PROGRAM TEACHES FINANCIAL LITERACY.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer VAN NUYS - For Maria Alcantar, her newfound new·found adj. Recently discovered: a newfound pastime. Adj. 1. newfound - newly discovered; "his newfound aggressiveness"; "Hudson pointed his ship down the coast of the newfound sea" knowledge about finances will trickle down Trickle down An economic theory that the support of businesses that allows them to flourish will eventually benefit middle- and lower-income people, in the form of increased economic activity and reduced unemployment. to her community where it is needed the most. ``For a woman, for a mother, this knowledge helps us become more independent,'' said the 44-year-old Van Nuys woman. ``Oftentimes in our homes, in our community, we let the men control the money. But if something should happen, if we get separated or divorced, the woman becomes lost.'' Alcantar, along with 60 other Parent Center volunteer coordinators with the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. , spent their Friday getting serious about numeracy numeracy Mathematical literacy Neurology The ability to understand mathematical concepts, perform calculations and interpret and use statistical information. Cf Acalculia. , a cousin to literacy. Through the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. and Citibank, the Parents Path to Success program will teach more than 300 mothers and fathers the truths about finances, such as the do's and don'ts of credit cards, global money transfers and savings accounts. ``We want people to learn the importance of assets, which can lead to home ownership, which can then help them accomplish a lot,'' said Rashi Kallur of Citibank. ``It's all about economic health.'' For many parents of the Northeast Valley, the target group of the program, the main concerns range from credit card companies soliciting their children to getting out of debt. Many of them remain what financial institutions call ``unbanked,'' for several reasons, including a misperception mis·per·ceive tr.v. mis·per·ceived, mis·per·ceiv·ing, mis·per·ceives To perceive incorrectly; misunderstand. mis that only U.S. citizens use banks or a distrust of savings accounts at institutions. ``In the Spanish-speaking community, people do make money, but many times we don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how to make investments, how to make that money grow,'' said Enriquita Fraire, a parent director for Colfax Elementary and Milikan Middle schools. Fraire, 40, said she is excited about passing on what she has learned to other parents. ``We would like people to learn to save, instead of giving money to creditors,'' she said. The long-term goal of the program, say organizers, is to help parents secure money to send their children to college, and to create a dialogue about how to be wise about money, said Kenn Phillips, director of education at the Alliance. Alcantar, a parent director at Kittridge Elementary School elementary school: see school. , couldn't agree more. ``This country offers us so many opportunities,'' she said. ``But what good are the opportunities if we don't know how to take them?'' Susan Abram, (818) 713-3664 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
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