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16th Annual Financial Health & Wellness Summit

  • Edward M. Kennedy Institute 210 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA 02125 United States (map)

Welcome to the 16th Annual Financial Health and Wellness Summit: Building Brains, Building Wealth to Achieve Financial Security.

The 16th Annual Financial Health and Wellness Summit will gather 150 attendees from across Massachusetts to explore the pivotal role of financial literacy and asset building in achieving lasting prosperity, especially for low-income individuals and families who identify as BIPOC. The program features stimulating plenary sessions, useful workshops and robust networking opportunities. Workshops will follow two tracks. One will cater to K-16 educators, with special attention to the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. The second track is tailored for asset builders, especially non-profit professionals and banking & financial experts. These sessions will explore actionable programmatic, partnership and policy strategies to bridge the racial wealth gap and cultivate enduring financial stability.

Special Presenters

Morning Kickoff Speaker, Julie Beckham, AVP of Financial Education & Strategy, Rockland Trust Bank

Afternoon Speaker, Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, with special presentation by the Office of Economic Empowerment

K-16 Sessions: Digital Financial Literacy and Artifical Intelligence Track

  • Embracing AI: Enhancing Personal Finance Education: Join educators leading the way in understanding how Artificial Intelligence driven tools can enhance learning efficiency while raising ethical concerns. Hear from esteemed educator, James Redelsheimer of the Foundation for Economic Education, on the impact of rising digital financial literacy tools and the adaptation of AI in education to understand its impact on student engagement and financial literacy.

  • Existing Technology in the Classroom: Pros and Cons of AI: Panelists will discuss using technology to personalize learning, incorporate digital financial literacy tools in curriculum, and address pitfalls of AI. Join Jacqueline Collins of Mansfield High School, Chris Berdik, a freelance journalist, Susan Comparato from Swampscott High School and James Redelsheimer to gain valuable insights on financial literacy and tech in education. MA CEE PDP Credits available.

  • AI in Practice: Hands-On Session: Join us in the afternoon for an interactive session to experience firsthand the transformative power of AI tools in the classroom. In this session, bring your laptop, tablet, or phone and follow along with panelist Jacqueline Collins for a demonstration of the Magic School Toolkit and hands on experience with Troutwood App facilitated by Susan Comparato. 

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Asset Building Sessions

  • Mind Your Assets: Building and Protecting Wealth 101: This session will cover guidance on engaging in discussions on investments, safeguarding those investments, and helping financial coaches and professionals better understand the various products and services available to clients, such as “Buy Now, Pay Later” that offer quick but potentially negative solutions. Hear from our Moderator Charlene Bauer of Metro Credit Union and panel speakers Brian Clarke of the Federal Reserve and Jill Wheeler of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on reflections into the pros and cons of quick financial solutions and help coaches learn strategies for vetting financial education advice.  Stay tuned for more confirmed speakers!

  • Closing the Wealth Gap: Strategies for Economic Equity: Moderated by Juan Bonilla of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, this panel will explore current innovative policy solutions and strategies aimed at narrowing the wealth gap. In this session, you’ll hear from Elizabeth Pierce from the Office of Economic Empowerment, Jason Andrade from Compass Working Capital, AJ Lucky of EMPath, and Kambiz Maali of Cambridge Housing Authority. All individuals who are leading the charge in policy reform and community focused changed through programs such as Baby Bonds, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS), and Statewide Matched Savings Programs.

  • Owning the Cliff Effect: Balancing Income and Benefits: Hannah Reuter of Springfield Works, Yari DeJesus of MACDC, and Charlotte Bruce leader of the statewide Healthy Families Tax Credits Coalition from Children’s HealthWatch will work to de-mystify the complexities of wealth accumulation. Moderated by Kelly Harrington of Boston Indicators, this session will uncover the impact of the Cliff Effect on economic mobility and community stability through real time tools, research, and understanding the lived experience of communities. Explore out of the box approaches to mitigate the challenges created by wealth building programs and gain insights into road mapping sustainable solutions for income growth and affordable housing across communities in Massachusetts.

Save the date, mark your calendars, and stay tuned for further details on speakers and agenda! We look forward to seeing you in September!

Speakers and Moderators

Since 1999, The Midas Collaborative has worked to advance the financial security of low- and moderate-income residents in Massachusetts in collaboration with member organizations and partners. Midas provides tools, services, and training to assist organizations and public officials to create more prosperous communities. In the past ten years, alone, Midas’ signature Matched Savings Program has empowered 7,000 individuals to leverage $7 million in personal savings and matched savings grants into $340 million of economic stimulus activity; facilitating pathways to homeownership, career-building education and small business development. Nearly 80% of our Matched Savings participants have been low-income women with children who identify as BIPOC.

Midas’ Financial Empowerment Network (FEN) includes over 25 teachers, student representatives, nonprofit and higher education leaders, and financial institution representatives who advocate for financial security initiatives. One priority is ensuring that financial literacy be a requirement for high school graduation in MA. FEN members collaborate on developing the annual Financial Health & Wellness Summit, bringing together 150 educators and systems change leaders to share best practices for programs and policy development.

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