LISC LA’s Financial Opportunity Center Partner Hosts 5th Annual Financial Wellness Conference for Low-to-Moderate Income Communities

Community members participated in a three-day hybrid conference that focused on financial management and well-being

9.27.2022 — LISC StoriesFinancial Stability

On Saturday, September 24th, Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP) culminated their three-day Annual Financial Wellness Conference titled “Get Ready for Financial Success,” which provided essential financial literacy for low-to-moderate income attendees.
Over 200 attendees learned about critical topics like income and expenses planning, taxes, credit, and more.

Funded by a grant from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC LA) with financial support from MasterCard and Microsoft, CCNP’s Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) provides a holistic approach to wealth-building. Through workforce and economic development assistance, the FOC provides resources like conferences, workshops, and one-on-one support to the communities that need it most. Their integrated approach and long-term commitment to helping clients access living wage jobs, career pathways, and financial stability advance economic opportunities for low-to-moderate income families in Los Angeles.

Participants accessing these services provided by FOCs:

Reside in low-to-moderate income communities where the median household income is $43,813
Are without a high school diploma
Are or have been justice-involved
Identify as Black, Latinx, or Person of Color (BIPOC)
Are above the age of 18
Are unemployed/underemployed

LISC LA’s FOC partners like CCNP, Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), and Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP) provide access to a comprehensive array of services to fill the gaps in workforce and economic development. Through this partnership, low-income residents have been able to open and increase their line of credit, build a budget, and access income supports, thus, sustaining financial gains and economic stability. CCNP’s program participants have a median income of $17,273, earning less than one-fifth of the median income in Los Angeles County.

Yanet, a single mother of five, has participated in CCNP’s FOC program since 2018, receiving bus coupons and other intensive services. She enrolled in Microsoft’s Digital Literacy Class and has gained basic computer literacy skills. With those skills, she can now access resources like CCNP’s hybrid conference and will soon be working with a coach to establish financial goals. “I feel good and happy coming to CCNP with my pencil and books ready to learn and knowing that I have someone who believes in me and is patient with me,” said Yanet.

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“Through our FOCs’ Digital Pathways to Careers Initiative, LISC LA remains committed to digital equity, closing the racial wealth gap, and providing upskilling opportunities that provide pathways for individuals to enter an increasingly digital economy. We are proud to support our long-time partner, CCNP, to catalyze economic opportunities and mobility for communities that need it most,” said Shona Sen, Senior Program Officer, LISC Los Angeles.

“At CCNP, we are committed to serving as a resource to advance economic prosperity by providing a bundle of services that builds on basic needs and skills training for many low-income residents. Due to demand, the conference has evolved over the last five years into what it is today, providing basic financial wellness planning and vital skills for low-income residents,” said Margarita Alvarez, Executive Director, CCNP.

LISC LA’s Financial Opportunity Center Partner Hosts 5th Annual Financial Wellness Conference for Low-to-Moderate Income Communities

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