Opportunities for Working Families 2007
Listen to highlights from the June 2007 Denver meeting.
- Opportunities for Working Families: A Common Sense Agenda, featuring Ralph Smith
- Assets: The Key to Family Economic Success
- Building a 21st Century Workforce
- Avoiding the Money Trap: Financial Education and Services
- The High Cost of Being Poor
Opportunities for Working Families: A Common Sense Agenda
Monday, June 11, 9-10:15 am
Assets: The Key to Family Economic Success
Monday, June 11, 11:30 am-12:30 pm
Financial assets like cash savings, home ownership and business equity help families build long-term financial security. Hear about individual strategies and initiatives across the country.
- Introduction: Mary Fairchild, NCSL (2:54)
- Heather McCulloch, Asset Building Strategies, California (18:11)
- Representative Jeannie Darneille, Washington (25:26)
- Q and A (14:17)
Building a 21st Century Workforce
Tuesday, June 12, 8:30-9:45 am
Developing a 21st century workforce is an outcome that can only be achieved by innovative approaches in education and workforce training, with leadership from state policymakers, American businesses, educators and community based organizations. This session will feature thoughts from a top CEO and the president of a successful private school that integrates work placement into its academic program.
- Introduction: Jeanne Mejeur, NCSL, Colorado (5:16)
- Mary Gershwin, Center for Workforce Success, Colorado (8:24)
- Mary Andringa, President of Vermeer, Iowa (17:21)
- Reverend Steve Planning, Arrupe Jesuit High School, Colorado (12:17)
- Solutions: Mary Gershwin (7:14)
- Q and A (17:53)
Avoiding the Money Trap: Financial Education and Services
Tuesday, June 12, 9:45-10:45 am
An increasing number of Americans find themselves deep in debt and not saving enough to cover emergency expenses. This session will present an overview of the financial and economic challenges facing Americans and effective approaches to increase financial stability. Legislators will be briefed about the Financial Stability Campaign underway at United Way of America.
- Introduction: Heather Morton, NCSL, Colorado (1:49)
- Jessica LeVeen Farr, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (26:30)
- Chuck Shannon, United Way of America and Mile High United Way, Colorado (17:22)
- Q and A (10:19)
The High Cost of Being Poor
Tuesday, June 12, 10:45-11:45 am
Do you know that low-income working families pay more for everyday goods and services than other households? This session will examine the irony of getting ahead and present solutions to the high priced dilemma facing working families.