In September, six members of the WiNGS team joined 1,200 other advocates, policymakers and academics in Washington, D.C. at the 2016 Assets Learning Conference, sponsored by CFED (the Corporation for Enterprise Development). The conference focused on efforts to address growing wealth inequality and help all families achieve economic opportunity, and featured sessions on subjects ranging from addressing the racial wealth divide to helping families save for college.
WiNGS Vice President of Economic Advancement, Becca Fritze, presented the WiNGS Coaching Model, best practices, and tips for integrating financial coaching into existing programs. “I believe in the infinite power of financial coaching as a vehicle to help individuals become their own change makers,” Becca said. “Our Financial Coaches provide members the tools, encouragement, and accountability they need to be successful. From small but significant steps like opening a savings account or pulling their credit report for the first time, to reaching long-term goals like buying a home or starting a business, our coaches are there to support our members on their journey to financial security.”
The conference was a great opportunity for WiNGS staff to learn from and connect with other leaders on the frontlines of the fight for economic opportunity. “I enjoyed learning about best practices from across the nation, and discovering tools that we’ll use to help our financial capability programs grow,” said Sommer Neff, Director of Special Initiatives. “I took away a lot of really helpful things that will make WiNGS programs even better.”
Special thanks to Communities Foundation of Texas and CFED for sponsoring our trip to the Assets Learning Conference.