle School. They are the future."
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Youth Financial Capability

SCCV's Youth Financial Capability program provides financial education for youth by youth, including hands on opportunity to build their credit through creditBound - a lending circle for 18 - 25 year olds. 

SCCV's youth program has three main focus areas:
  • Middle School: Structured into six sessions using a social peer circle format for middle school girls around life examples and conversations to highlight financial concepts, career choices, and related educational requirements and financial impacts. Students and their parents are encouraged to start saving for college. 
 
  • Students in the Workforce: A series of four classroom style sessions with a priority on students who may not follow a traditional path to college. Working with students, SCCV educates on ways to start saving, prevent wage theft, and increase knowledge of credit and financially planning. Studies have proven that young adults with financial education and savings accounts are 176% more likely to afford unexpected expenses.
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  • creditBound: Lending circle or "tanda" that works as a credit builder program. Uses an online platform that requires use of a savings account. Program includes a peer cohort model that is provided with up to 10 financial education workshops and checkups.  Must be 18 - 25 years old to participate. 
Background
Lack of financial stability combined with low academic attainment (46% of the population has less than a high school degree) create significant barriers to moving the community from a cycle of poverty. In order to combat the cycle, it is important to start to educate youth on healthy financial habits, skills that their parents may lack, and put them on the road to higher education.