In partnership with the Land-Grant University and Cooperative Extension System, USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture supports efforts that promote learning and development for individuals and families.
Formal and non-formal community-based educational programs help families and individuals attain the skills to support and sustain healthy development and lifestyles over time and across settings. A program based at Kentucky State University illustrates the impact these programs can have on participants.
This story is reprinted with permission of Kentucky State University and was first published on its website.
The women at Grupo de Mujeres pass around a corazón—a heart.
Grupo de Mujeres, or the women's club, is a monthly meeting of Spanish-speaking women in Louisville. Run by Eastern Area Community Ministries and Kentucky State University’s Jessica Marquez, the group offers life-skills development, financial education and empowerment for the women and their families.
“Whoever has the heart has the floor to speak," said attendee Cristian. “It creates respect and allows those who want to share to speak.”
Cristian said she is “always waiting” for the day that Grupo de Mujeres meets.
“We can talk about everything and anything,” she said. “There is a lot of information that this group provides for me that I do not get elsewhere."
Marquez, a first-generation college student who graduated from Kentucky State University as valedictorian in 2018, is the bilingual community resource development agent for Jefferson and Shelby counties. At Grupo de Mujeres, which is conducted in Spanish, Marquez teaches a variety of financial literacy topics.
Cristian said she didn’t know she was doing her budgeting wrong until Marquez taught her the right way. An activity on expenses helped Maria, another attendee, reflect on her spending habits.
“I have learned how to better my finances and how to reach financial goals,” Maria said.
Eastern Area Community Ministries Director of Multicultural Services Paty Robles has coordinated Grupo de Mujeres since 2005 and has known Marquez since she was a child, when Marquez’s mother occasionally attended Robles’ group.
“She came back as a leader for the group and has provided new knowledge to the participants,” Robles said. “The way she teaches is very engaging; it is never boring; and it allows us to learn and stay focused on the topic being taught.”
Marquez knows the needs of the Hispanic community because she's in it.
“My family didn’t grow up with a lot of money, so that’s why financial literacy is very important to me,” Marquez said.
She continues to learn people's needs through outreach, such as going to community events or hearing from individuals. Then she is able to assess the need and come up with a program to meet it.
One of the attendees at Grupo de Mujeres had never had a bank account before—“they were used to having all of their money stashed under the mattress in a shoebox,” Marquez said. After completing Marquez’s financial literacy program, the woman opened a bank account and now knows how to manage checks, money orders and credit and debit cards. She is now working on a short-term and long-term plan to buy a house.
“Seeing the results that they had from one of my programs made me realize how much I love this job,” Marquez said. “I love what I do because I truly made an impact in this individual’s life. If they had not participated, maybe they would not be where they are today.”
In addition to being a source of important information, Grupo de Mujeres is a place of community.
“It feels like we are a family,” Maria said. “There is a feeling of friendship and what we share is respected by everyone and it stays confidential to the group.”
The women talk, laugh and cry together—and simply enjoy each other’s company, Maximina said.
Some women have attended the group for a decade, while others are newer. When Viatriz came to the United States, she didn’t know anyone; Grupo de Mujeres has helped her “navigate” her new country, she said.
“This group has oriented me and taught me how to grow and succeed,” Viatriz said.
The group is also special to Cristian because she has no family nearby.
“This is a very strong community,” she said. “I see this as part of my family.”