Written By: Rachael DeLeon, AFCPE Executive Director

Next month I’ll be speaking on a panel at the Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA) annual workshop, highlighting the joint efforts of seemingly disparate organizations, coming together for a common goal – to close the gap to financial counseling and education for Veterans and their families.  

During our preparation, one phrase kept rising to the top – it takes a village.  

Impact doesn’t happen when we work in silos, but rather when we combine the unique talents of organizations and individuals, uniting over shared values, and coming together to create real and lasting impact.  

Help us elevate this impact, by sharing this work in your community: Free Financial Counseling Options for Veterans 🇺🇸 Veterans Benefits Banking Program 

One voice can make an impact: Make it yours. 

A core focus area of our strategic plan is connection: We Connect.  

Connection is happening in our community every day – in the conversations being had in virtual meet ups, in the shared ideas happening in our Member Exchange discussion board, through shared learning during a professional development webinar, and in the critical initiatives of our Task Forces.  

  • Share a success story – either your own, or that of a client 
  • Provide a testimonial about the value of your AFC® or the impact the AFCPE community has had in your life 
  • Let us know if you’ve written an OpEd or have been quoted in the media 
  • Share a way that you or your organization is emulating connection and collaboration – within your community, across research and practice, or with other like-minded professionals in the field 

These stories allow us to raise awareness for AFCPE’s mission and vision. They strengthen the value of the AFC® – amongst professionals and the people that you serve.  

  • Be an ambassador for the organization by introducing AFCPE to partners who share our values.  
  • Impact happens through collaborative partnerships. Have an idea or introduction you want to make? Send us an email!  
  • Invite someone to Sponsor or Exhibit at the AFCPE Symposium.  

Join In:  

  • AFCPE Symposium – Registration is open! We hope you will join us in Columbus, OH (or virtually!) this November.  
  • The magic of this event would not be possible without the speakers who share their expertise, the Sponsors who provide generous funding and support, the Exhibitors who share their resources, and of course, YOU – the people who bring your thoughts, ideas, and voices to the conversations happening in the sessions and in the hallways.  
  • Mary O’Neill Mini Grant – For 14 years, the Mary O’Neill Mini Grant has enabled the development and implementation of innovative, high-impact financial education projects that are creating real change in our community. And we can’t wait to see what kind of projects are submitted this year! Apply.  
  • AFCPE Task Forces – A big shout out to the Government Relations Task Force, who has put together an Advocacy Toolkit to help AFCPE Members effectively use their voice for change. Learn more in this newsletter article from Mark Munzenberger, AFC® or visit your Membership Dashboard and click on Resources to check out the great tools and guidance available to you! 
  • AFCPE Membership – If you haven’t plugged into the AFCPE Community yet, take advantage of the slower summer months and plug into AFCPE Membership: 
    • Invite someone to join the AFCPE Membership Community! 

Let’s keep our village – our connection, our collaboration, and our impact – growing.  

Together we can expand equity, build capacity, and ensure access to high-quality financial counseling, coaching, and education for all people.  

SETTING THE STANDARD,  

Rachael DeLeon
AFCPE Executive Director 

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