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Financial Empowerment Series

We imagine an equitable and inclusive society where women, people of color, and especially women of color can thrive; therefore, our Economic Empowerment courses are free for the public. Our classes are taught by a rock-star group of volunteers who come from various financial backgrounds.

This series will offer a fundamental understanding of personal finances, covering materials from setting a spending plan to understanding your renters’ rights. Check out the class schedule to learn more and register.

Class Schedule

Each course will be taking place via Zoom beginning at 5:30 pm. Please register for each course you plan to attend. After you register for each course, you will receive the appropriate Zoom link per class.

In this session we will cover the benefits of using credit wisely, how to check and raise your credit score, and the differences between good and bad debt. We will help you recognize the signs of debt distress and understand why we should be concerned about debt and the overall cost of debt. Finally, we will show you ways to start managing debt.

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By the end of this session, you will understand:

  • what to look for when searching for a place
  • rental agreements and renters’ rights
  • the process of securing and moving into a rental unit
  • how to maintain your rental unit
  • landlord obligations
  • how to receive your security deposit back

We will cover what a bank can do for you, the benefits of having a bank account, common language associated with banking, the difference between banks and credit unions, and checking account basics.

By the end of this session, you will understand what credit and a credit report are, you will know more about your credit score and how to repair or build your credit, and what credit options are available to you. You’ll also know how to pull a credit report and understand the information within.

Through this course, you will understand the difference between assets and liabilities and the term “net worth.”  You will learn how to create your own “spending plan” and record-keeping system and the benefits of doing so. You will learn how to read a paycheck and understand what each deduction is. Finally, we will help you define where you are on your financial journey and identify the next steps in moving forward to reach your financial goals.

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand how to anticipate and overcome obstacles to reaching your SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based) goals and identify ways you can find money to save. We will also show you how to identify your spending leaks.

In this session, we will cover how to negotiate your salary or benefits and know your worth. Topics we will cover are:

  • Building a portfolio
  • Writing a value statement
  • Researching your market value
  • Identifying the benefits important to you

Resumes are an important document that helps you introduce yourself to potential employers. They allow you to show others all that you have already accomplished! This class will teach you what goes on a resume, its importance in the workforce, and tips for how to write your best resume.

For many buyers, the process of purchasing a home can seem complicated and overwhelming. Taking part in homeownership education offers huge financial and practical benefits and can help a buyer understand the process, ultimately reaching a position of being mortgage-ready. This class will help you decide how much you can afford, go over the home-buying process, and the responsibilities you will need to cover as a new homeowner.

This course teaches the basics of insurance and how to select plans that are right for you and your family. Learn what insurance can do for you, why it is important to invest in insurance, and the different types of insurance (health, auto, life, disability, homeowners, and more).

WATCH: KNOW YOUR WORTH

Thanks to our dedicated Prosperity Program volunteers—financial industry experts—we’ve created a powerful video on knowing your worth and negotiating your wage. This resource is packed with relatable, practical, and empowering insights to help you confidently advocate for your value throughout your career.

We are thankful for our friends at Fair Trade Cafe for providing the space for our Coffee Chat! And many thanks of course to our experts: Mitzu Frazier Rothacher, Nicole McKelvey, and Maria Rubio.

Private Classes

We work with partner organizations throughout the Valley to provide classes to their clients and meet them where they are at. We offer classes in both English and Spanish and they are taught by our very talented group of volunteers who are professionals in the field of finance.

Are you an expert in personal finance or economics? Empower our community by becoming a volunteer.

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Class Options

  • Banking Basics
  • Budgeting
  • Credit
  • Debt
  • Homeownership
  • Goals
  • Insurance 101
  • Know Your Worth: Wage Negotiation
  • Renting 101
  • Resume Building
  • Savings
  • Vision Boards and Goals

Interested in providing classes for your organization? Please contact learn@ywcaaz.org

Support & Partnership

Interested in empowering our Mission? Email engage@ywcaaz.org to learn more!

There are many ways to get involved with YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix

Your voice matters as we stand up for social justice, help families and strengthen communities. Whether you have time, talents, or treasures to contribute, learn how you can plug in to the YWCA community.

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