I'm hereon the west side of South Bend in the MLK Dream Center.This is the second time that ExperienceMichiana has been here.

We've been here for the farmers market that took place on Lindenjust a while ago as well.

But I'm herefor a totally different reason, and I'm here with Bella.

Bella, tell me a little bit about the South BendFinancial Empowerment Center and what exactly is itthat you're doing?

Yeah, the South BendFinancial Empowerment Center is a collaborationbetween the city of South Bend and the Near Northwestneighborhood nonprofit organization.

And what we do is free,one on one financial counseling with those over the age of 18.

There reside in South Bend.

So we help with banking, savings all the thingswe should be taught in school.

Absolutely, exactly.

We'll get into that, right?

Right.

No, but I feel this a lot,though, because it's you know, I grew up, I did grow up in Irelandin a different country, but at the same time,it's like I grew up where we weren't taughthow to do finances properly.

My family didn't knowwe were lower income, we were working class, you know,it was all paycheck to paycheck.

And then it's only later in lifethat I'm learning to, like finally kind ofhave some financial sense.

And it's just crazy to methat I'm 42.

And it was only reallywhen I was about like 37 or 38 that I finally startedto even have savings.

Like if something happened, likeif it if a car broke down or, you know, and I workwith a lot of nonprofits actually,that people are so close to being food insecureor on the poverty line if like a car breaks down even just $500 or somethingand it's like, right.

And so but people grow upwhat they know and they're just not taught to,to save and all these things.

And so I'm sure you see thatin abundance that it's just people have never been shownhow to do it properly.

Right.

Or in a way that's healthy.

Yeah.

No, absolutely.

We definitely see a lot wherepeople don't know the importance of having an emergencyfund credit building.

Having a budgetto really understand what your income to, ratiois compared to your expenses.

Yeah.

And actually I learned thatbecause, someone that was close to me gifted me, like,one of the Dave Ramsey, you know, the Financial PeaceUniversity things.

Talking about an emergency fund.

I never thought about ituntil then, which seems now I'm like,why didn't I think of that?

But, so again,you're doing all these things.

You're seeing people one on one.

And where does the funding fromthis come from?

Is it from the cityor is it from the nonprofit organization,or how does it work?

So the funding actually come from CFE, which is the centers forFinancial Empowerment Center.

So it is a Bloomberg philanthropy programthat comes from New York.

And we are actually one of 30 over 34 of this of financial empowerment centersall over the United States.

And it's cool then that, like, this is the first onein Indiana, right?

Like this one here before.Yes, absolutely.

This is the veryfirst one in Indiana.

And we actually have beenoperating for about a year, and we've been at the MLK centersince June 4th when they opened their doors up.

Yeah.

And it's a perfect buildingto be, and it's absolutely beautiful.

And I know, later in October,you have an event coming up that's open to the public.

Tell me a little bit more aboutthat event that's coming up.

Yeah, absolutely.

So the event is a collaborationbetween the MLK Dream Center and the South Bend Financial Empowerment Center,and the event is designed to bring the communitytogether for resources.

They're doing a shoe drive, giveaway for people of all ages.

And our aim is to introduce the Financial EmpowermentCenter to the community and let them know thatwe're here at the Dream Center.

And what is it that we doand how we can help.

So we'll have differentorganizations come and provide resources to the communitythat we can also be kind of like a helping hand to connect themto on a later day basis.

So it's not just, what dateis the Sun's in October 25th, October 25th, and what timesit is from 12 to 4.

And it is the empowering DreamsTogether October giveaway.

Okay.

And so as you mentioned, there'sgoing to be a bunch of resources here, not justfor financial empowerment, but other community resources as wellfor people to come along to.

And and I think the big thingwhen it comes to it's so hard to get help for thingsthat you're insecure about, right?

Like nobody wants to admitthat they're bad at something or that they, you know, sometimeswhen you feel like you're so far in the whole, like the ideaof getting out of it just seems it's just easier to just keepburying yourself in it.

And I totally get it.

And so what would you sayto people who might be watchingwho need this help but feel a little bit nervousor insecure about even or just, you know, it's hard for them toadmit that they have a problem.

Like, what would you say to themin terms of like, what's the experiencelike coming to you?

Yeah, absolutely.

So sometimes we don't knowwhere the issue lies until we kind ofreally tackle it.

So it's okayto not understand it.

That's what we're herefor, to help you understand and providethat hand to hand guidance to help you succeednot only in that everyday basis.

If you're living paycheckto paycheck, creating that budgetin that savings emergency fund cushion,but also to elevate your goals.

If you have a dreamof owning a house, we help you get there,and we're working together well.

And that's great.And so it's on October 25th.

But how do people come along?

Like, who qualifies?

Doyou have to live in South Bend?

You have to RSVP in advanceor how does that work?

Yeah, no.

So the event isopen to the public.

So anyone is yes,anyone is welcome.

And we will be creating fliersand putting it out to the public here shortly.

I know that they aretaking donations here at the MLKevery single day for shoes.

From Mondayto Friday from 9 to 9 and any other operating hoursthroughout the weekend.

But anyone is welcome to comeand be a part of this resource event.

And so you talk about therebeing a shoe giveaway.

What's the importance of that?

Is that something you're puttingon or the center's putting on?

Is that a great need in the communitythat people need shoes for their kidsor for themselves, or is that is that part of the drawto get people here?

Yeah.

So the shoe drive is part of theMLK center, and their mission is to kind of encourage kidsto have that confidence, and build confidencewith others for, you know,the of their apparel themselves.

I get it, you know,if your clothes, your shoesdon't look good, right?

I swear, you know, when you do all the spiraleffect, it's the same with kids who are hungryand they don't have enough food at home or whatever.

It's like they can't, you know,they can't, study properly.

They can't get along in school.

They end up getting into fightsbecause they're just they're not good.

Like,they're not in a good place because they don't feel good.

So obviouslywhen you have an event that's onfor four hours on one day, not everyone can make it.

There might be in workor whatever, but you're here all the time, so how could peoplejust make an appointment even if they can't cometo the event?

Yeah.

So the best way to makean appointment will go will be to gothrough our website w w w.SouthBendFEC.org.

And on thereyou will create a profile.

It will ask you some informationqualifying information like are you over the age of 18and do you reside in South Bend.

If those go through then you can go ahead and picka time and date.

And if either be in person hereat the MLK over the phone or virtually,and you'll pick your counselor and your appointmentwill be all set.

And thenif people do have a barrier, I know the barrier to Wi-Fiand computers is getting less and less, but it's still therefor a lot of people.

Can they just stop in as welland just see you or call you or.

Yeah, so they can absolutelycall the, any of us.

Right.

So we have a manageras well as three of us.

So our manager Stephanie Wall, the other counselors,Ryan Adams and myself, they could call either one of usto create an appointment.

All right.

So October 25th from noon tofour here at MLK Dream Center.

So make sure in the name of the event again, empowering Dreams TogetherOctober giveaway.

All right.

Thank you somuch.

Bell.

Yeah.

Thank you.