Workforce Development and Financial Literacy in Low-Income Communities

Established in 1965, The Center for Economic Education at Cal State Fullerton has a focus on promoting economic and financial literacy in K-12 schools and communities with high proportions of low-to-moderate income minority communities.  In response to the alarming rates of homelessness in the region, the Center provides workforce development skills to homeless shelter residents. The Center’s primary goal is to enable upward economic mobility of low-income communities.

The Center will provide workforce development and financial literacy programs at homeless shelter sites and Title 1 schools with after-school programs. The goals of the program include:

• Maximizing potential of employment to end homeless cycle
• Designing and delivering standardized workforce training modules
• Improving access to those with no/insufficient access to mainstream financial services
• Providing opportunities to low-income K-12 students without financially savvy role models
• Enabling low-income communities to understand and face economic and financial challenges in the economy

The funds raised will support the program to enable motivated residents at homeless shelters to obtain their general education degree (GED) or build skills necessary for obtaining a job.