Students Focus on Money Basics at Financial Wellness Fair

Community College of Philadelphia’s student finance group WEALTH•NESS hosted its second annual Financial Wellness Fair Oct. 1. The fair, which is planned and organized entirely by students, aims to bring resources and information on financial health directly to students. The fair was held in the Bonnell Building Lobby, and students stopped by throughout the afternoon to learn about financial health and how it’s connected to overall wellness.

“Mainly, the goal is to help students save money, learn how to budget and use a credit card,” said Paulina Reyes, a Work-Study student who works in the Office of Academic and Student Success. “And they offer grants, scholarships and strategies to use with budgeting.” Paulina was handing out flyers at the Financial Wellness Fair to inform students about the other events the group is hosting this semester.

Paulina stressed the importance of providing this kind of information and these resources to students. “I think that it's really important to have that kind of literacy financially, especially if you grew up not having a lot of money or your family overspent a lot of money, so you don't know how to properly…conduct yourself in that situation,” she said. In her own life, Paulina said she is just starting to learn how important personal money management is, so she imagines that many of her peers at CCP feel just as overwhelmed.

Paulina also loves that the fair acts as an opportunity to show students the help that already exists for them in their community, both on campus and nearby. “We have Counseling, we have Ardent Credit Union. So, there's just different resources here that are being provided that I think [are] really awesome for students, even if they're just passing by,” Paulina said.

Another student, Kaley Cant, who is one of the founders of WEALTH•NESS, was tabling on behalf of the group at the event. “We really want to promote financial education and wellness and making sure that both lead to a balanced lifestyle,” said Kaley. At their table, Kaley was handing out little notes with kind words of encouragement on them. “We really want students to remember that they matter, and they got this and to stay positive and just always have this little daily reminder with them.” Part of WEALTH•NESS’s mission is to support students’ mental health in connection to their financial wellness, recognizing that both contribute to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

One of the organizations tabling at the event was the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project. Sherry Hoban, Esq., the organization’s executive director, said she was so excited to see several students signing up to take advantage of their services. “We have a wonderful partnership with Community College of Philadelphia, and again, we had lots of students sign up for our services, and we're happy to be back,” she said. The Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project assists low-income Philadelphia residents with free debt counseling and pro bono Chapter 7 bankruptcy representation.

This event, which is meant to connect students with important financial resources, helps students understand the significance of learning personal finance and money management skills, while also helping them feel supported. The students in WEALTH•NESS understand that talking about finances can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re a student interested in learning more, you can connect with additional resources at Single Stop, located in the Mint Building, Room M1-21, or check out more information online.