On a Saturday morning, it’s hard to compete for the attention of a teenager, who would rather be asleep.
But Joseph A. Petruzzelli of ITHINK Financial Federal Credit Union did his best to capture the attention and interest of the Black History Study Palm Beach County Program students. Ten students sat quiet, as Joseph explained the mechanics of saving and investing, describing how compound interest, loans and investment vehicles worked.
It was almost as if the students were sleeping, they sat with such stillness – until someone asked them a question.
“Does everyone understand why your credit score is so important,” an adult asked.
“YES!,” the students answered in unison. “The higher your credit score, the better rates you receive on loans.”
By the time the lesson was over, each student had their financial literacy confirmed and verified. From paying themselves first to understanding the difference between a need and a want, Joseph covered the foundational components of solid, personal money management. One student opened his new credit union account, which received a complimentary $50 deposit from ITHINK Financial. Another student shared that he already had a checking and savings account with the institution.
Everyone received a piggy bank and a copy of the book, “Priceless Facts about Money”.
“Black history is founded upon a legacy of entrepreneurship, commerce and self-determination, so financial literacy is an important part of students’ education,” said Tresa Chambers, a museum consultant and Founder/CEO of Tenth Muse Enterprises, who coordinated the field trip. “It’s through partnerships, like this with ITHINK, that we are able to empower the students with these lessons that can wake them to wake up – even early on a Saturday – and instill in them a belief that they can control of their future when they control their finances.”
This field trip experience was another meaningful moment for the Black History Study Palm Beach County Program, launched in October 2024, as an educational collaboration of the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, the Black History Project, and the Palm Beach County African Diaspora Historical and Cultural Society.
Taking the lessons outside the classroom and into the community marks an important expansion of the program, which began in the classroom on dedicated weekends. With each class, the students’ everyday existence is fused with their history and cultural lineage in ways that are immersive and memorable, having a positive effect on their self-esteem, self-image and mental health.
Learn more about the Black History Study Palm Beach County Program, click here.
And learn more about ITHINK Financial Federal Credit Union, a proud Spady Museum program sponsor, at https://www.ithinkfi.org/