The Center for Applied Leadership and Community Development at Johnson C. Smith University sponsored a Community Financial Literacy Workshop on Saturday, July 18, 2009, from 9am-1pm in the Grimes Lounge on the campus of JCSU. Several financial specialists within the local Charlotte community sat on a discussion panel and shared tips and advice on financial management during these times of economic crisis.

The Honorable Janet Cowell, North Carolina State Treasurer, served as the keynote speaker for the workshop. Cowell, a business investment expert and former state senator, spoke on the state`s 2009 investment plans amidst the economic recession, making sound financial decisions to avoid unnecessarily damaging your credit, and opportunities for investment with the state.

Sherrill Hampton, Director of the Center for Applied Leadership and Community Development, and Angela Jeter, Program Manager for Service Learning and Community Partnerships, served as the host and discussion panel moderator for the event, respectively. "Community engagement is one of the priorities within Dr. Carter's vision for the University; workshops like these are not only informative and extremely helpful, but they offer a vehicle for members of our community to become involved and feel welcomed at JCSU," said Hampton.

The discussion panel addressed topics such as: How to Budget and Save, Credit and How to Improve Your Credit, Homeownership Lending, Refinancing Your Home Loan, Making Homes Affordable, and Foreclosure Prevention. The following financial specialists sat on the panel: Ms. Saundra Scales, President/CEO of First Legacy Community Credit Union, Dr. Haseeb Ahmed, Associate Professor in the Business and Economic Department at JCSU, Mr. Brian Crowder, Senior Mortgage Loan Officer at RBC Bank, Mr. Cedric Johnson, Mortgage Loan Officer at Fifth Third Bank, Ms. Cynthia V. DuRant, Housing Program Specialist with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Mr. Bill Carter, Vice President of Delinquency and Foreclosure Prevention with The Homeownership Center of Charlotte.

This was the second workshop in a series of four hosted by Johnson C. Smith to further promote community engagement. For more information on upcoming events, visit www.jcsu.edu.