Reflect: Our Overview

Financial literacy and empowerment are key to both increasing the sustainability of youth development as well as ensuring youth worker self sufficiency. The direct result of financially literate and empowered youth workers is increased retention, improved recruitment, increased rewards, and expanded career paths.

Listen: What We've Heard from Youth Workers

"It is an awesome job. If you compare it to any other job as the same worth it is underpaid. Is it treated like it should be? No. Because people do it because they want to and it is exploited. People have to make that choice. There needs to be a huge change and it goes so high. 1% of federal budget is education, so it is a long road." - From Youth Worker: Collective Feasibility Study, 2007

From Youth Worker: Collective Feasibility Study, 2007:

Meetings to discuss ways youth workers can develop a stronger voice to advocate for salary, benefits and worker rights

• 48.7% of respondents identified this event or activity as priority for the Youth Worker: Collective
• 39.9% of respondents identified this event or activity as important for the field of youth development
• 23.7% of respondents said they would participate in these activities or events

Meetings to organize lobbying and other political actions that support youth workers

• 26.7% of respondents identified this event or activity as priority for the Youth Worker: Collective
• 16.5% of respondents identified this event or activity as important for the field of youth development
• 21.2% of respondents said they would participate in these activities or events

Financial literacy classes to increase the sustainability of youth workers.

• 47.3% of respondents identified this event or activity as priority for the Youth Worker: Collective
• 26.8% of respondents identified this event or activity as important for the field of youth development
• 29.8% of respondents said they would participate in these activities or events

Inquire: Others' that Shape Our Growth

Mission SF is a nonprofit partnership designed to achieve financial justice and economic opportunity in the Greater Mission District. Mission SF consists of Mission SF Federal Credit Union (formerly Mission Area Federal Credit Union) and Mission SD Community Financial Center (formerly Mission Community Financial Assistance). Mission SF CFU provides members with a change to repatir and rebuild their credit; counseling to better manager their finances; various microfinance savings and loan products (ofter providing members with their first load); and education and training through our non-[rofit affiliate Mission SF Community Financial Center. The Center provides education and training for youth through its Youth Credit Union Program, as well as youth employment and adult financial education training.

The Youth Worker: Collective first got involved with Mission SF through the Youth Credit Union Program and Youth Trainers for Economic Power. Building on their already existing resources, trainers, and materials, Youth Worker: Collective work with Youth Trainers for Economic Power to develop a Financial Literacy 101 for Youth Workers training. This training provided the foundation of a fruitful partnership that flips the power dynamic of financial empowerment: youth are experts, youth workers are learners, and together they transform their communities.

Connect: How We Are Exploring this Connection

Free Resources:

Youth Workers for Economic Self Sufficiency - More information coming soon.

Dream: What We Want to See in the World

We dream of youth workers that are financially self sufficient. We dream of a network of economic support that builds financial literacy, provides affordable housing, health care, and loan forgiveness; and adequately compensates its employees.

Act: What We Are Accomplishing This Year

• Host a series of financial literacy classes for youth workers to build financial awareness - IN PROGRESS
• Form and support a committee to explore healthcare, loan forgiveness, and career ladders - IN PROGRESS
• Develop and implement a collaborative donor education and ask event - IN PROGRESS

Get Involved!

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Have other ideas or questions? Email financial@ydpn.org to get learn more and get involved.