September 2016 Newsletter
RAISE Texas News
Are YOU a Member of RAISE Texas?
This is an exciting time to become an active partner of RAISE Texas as we expand promising programs and asset-building opportunities in Texas. Over the next few years we will continue to develop and pilot Children’s Savings Accounts for College Programs in Texas elementary schools, expand financial coaching services to reach more Texas families, push for strong reform and encourage responsible alternatives to the payday and auto-title lending market to ensure that Texans are not stuck in the debt cycle, and increase opportunities for Texas employees to have access to important financial capability resources- like small dollar loans and automatic savings options- in the workplace. Will YOU be a part of this important work? Join the RAISE Texas network today!Texas News
Scholarship Applications for CPPP’s 2016 DARE TEXAS Summit due September 15
A limited number of registration scholarships are available for the Center for Public Policy’s (CPPP’s) upcoming 2016 Dare Texas Summit Nov. 30 -Dec. 1, 2016. All scholarship applications must be submitted by September 15th! Click here to apply for a scholarship now. More information about the 2016 DARE TEXAS Summit is below.
Mark Your Calendars to Attend the DARE TEXAS Summit on Nov. 30-Dec. 1
CPPP is hosting the 2016 DARE TEXAS Summit on November 30- December 1, 2016. This two-day event will bring together over 300 advocates, leaders, policy experts and visionaries representing the diverse voices and faces of Texas. The biennial Summit will unite Capitol insiders with local leaders from across the state, all working to ensure that every Texan is healthy, well-educated, and financially secure.
Save the dates of Wednesday, Nov. 30 – Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 to participate in this event at the Hyatt Regency Austin. Click here for more information.
Job Posting- AARP Texas
AARP Texas is looking for an Associate State Director- Advocacy. The job is part-time- 28 hours/week and includes benefits. The work will have a heavy legislative advocacy component as well as volunteer engagement. Click here to view the entire job description.
CFPB Director Cordray Announces New Report at Town Hall Meeting in Dallas
On September 7, Texas Appleseed hosted a Town Hall Meeting with the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB). At the event, Richard Cordray thanked Ann Baddour from Texas Appleseed, also the vice-chair of the Consumer Advisory Committee of the CFPB and a RAISE Texas board member, for hosting the Youth Financial Capability Town Hall meeting. During his remarks, Director Cordray announced a new report, “Building Blocks to Help Youth Achieve Financial Capability,” to teach young people how to acquire the “building blocks” of financial capability. Click here to read the article.
Remember to Submit Your Comments About the CFPB’s New Rules for the Payday & Auto Title Lending
Texans need to support strong reforms that close loopholes and ensure that loans are based on the ability to repay. It is up to us to make sure the CFPB hears loud and clear that we need to stop the debt trap once and for all. Submit comments to the CFPB about their new proposed rules for the payday and auto title lending market by October 7th. Please submit comments now using the instructions below.
- For borrowers, clients, community members, and others who want to submit personal stories as the essence of their comments, and have relatively short comments, use one of the following three methods to send in your comment
1. Online form available at: www.stoppaydaypredators.org/texasfairlending/
2. Email: FederalRegisterComments@cfpb.gov . Include Docket No. CFPB-2016-0025 or RIN 3170–AA40 in the subject line of the email.
3. Paper forms can be filled out and collected and mailed by the sponsoring organization. Here are some possible templates in English, in Spanish and from the CFPB. Forms should be mailed to: Monica Jackson, Office of the Executive Secretary, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552. Include Docket No. CFPB-2016-0025 or RIN 3170–AA40.
1. Email: FederalRegisterComments@cfpb.gov . Include Docket No. CFPB-20
16-0025 or RIN 3170–AA40 in the subject line of the e-mail.
2. Upload comments in pdf form onto regulations.gov. Put the docket number in the search bar and include docket number in your document heading.
3. Mail to: Monica Jackson, Office of the Executive Secretary, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20552. Include Docket No. CFPB-2016-0025 or RIN 3170–AA40.
National News and Resources
CFPB Announced 30 New Your Money, Your Goals Partners
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced 30 new partners from across the country that will help expand the reach of the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit. The new partner organizations will help meet the CFPB’s goal of training 15,000 more frontline staff and volunteers. We are thrilled to see RAISE Texas member and partner, Brazos Valley Affordable Housing Corporation (BVAHC) listed as a new partner. Click here for more information about the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit or to see the entire list of new partners.
Free Webinar on Promoting Financial Capability in the Workplace
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is hosting a new Exploring Innovation in Community Development webinar series and the second webinar, “Financial Capability and Inclusion: Leveraging Strategies and Tools to Empower Youth”, which will be held on September 22. Experts will discuss unique challenges that young adults face in putting financial knowledge into practice and what programs are available to assist youth in making better money management decisions. Click here to register for this free webinar today.
Match the Promise Foundation Scholarships Available
The Match the Promise Foundation encourages families to save for college by supplementing their contributions to the Texas Tuition Promise Fund®. Approved recipients can receive matching scholarships of tuition units worth up to $1,000 at today's prices, and top-scoring recipients can also receive one-time grants of tuition units worth $2,000 at today's prices.
To apply, children must meet these criteria:
- Be a fifth through ninth grader
- Have a family with an annual income of $100,000 or less
- Be a Texas resident
- Be enrolled in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund
