MAPLE GROVE, MINN. In June and July TopLine teamed up with YouthCARE (Youth for Cultural Appreciation and Racial Equality) of Minneapolis and St. Paul to provide financial literacy workshops for students who participate in their Community Service Stars Employment Training and Young Womens Mentorship programs. Nearly forty teenagers, age 14-18, from across the Twin Cities participated in YouthCAREs sessions of their Community Service Stars Employment Training and Young Womens Mentorship Programs, which focus on communication, developing leadership, learning about post-secondary options and financial literacy. The training programs provide meaningful employment and service-learning opportunities for urban youth, from diverse ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds.
To compliment YouthCAREs programs, TopLine Federal Credit Union conducted financial literacy workshops emphasizing how to manage personal finances based on income coming from part-time jobs. Areas of focus included: gross vs. net income; goal setting; how to budget; how to make saving a habit; how to divide income into saving, sharing and spending buckets; and how to use checking accounts and debit cards. TopLines session also outlined for students which kinds of accounts to open; what questions should be asked when opening accounts; and how to protect personal information to avoid identity theft. "Each teen who participates in the Community Service Stars Employment Training Program earns minimum wage, so integrating TopLines financial literacy sessions into our learning programs helps our students learn the importance of practicing good money management skills," says Nardos Tesfalidet, YouthLEAD Program Director. "With this being the first job for many of the students, we are trying to teach the importance of basic financial skills, so they have the tools they need to make wise financial decisions throughout their lives." "Surveys show that teens are more likely to have a cell phone than a savings account," says Vicki Erickson, Vice President of Marketing, TopLine Federal Credit Union. "Thats why TopLine is committed to assisting kids in programs like these from YouthCARE to help kids learn about the importance of opening and managing savings and checking accounts, to learn how to save, create goals, and establish a budget, all to help build the next generation of financially knowledgeable young adults."
Since 1974, YouthCARE has led ambitious multicultural youth development programs to empower youth in Minneapolis and St. Paul to thrive and lead. YouthCARE provides real life employment and leadership opportunities through innovative programming and relationships with caring adults. A preeminent organization in youth development, YouthCARE challenges youth to contribute to their communities, develop friendships across cultures, and view their futures as infinite possibilities. YouthCARE operates three primary programs: the Young Womens Mentoring Program, Camp Sunrise, and YouthLEAD. For more information visit http://www.youthcaremn.org.
TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 13th largest, with assets of more than $370 million. Established in 1935, the not-forprofit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five branch locations in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members.
