As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to loom within our communities, the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago, in conjunction with the City of Chicago, is working to address the impact of the financial strain of the pandemic, particularly within underserved communities, through Money Smart Week. Money Smart Week is an annual event that usually takes place all over the city in community spaces, such as libraries. It covers a variety of topics, such as budgeting, investing, taxes, and savings. Due to the pandemic, Money Smart Week will be 100% virtual this year and has COVID-specific themed programming, such as “Managing Personal Finances during COVID-19” and “Housing Protections and Resources,” to discuss various resources, such as rental assistance programs. Each session will provide speakers, resources, as well as an opportunity to ask additional questions. A few of the events scheduled include:
- Monday, April 12th, 2021, at noon: “Bank on It: Finding Safe and Affordable Bank Accounts” presented by the Economic Awareness Council
- Tuesday, April 13th, 2021, at 12:30 pm: “Understanding the Basics of Federal Student Loans” presented by the U.S. Department of Education and Federal Student Aid.
- Friday, April 16th, 2021, at noon: “Housing Protections & Resources” presented by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
In addition to programming for adults, the Chicago Treasurer’s Office will also host The Virtual Youth FinTech Summit 2021, in partnership with The Greenwood Project and World Business Chicago, to provide youth financial tools. Committed to further expanding financial literacy to all age groups, the City Treasurer’s Office is also preparing financial literacy programming for elementary school students for the Summer of 2021. More information on these programs can be found at https://www.chicagocitytreasurer.com/moneysmartweek.
Money Smart Week is free and open to all, but advance registration is recommended. Registration and additional information on other Money Smart Week events can be found here.
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