The Houston Area Urban League and Honda Financial Services today announced the Houston-area launch of Know Your Money™, a curriculum-based economic empowerment program designed to strengthen the economic foundation of African-American and Latino communities and bring about a systemic change in attitudes about money and money-management. The nationally acclaimed Know Your Money program includes a three-class course taught by business and academic experts that provides young African-American and Latino professionals with a more comprehensive understanding of personal money management. A nominal fee is charged for registration.
"The Houston Area Urban League and its Young Professionals are pleased to present this exemplary financial literacy initiative," said Judson Robinson III, President and CEO of the Houston Urban League. "In today's tumultuous economic climate, young people of color here in Houston, like many Americans, are contending with personal financial management issues. The time is right for a program that speaks honestly about money management, and helps them achieve their financial goals."
Designed by financial consultant and author Carla J. Cargle, the National Urban League's Know Your Money curriculum includes coursework focused on improving participants' understanding of budgeting, the value of saving money and other essential tools for personal asset management. Program participants will be given the tools and foundation upon which to build long-term economic stability for themselves, their families and their communities.
Enrollment for the Houston Know Your Money™ courses is now open. The courses will be conducted on March 1st, 8th and 15th at the United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr. in Houston, and will be taught by curriculum author Carla Cargle. Class sizes will be limited in order to allow for an interactive learning environment. Interested parties should submit applications through the registration website (www.nul.org/kym) as soon as possible. A registration fee of $45 will cover course materials, class sessions, continental breakfast and refreshments. The final session will be followed by a graduation ceremony and all students that complete the course will receive a diploma.
"Honda is honored to continue its partnership with the National Urban League and the NUL Young Professionals in Houston," said Marc Burt, senior manager, Office of Inclusion and Diversity for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The overwhelmingly favorable feedback we've received for this program in other cities confirms that Know Your Money™ effectively provides African American and Latino professionals with the information, education and networking resources they need to safeguard their financial futures."
Know Your Money Comes To Houston for 2008/2
Know Your Money was first launched in Houston seven years ago, and to date has provided financial literacy training to nearly 4,000 young professionals nationwide. This year, the Honda-sponsored initiative will start March 1st through the Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals (HAULYP) chapter, and will also include the markets of Birmingham, AL; Columbus, OH and Tucson, AZ. The program objective is to help participants form new attitudes about money and money management. Surveys conducted at the end of the first year of Know Your Money™ revealed that 90% of participants in each of the host cities found the coursework invaluable, would recommend the program to others and started making positive changes in their personal money management as a result of the course. Other students gave similar high marks to the program, stating that the lessons they gleaned from Know Your Money would definitely enable them to chart a more positive financial future.
About the National Urban League (www.nul.org)
Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.
As part of the National Urban League's ongoing efforts to cultivate future African-American business and political leadership, the NUL established the National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) organization in 2000. The Houston affiliate was established in 1971. Today, there are more than 48 Young Professionals chapters in cities throughout the nation, working together with the affiliates of the NUL to support financial literacy, real world education and related political participation programs and initiatives for African-Americans. For more information about the National Urban League and the NULYP, please visit the organization's Web site at www.nul.org.
About American Honda Finance Corporation/ Honda Financial Services
American Honda Finance Corporation was established in 1980 as a wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Doing business as Honda Financial Services, its mission is to increase customer satisfaction by helping consumers finance their purchase of Honda and Acura automobiles, motorcycles, power and marine equipment, parts and accessories. For more information about American Honda Finance Corporation, visit the Web site at www.HondaFinancialServices.com.