FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Laura Hart, 401-456-8977, lhart@ric.edu
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – On Saturday, Dec. 6, Rhode Island College will host a free, daylong conference designed to help educators, social service providers and librarians build the financial knowledge and capability of area students and other community members. While the conference is geared toward those who connect the public to financial literacy information and services, it is open to the general public.
The conference will open at 8:45 a.m. with a speaking program that includes RIC President Nancy Carriuolo, Treasurer-Elect Seth Magaziner, Deputy Majority Leader Deborah Ruggiero and R.I. Jump$tart Coalition President Margaret Brooks. Senator Jack Reed will offer greetings via videoconference.
At 9:15 a.m., attendees may choose from the following one-hour workshops:
- “Budgeting and Spending Wisely,” led by Pawtucket Credit Union Assistant Vice President Kristin Rojas.
- “Credit Scores: How They Are Measured and Why We Should Care,” led by Navigant Credit Union Vice President Randall Sacilotto.
- “Managing Your Online Identity and Protecting Against Fraud,” led by R.I. Superior Court Associate Justice Brian Stern and Compliance Associate Matthias Rubekeil, Esq., of Johnson and Wales University.
10:30 a.m. workshops include:
- “What’s New in 2014 – Your Personal Taxes,” led by Providence College Finance Professor Paul Maloney, and “Education Credits and Deductions,” led by H&R Block Tax Advisor David McIntyre.
- “The $100-Billion Predatory Business,” led by Capital Good Fund Founder and CEO Andrew Posner.
- “Are You Sure College Is Still Worth It? Understanding the Return on Your College Investment and Making the Right Decisions,” led by University of Rhode Island Vice Provost Dean Libutti.
During lunch, Commissioner Deborah Gist will moderate a panel of Rhode Island high school and college students, who will share their ideas on the importance of providing financial education to young people. East Greenwich High School student Charlotte Palmer and other members of the @RealEdRI advocacy group will discuss how their research and activism helped to bring about the adoption of financial literacy standards in Rhode Island earlier this fall.
1 p.m. workshops include:
- “Integrating the New R.I. Personal Finance Standards into the Curriculum,” led by University of Maine Extension and National Endowment for Financial Education Educator Debra Kantor.
- “Personal Finance in a Blended-Learning Environment,” led by EverFi Senior Schools Manager Maddy Murphy and 2014 R.I. Teacher of the Year Patricia Page.
1:50 p.m. workshops include:
- “Virtual Economics and the Gen i Revolution,” lead by Salem State Economics Professor Van Pham and BSU Economics Professor and R.I. JumpStart Coalition President Margaret Brooks.
- “Financial Literacy at Your Library,” panel discussion facilitated by R.I. Office of Library Services Chief Karen Mellor.
Throughout the day, participants will have the opportunity to visit a variety of exhibits to find out what local organizations are doing to promote financial literacy.
More information about the conference and the online registration form can be found here: www.tinyurl.com/finconf.
This conference is being organized by the RI Jump$tart Coalition and the R.I. Council for Economic Education, and will be hosted by Rhode Island College. Fidelity Investments, with offices in Smithfield, is the lead Platinum Sponsor for the conference. In addition to direct conference funding, Fidelity will provide all teachers who attend the afternoon training session with complimentary copies of Council for Economic Education teacher training materials. Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, Navigant Credit Union, Pawtucket Credit Union and Rhode Island College are all Gold Sponsors.
