Executive Director's Note:

FLF has been very busy forging new partnerships and increasing its outreach in Southeast, D.C. In the summer 2008, FLF opened an office in Covenant House, an organization focused on providing social services and housing to homeless, foster, and at-risk youth. FLF provides Financial Empowerment workshops to Covenant House students that tie into their objectives to obtain education, employment and gain self-sufficiency.

Beginning in January 2009, FLF began teaching youth awaiting adjudication at the Youth Services Center (YSC) in D.C. Every third Sunday, a cadre of FLF volunteers and instructors teach more than 80 students at YSC. Students receive lessons on banking, savings and credit. For students who know little to nothing about banking, FLF uses scenarios (like obtaining a cell phone or renting an apartment) to teach students key financial management concepts.

This is FLF’s fourth year teaching elective courses in D.C. public and public charter high schools. In fall 2008, FLF launched its first Entrepreneurship course at SEED Public Charter School. FLF believes strongly in experiential learning and as part of the Entrepreneurship class, students operate the school store. Last year, the store was run by administrators and the students had to order supplies. In cooperation with the SEED administration, SEED students designed a new school store – from researching the hardware/software system to developing work schedules. Student input is integral and two representatives from the Entrepreneurship class meet twice a month with the SEED administration to discuss new ideas, strategies, and issues related to the Store.

During the first semester, SEED students worked with their FLF instructors to write a grant proposal to the State Farm Youth Advisory Board. Recently, representatives from State Farm visited the SEED School to present the check for $100,000 to support the new SEED School Store. (to read more see highlights section )

FLF is only as successful as our partners allow us to be, which is why we are grateful to Covenant House, Youth Services Center and our school partners for believing in FLF. With their help, FLF will continue to grow and equip an increasing number of students with the critical skills necessary to take control of their financial futures.