Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1527752
wbjournal.com | October 14, 2024 | Worcester Business Journal 17 W Warehouse Storage For Rent Asset Management Program Office and Lab Moving WE KNOW STORAGE!!!! thestoragecompany.com TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2024 5–7PM MECHANICS HALL 321 Main Street WORCESTER, MA A celebration of women's philanthropy, leadership, and empowerment of adolescent girls in Central Mass. REGISTER TODAY: GIVE.CLASSY.ORG/2024SUFG Suggested $100 membership donation THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS (AS OF 10/07/24) SIGNATURE SPONSOR LEAD SPONSORS CORPORATE SPONSORS Cornerstone Bank Country Bank Fallon Health Mechanics Hall Seven Hills Foundation UMass Memorial Health Worcester Polytechnic Institute SUPPORT SPONSORS Coughlin Electrical Imperial Distributors MARKETING SPONSOR MEDIA SPONSORS Main Street Bank RH White Construction UMass Chan Medical School UniBank Meridith D. Wesby Young Leader Award Elizabeth Cruz President, Latin American Business Organization (LABO) & Empowering Latina Leaders Affirmation (ELLA) Echo Louissaint Founder, Cultural Healthy Eating Exercise Resource (C.H.E.E.R) Anabelle Santiago Student Worcester State University Lois B. Green Leadership Award Go to unitedwaycm.org/womens-initiative-events to learn more. WomensInitiativeCM WomensInitiativeCM B A N K I N G & F I N A N C E F O C U S among young adults with 11% of in- dividuals 18−29 reportedly unbanked. Percentages varied greatly depending on race and disability status as 14% of Black adults and 11% of Hispanic adults were unbanked as opposed to 4% of white and Asian individuals; 11% of those with disabilities were unbanked as opposed to 5% with no disability. People aren't always comfortable asking why they were denied access to a bank, Oliveira said. She works to connect her clients with banks with re- lationships with WCAC, as those banks have agreed to override their internal systems and allow for anyone to utilize credit-building products and open a bank account. Sitting down with her clients for the first time, Oliveira's initial move is to get a clear picture of what their finances are, determine their readiness for their larger goals, and identify small first steps toward those objectives. Oentimes, those first steps don't look like what her clients were expecting, like when she advises clients that correcting an item in collections is actually a step towards homeownership. Reframing what fiscal decisions are opening future doors is a key part of Oliveira's work. "I want my clients to feel that no matter what their paycheck is, that every week and every month they're making progress. ey're building the life that they want even if that pace is slow and steady," said Oliveira. And that, she said, is empowering. Clinton Savings Bank holds a variety of financial literacy programs at schools throughout its service area, including Nashoba Regional High School. PHOTO | COURTESY OF CLINTON SAVINGS BANK