Virginia Center and Neighborhood Networks Coordinator Team Up to Empower Centers to Succeed

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Newport News, VA—When Property Manager Gloria Smith was helping to organize a financial literacy workshop that would be conducted at the Newport Harbour Apartments Neighborhood Networks Community Center, she was determined to make the event a success. No stranger to event planning, Smith knew exactly what was needed. More precisely, Smith knew who was needed.

"When I learned that this event was taking place at our center, I immediately enlisted the help of Jerryl Bennett, the [U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD's)] Virginia Neighborhood Networks Coordinator who is assigned to our center. Jerryl has been a loyal supporter of the Newport Harbour Apartments Neighborhood Networks Community Center, and has been instrumental in the success of all of the events that have been held at the center. I knew if Jerryl was involved, the event would exceed everyone's expectations…and it did," explained Smith.

A Partnership Where Everyone Benefits

The event Smith was helping to coordinate was a two-hour presentation by Penny Johnson, vice president and senior community development officer of Wachovia, one of the country's largest financial institutions and a Neighborhood Networks national partner. Johnson visited the Newport Harbour Apartments Neighborhood Networks Community Center to explain the Money Smart financial literacy program and encourage local Neighborhood Networks center staff to launch the program at their centers. Bennett, who has had a long-time interest in bringing Neighborhood Networks and Wachovia together, was more than willing to answer Smith's call for support.

"About two years ago, I reached out to Penny and invited her to attend a Mid-Atlantic Digital Alliance (MADA) consortium meeting at the Richmond HUD Field Office. My goal was to show Penny that Neighborhood Networks centers provide Wachovia with an opportunity to attain their goal to increase financial literacy among Americans. Wachovia went on to form a national partnership with Neighborhood Networks, which is a manifestation of my vision." Bennett went on to explain, "I was thrilled to see Penny back at a Virginia Neighborhood Networks center as a formal partner. Penny's presentation marked the first time Wachovia featured their Money Smart program to a Virginia Neighborhood Networks center. I wanted to do whatever was necessary to make the presentation, and ultimately the partnership with Wachovia, a success," stated Bennett.

Created by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Money Smart helps adults enhance their money management skills, understand basic financial services, and build financial confidence. The program consists of 10 lessons that cover topics such as: types of financial institutions; the importance of good credit; checking and savings accounts; budgeting; consumer protection; credit reports; loans; and homeownership. The lessons, which are available in English and Spanish, are delivered through a combination of technology, community partnerships, and employee volunteers. Course materials are distributed via live satellite broadcasts, course materials, visual aids, and 20 one-hour videos.

Wachovia has partnered with the FDIC to promote and implement Money Smart. The FDIC set a goal to create a 1,000-member Money Smart Alliance that includes financial institutions like Wachovia, as well as bank trade associations, national nonprofit organizations, community- and consumer-based groups, and federal, state, and local agencies. Through this Money Smart Alliance, the FDIC aims to distribute 100,000 copies of the Money Smart curricula that will be used to improve the financial literacy of 1 million adults throughout all 50 states.

Empowering Centers to Act

Staff from four Neighborhood Networks centers attended the presentation. During the presentation, Johnson explained how the Money Smart program works and invited centers to participate in the program. Through the program, Neighborhood Networks centers increase their residents' financial literacy, while Wachovia and the FDIC achieve their goals of improving financial literacy. By committing to launch the Money Smart program, each center would receive the course materials valued at approximately $2,000.

During the presentation, Johnson stated that Wachovia would be pleased if each center could share the 10 Money Smart lessons with a total of 150 people. When attendees showed some hesitancy to commit to the number, Bennett helped them see they could achieve it. It was Bennett's participation that turned the event from an information-sharing experience to an event that empowered centers into action.

"During the presentation, I saw an opportunity to apply the skills I am developing through HUD's Leadership Development Program—particularly influencing others and working with stakeholders—to ensure that center staff understood what was expected of them and that Wachovia's expectations were clearly communicated," described Bennett.

Making It Real

To convince center staff that they could reach Wachovia's target number of 150 Money Smart participants, Bennett once again turned to the lessons he learned through HUD's Leadership Development Program. Bennett cast a vision and used a live example that he learned moments before Johnson's presentation to demonstrate to the centers that they could meet Wachovia's expectations.

Prior to Johnson's presentation, Bennett struck up a conversation with Penny Wells, one of Smith's colleagues. During their conversation, Wells shared the fact that she was a former resident of Newport Harbour Apartments about 15 years ago and was active in the community center's Just Say No Program. Recognizing Wells' potential, Smith hired Wells to help her with the management of another property. Wells later accepted a job in Richmond that allowed greater career advancement. Her hard work enabled her to progress in her career and eventually purchase her own home. In 2007, Smith was looking for someone to help her manage Newport Harbour Apartments, and she offered the position to Wells.

Recalling the conversation, Bennett explained, "Miss Wells' story is what Neighborhood Networks is all about—selfless service. These are the stories we want to tell time and time again. Neighborhood Networks was born because of these stories, and we need to keep living these stories and tell them to everyone. It took an inspired leader like Gloria Smith to recognize the content of the character and help Miss Wells achieve more. Once the center staff at the presentation saw the magnitude of what they could do, they began to believe they could do it. I think the partnership with Wachovia is going to exceed everyone's expectations and provide deep benefits to both partners."

For more information about Neighborhood Networks centers in Virginia, contact:

Jerryl Bennett
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Richmond Field Office
600 East Broad Street, Third Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 822-4842

Casey Lafever
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Richmond Field Office
600 East Broad Street, Third Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 822-4857

Rashida Mitchell
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Richmond Field Office
600 East Broad Street, Third Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
(804) 822-4870

For more information about the Newport Harbour Apartments Neighborhood Networks Community Center, contact:

Gloria Smith
Property Manager
Newport Harbour Apartments
2325 Madison Avenue
Newport News, VA 23607
(757) 247-0303