Sincerely,

Suzanne Mayo
Director
Black America Save

Tacoma, WA –  Suzanne Mayo-Theus, Director of Black America Saves, will be a guest presenter at  the Washington Asset Building Conference, “Survive and Thrive—Building Assets, Strengthening Communities”  in Tacoma on November 5.  Suzanne will discuss how to capture the unique spirit of our diverse communities to drive local savings campaigns, attract multicultural, multi-generational savers, and engage community- and faith-based organizations in strategic collaborations.

The U.S. has moved from a negative savings rate in 2008 to the current rate of 3%–still a far cry from a high rate of 14.6% in 1975 (FRB St. Louis).  The recession has caused people to be more mindful of their spending and to set aside some of their money as a buffer against unemployment and work reductions, but is this a sign that we’re learning from the mistakes of our devil-may-care financial habits of the recent past?  Research proves that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to convincing people to learn effective savings strategies and build a personal emergency fund or a nest egg for future goals. There are huge differences in savings behavior by race and age, and men and women make very different financial decisions.

All across the country, Black America Saves is helping African-Americans learn to “Start small. Think big.”  and overcome challenges to building savings and assets.   By providing tips, tools and resources, Black America Saves helps its members set goals, develop saving strategies, and start saving.  Suzanne will share her experiences in building this national campaign that engages diverse and hard-to-reach populations in personal savings, how to create exciting events that have whole communities talking about individual and family savings, and how to bring national resources to local savings campaigns.

Suzanne Mayo-Theus is the Director of Black America Saves and has served as the Graduate Coordinator of K-State Students Save in conjunction with the America Saves national campaign.  She is a doctoral candidate in the field of Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University while also working as a consultant and fundraiser for various not-for-profit organizations in the United States and abroad. Suzanne worked in fundraising and government relations for more than 30 years. While at the Kansas State University Foundation as the Director of Diversity and Multicultural Fundraising, Suzanne started the many corporate partnerships for diversity at KSU, creating diversity programs that are cutting edge and innovative and raising over $16 million.  She spent more than 19 years on Capitol Hill working as a professional staffer in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, The Congressional Black Caucus and The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

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About Washington Asset Building Coalition (WABC), www.washingtonabc.org
WABC represents 70 members including financial institutions, community action and social services agencies, Department of Commerce, the Department of Financial Institutions, tribes, advocates for people living with disabilities, housing and micro-enterprise groups, United Ways, foundations and advocacy groups. The WABC has become the leading voice and learning network for community leaders and practitioners involved in this growing and timely movement. WABC has set the following policy agenda:

• Expand Financial Skills for Success by increasing financial fitness in schools and for adults.
• Help People Save and Invest by supporting small business development, IDA, home ownership, savings and the federal EITC.
• Remove Barriers to Gaining and Keeping Assets by expanding lower cost lending alternatives, regulating predatory lending, eliminating asset limits.

About America Saves, www.americasaves.org
America Saves is a nationwide campaign in which a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups helps individuals and families save and build wealth. Through information, advice, and encouragement, we assist those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for a home, save for an education, or save for retirement.  Black America Saves is an affiliate campaign that offers specialized outreach to the African-American community.

About the WABC Conference: Survive and Thrive: Building Assets, Strengthening Communities
Greater Tacoma Convention Center, 1500 Broadway, Tacoma, WA
November 5 & 6, 2009

Come join leaders and practitioners from across the Northwest to learn about the range of elements critical to the financial future of our low and moderate income residents.  These challenging economic times have illustrated the need for financial education, savings and responsible borrowing, and the behaviors, strategies and policies that support them.  Whether you work in the private, public or non-profit sector, you will be able to create more opportunities for people to build assets that will increase positive financial behaviors, stability and progress for individuals and families.

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Contact: Barbara Gorzinski, Program Manager
Pierce County Asset Building Coalition
Pierce County Saves
PH  253-383-3056 x118
barbarag@associatedministries.org

Celebrating America Saves Week

Thursday, February 26, Howard University hosted the annual Black America Saves reception as a part of America Saves Week 2009. This year’s reception brought together the Black community to celebrating saving during the tough economic times. Participant’s traveled from across the country to support the Black America Saves cause; some travling from Michigan, Louisana, and Florida.

Special thanks to this year’s sponsors:

• Howard University and the Armour J. Blackburn University Center
• Black America Saves
• Join the Click
• Mynette Management Company

As America Saves Week 2009 comes to a close, Mynette Management Company would like to thank everyone for their support of Black America Saves and reminds them to Keep on Savin’.

(download mp3)

Cost: About $8

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1  clove of garlic
• 1  medium onion
• 4  carrots
• 1 large bell pepper
• 1/3 head of cabbage
• 1 medium package of pasta (spaghetti)
• salt & pepper
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• soy sauce to taste

Instructions:

1. Sauté chicken thighs in vegetable oil; remove skin when chicken is done.. Chop the chicken into small cubes and set aside.
2. Chop clove of garlic and onions and set aside.
3. Slice carrots, bell pepper and cabbage and mix together.
4. Heat oil over medium heat and then add the garlic, onions, carrots and cabbage. Sauté until crisp but not soggy.
5. Add chicken with the rest of the ingredients and continue to cook over low heat for about a minute.
6. Boil spaghetti pasta until firm but not overly cooked while you sauté the other ingredients. Drain pasta.
7. Add freshly cooked pasta to the rest of the ingredients in the skillet and mix well. You may want to add a little olive oil to make sure that the pasta doesn’t stick together or become dry.
8. Season with salt and soy sauce to taste.  Mix well.

Welcome to the Philippines.

Make a cool drink made of apple cider and sugar and enjoy!

(download mp3)

Suzanne Mayo Theus, National Director, Black America Saves available for interviews during s America Saves Week Feb. 23, 24 27 or 28, 2009.  Suzanne Mayo-Theus is an ambassador of good will. But that’s just one of her roles.

“There are few people that have made such a broad impact on the lives of so many as Suzanne has,” said Tyrone Brown, president of PROKids.  “She has been a great advocate, steward and educator of the development of minority relations and raising awareness about building wealth not debt in the Black community.”

Black America Saves

Black America Saves is a nationwide campaign in which a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups helps individuals and families save and build wealth. Through information, advice, and encouragement, we assist those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for a home, save for an education, or save for retirement.  Many believe that low- and moderate-income families cannot afford to save and build wealth. Yet research shows that there are “savers” and “spenders” in all income classes. While those with modest incomes cannot save as much as the affluent, almost all have the ability to build wealth over time.

Clearly, our economic problems require solutions at all levels, including more responsible lending programs and appropriate financial services oversight. But at the individual level Black America Saves goal is to help individuals, and families get and keep personal finances on track, and over time generates the kind of capital that financial institutions can use to invest and grow the economy in the long term.  The primary focus of America Saves Week is to encourage Financial Action – commitments to save, invest and build wealth.

The campaign, which is run at the national level by the Consumer Federation of America, a non-profit consumer advocacy, research and education group, includes over 50 local organizations and partners with over a hundred national organizations who promote or offer financial education and savings opportunities.

Suzanne Mayo, National Director
Black America Saves/The Consumer Federation of America
1620 Eye St.  NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
785-236-9553

The campaign, which is run at the national level by the Consumer Federation of America, a non-profit consumer advocacy, research and education group, includes Black America Saves and over 50 local organizations and partners with over a hundred national organizations who promote or offer financial education and savings opportunities.

Black America Saves is a nationwide social-marketing campaign in which a broad coalition of nonprofit, corporate, and government groups helps individuals and families save and build wealth. Through information, advice, and encouragement, we assist those who wish to pay down debt, build an emergency fund, save for a home, save for an education, or save for retirement.  Many believe that low- and moderate-income families cannot afford to save and build wealth. Yet research shows that there are “savers” and “spenders” in all income classes. While those with modest incomes cannot save as much as the affluent, almost all have the ability to build wealth over time.

Clearly, our economic problems require solutions at all levels, including more responsible lending programs and appropriate financial services oversight. But at the individual level Black America Saves goal is to help individuals, and families get and keep personal finances on track, and over time generates the kind of capital that financial institutions can use to invest and grow the economy in the long term.

Contact:

Lavonia Perryman Fairfax
555 Brush St #1115
Detroit, Michigan 48226

Suzanne Mayo Theus, National Director
Black America Saves/The Consumer Federation of America
1620 Eye St.  NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
785-236-9553

(download mp3)

Cost: About $6

Ingredients:

• a large bag of chicken parts  ($4)
• 1 can of cream of mushroom soup (.69)
• 1 small bag of rice (.49)
• 1 can of string beans or green peas (.50)
• 1 pack of kool-aid  (.30 cents)

Instructions:

1. Wash the chicken well and season it well.
2. Place the chicken in a flat pan and bake on 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.
3. During the last 20 minutes, open the can of mushroom soup and mix with 1/4 cup of water in a bowl.
4. Pour the soup over the chicken and let the chicken bake until it is done.
5. Cook your rice in another pan until done and cover with margarine or your special gravy.
6. Open up the can of string beans or green peas and season them to your taste.

Make your pitcher of kool-aid and sit down to eat.

Pray for your wonderful $6 dollar meal and enjoy great family time!

NOTE:  Next week you can substitute the creme of mushroom soup for BBQ sauce. IT IS DELICIOUS!