Community Outreach Programs

We are partnered with the following organizations to bring you FREE financial education classes :

• City Colleges of Chicago
• Chicago Public Libraries
• Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR)

  INFORMATION ON CLASSES CURRENT CLASSES AT THE CHICAGO LIBRARIES

Series I:

Presented at Bessie Coleman, West Chicago Avenue and Rogers Park Branches.

Note:  All sessions are 90 minutes long.

Ten Money Rules to Live By

What is the formula for financial success? Karen Chan, CFP and Consumer & Family Economics Educator with University of Illinois Extension, will share Ten Money Rules to Live By, based on her real-life experience working with people from all walks of life.  By following these basic rules, you can protect yourself from major financial mistakes, prepare for your future, and keep things simple in the process. Come and get your own financial rule-book.

Getting Through Tough Financial Times

Hone your skills in budgeting and debt management to help you survive the current economic crunch. This workshop will give tips for reducing spending, prioritizing debt, contacting creditors, and paying down debt.

Record Keeping: What to Keep and Why

Should I toss my old bank statements and investment reports? What about pay stubs and utility bills? How long must I keep income tax records? What’s the best place to keep birth certificates? Insurance policies? a list of my prescriptions? This workshop will help you decide which records to keep, for how long, and where to keep them. The answers could spell R-E-L-I-E-F.

Bessie Coleman Branch

731 E. 63^rd St.

(312)747-7760

Contact:  Veyshon Edmond, Branch Manager

• Ten Money Rules to Live By - Tuesday, September 21 at 11:00 a.m.
• Getting Through Tough Financial Times - Tuesday, October 5 at 11:00 a.m.
• Record Keeping: What to Keep and Why - Tuesday, November 9 at 11:00 a.m.

Rogers Park Branch

6907 N. Clark St.

(312) 744-0156

Contact:  Bill Vaccaro, Adult Services Librarian

• Ten Money Rules to Live By - Thursday, September 23 at 10:30 a.m.
• Getting Through Tough Financial Times - Thursday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m.
• Record Keeping: What to Keep and Why - Thursday, November 11 at 10:30 a.m.

West Chicago Avenue Branch

4856 W. Chicago Ave

Chicago, IL 60651

(312)743-0260

Contact:  Shirley Wallace, Branch Manager

• Ten Money Rules to Live By - Tuesday, September 21 at 2:00 p.m.
• Getting Through Tough Financial Times - Tuesday, October 19 at 2:00 p.m.
• Record Keeping: What to Keep and Why - Tuesday November 9 at 2:00 p.m.

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Series II:

Presented at Humboldt Park, Martin Luther King & Thurgood Marshall

Note:  All sessions are 90 minutes long.

The Road to Retire Well

Many small decisions can add up to a financially secure retirement. Are you getting the most from your employer’s retirement plan? What should you do if you change jobs? Is a Roth IRA or Roth 401k right for you? Learn how to put yourself on The Road to Retire Well.

Maximizing Social Security Benefits

Social Security is probably one of your most valuable retirement assets.  How and when you claim your benefits are important decisions, especially for surviving spouses, those who work past age 62, and for married couples who must coordinate two benefits.  Government pensions can also affect Social Security benefits. Come and hear the latest rules and planning strategies to help you get the most out of your Social Security benefits.

Personal Finance:  Charting a New Course

Get all the tools you need to manage your finances. Learn basic money management practices to help you track and trim your spending so that you can reach your financial goals. Learn how to evaluate a credit offer, read a credit report, and make credit-wise decisions. You’ll also get tips about the kinds of insurance you need and where to keep your money as your savings grow.

Humboldt Park Branch

1605 N. Troy St.

(312)744-2244

Contact:  Jose Perez, Librarian

• The Road to Retire Well - Tuesday, September 21 at 4:00 p.m.
• Maximizing Social Security Benefits - Tuesday, October 19 at 4:00 p.m.
• Personal Finance:  Charting a New Course - Tuesday, November 9 at 4:00 p.m.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch

3436 S. King Dr.

(312)747-7543

Contact:  Rosetta Coleman, Branch Manager

• The Road to Retire Well - Thursday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m.
• Maximizing Social Security Benefits - Thursday, October 21 at 6:00 p.m.
• Personal Finance:  Charting a New Course - Thursday, November 4 at 6:00 p.m. Luther King

Thurgood Marshall Branch

7506 S. Racine Ave.

(312) 747-5927

Contact:  Jan Brooks, Branch Manager

• The Road to Retire Well - Thursday, September 30 at 10:30 a.m.
• Maximizing Social Security Benefits - Thursday, October 28 at 10:30 a.m.
• Personal Finance:  Charting a New Course - Thursday, December 2 at 10:30 a.m.