Money Smart Week^® Michigan

Money Smart Week® had another successful run in Michigan. This past April, more than 250 events and activities were offered and the number of attendees and participants exceeded 6,000. Wayne State University continued its legacy of being an active Money Smart Week partner in Southeastern Michigan. Meanwhile, Ford Credit Volunteers conducted twenty-three workshops with an average of 30 consumers in attendance per session. These partners, along with many others, have been monumental in the push for financial literacy in Michigan. To see more highlights, check out the 2011 annual report.

This year, 46 Ford Credit volunteers conducted 23 workshops on the Keys to Understanding Financial Success. Nineteen of the workshops were held in Detroit high schools and four were held at community organizations. On average, 30 consumers attended each workshop. Ford Credit volunteers have had such success they received requests for 20 more workshops at an additional 11 Detroit Public Schools for the week following Money Smart Week. Ford Credit will continue these efforts throughout the year.

Is your organization holding free and open-to-the-public financial literacy events throughout the year? Let us know! Contact Tiffany Butler.

Long-time Money Smart Week partner Wayne State University continues to be a valuable Money Smart Week partner in Southeastern Michigan. Wayne State has over six U.S. Department of Education federally funded programs for first generation and/or  low-income participants . They have also mandated that financial literacy be included in the curriculum of each of their programs. The university held events during Money Smart Week for Educational Talent Search high school students at Osborn, Detroit International Academy for Women, Martin Luther King High School and Southwestern High School. The Upward Bound Program held a Money Smart event on their campus that included parents, students and staff. The Veteran’s Upward Bound and the Educational Opportunity Center also held a joint event on the campus covering credit and money management. 
 
The McNair Scholars program, a program that prepares students at Wayne State University for successful admission to a graduate school in pursuit of a Ph.D. or masters degree, participated in budgeting and credit topics relative to graduate school life. Over 260 high school, veterans, McNair Scholars and adult learners were served this year. 

If you missed out on the Money Smart Week action at Wayne State University this year, keep an eye out for more information on how you can be involved next year, both at Wayne State and with our other partners!