National Conference on Children and Youth Savings

Posted by on April 20, 2009

CFED invites you to join (http://cdaconference.org/index.php?view=register) colleagues from the fields of asset building and children and youth development to explore the benefits, opportunities and future of children and youth savings. Recent events have underscored the need for the next generation of Americans to save more, have stronger financial management skills and be more financially secure. One promising new tool to help children and youth accumulate savings is a Children’s Development Account (CDA). CDAs – also known as Children’s Savings Accounts – are universal, long-term asset-building accounts established at birth with the potential to grow over a lifetime.

By attending (http://cdaconference.org/index.php?view=home) this conference, which will be held on June 14-16 in Brooklyn, New York, attendees will learn first-hand how CDAs and similar initiatives are helping children develop money management skills, changing expectations, impacting school achievement and preparing youth for college. See why a growing number of communities across the country and abroad are working to expand economic opportunity to children and youth through savings and financial education.

Keynote speakers (http://cdaconference.org/index.php?view=speakers) include:

* Dr. Michael Lomax – President and CEO, UNCF
* Dr. Michael Sherraden – Director, Center for Social Development
* Gary Stangler – Executive Director, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
* Luis Ubiñas – President, Ford Foundation

The conference will also feature a performance by the Ifetayo Youth Ensemble, whose members engage in rigorous artistic training in African Dance, Acting, African Drum, Modern Dance and Brazilian Percussion. The Ensemble (http://cdaconference.org/index.php?view=speakers) uses the arts to heighten youth’s self-esteem, cultural pride and community awareness, and the youth also participate in financial literacy training and are provided with a matched savings account.