Thursday: California's Financial Literacy Fair

The California Asset Building Program spent this morning and afternoon at the Annual Financial Literacy Fair, hosted by State Controller John Chiang.

Local press, financial institutions, advocacy groups, and state agencies turned out to hear Controller Chiang, Assemblyman Mike Eng, and Assemblywoman Alyson Huber speak at the fair's beginning. 

You can see the press conference, where I had the pleasure of introducing Controller Chiang and representing New America, here. Afterwards, I pulled Chiang and Eng aside to talk with them about Assembly Bill 597. This measure, sponsored by the Program and authored by Mr. Eng, would create a philanthropic donations-based fund administered by the Controller to provide financial education and access to Californians.

My two-minute videos with Mr. Chiang and Mr. Eng are here and here- They're short but useful!

This fair was an great opportunity for asset builders to stock up: I left with incredible resources from the Department of Real Estate, which provides financial literacy trainings and an enviably-named "Financial Sense to White Picket Fence" resource guide, ways to protect myself from financial exploitation, tips about foreclosure modification from the FDIC, and even my own copy of the book "Tres Tazas."

But even more important, I witnessed the consensus that is forming around this issue. Banks, nonprofits, CPAs, government agencies, the IRS--all were present in support of increased financial education, awareness, and action that empowers consumers. Thanks to the Controller --and the rain that held off until now-- all these groups came together today, to connect and spread information.