Financial literacy class coming to Blaine next month

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By Jami Makan

A financial literacy class aimed at individuals with low to moderate incomes is coming to Blaine next month.

Topics to be covered include goal-setting, budgeting, debt, credit, insurance, consumerism, home ownership and retirement planning.

The class is being organized by The Whatcom Dream, a nonprofit that has been providing financial literacy classes throughout Whatcom County since 1999. Over 2,500 adults in Whatcom County have graduated from their program.

The class is scheduled to start on May 16 and will take place on Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. for eight weeks. Meetings will occur at the Blaine Christian Fellowship, 902 Adelia Street, and people of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome.

The cost of the course is $60 per individual for all eight sessions. Many scholarships are available for those who cannot afford the cost of attendance.

The class is aimed at so-called ALICE individuals – those who are asset limited and income constrained but employed. “These folks are in a conundrum because they don’t qualify for government assistance or food stamps, so they are just scraping by and don’t get any kind of break,” said Trudy Shuravloff, who is co-teaching the class with Kevin Stray.

According to The Whatcom Dream’s figures, because of their involvement in the organization, 29 percent of graduates have entered adult education, 25 percent are re-employed and 55 percent are now investing in a savings account.

Shuravloff said many graduates of the course have gone on to buy homes or start small businesses. “Home ownership can be a game-changer for moving out of poverty and into the middle class,” she said. “It really stabilizes families as well.”

Other graduates have gone back to school in order to upgrade their skills and compete for higher paying jobs. For three quarters of each school year, the Whatcom Dream has a scholarship program that provides two $1,000 scholarships for students at Bellingham Technical College, as well as two $1,000 scholarships for students at Whatcom Community College. “While not guaranteed, it’s an extra $1,000 that’s only for people who go through our program,” said Shuravloff.

The Whatcom Dream is supported by grants from foundations and corporations, investment by local organizations and contributions from individuals. It is a registered nonprofit so all donations are tax-deductible.

While it is primarily aimed at working individuals, the class is open to everyone, and some parents even choose to bring their teenage children, said Shuravloff. She said the class is fun and interactive, and that all study materials are provided by the instructors.

For more information about the course, call 360/319-3759 or visit thewhatcomdream.org.

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