Page 7 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - July-August 2025

7

YOUTH

Spending Frenzy imparts money wisdom

Chehalis Youth Workers
learn financial literacy INFORMATION

By Carol Strader
The Chehalis Tribal Vocational For details about upcoming
Rehabilitation (TVR) Program youth financial literacy or job
partnered with the SPIPA readiness events, contact the
Entrepreneurship Academy to Chehalis Tribal Vocational
host Spending Frenzy: Smart Rehabilitation Program at
Money Moves for GWE Funds on 360-709-1702.
July 10.
Twenty-five Youth Workers
Program participants were learn about managing money and
welcomed to the interactive event. preparing for adulthood.”
Youth were 100 percent engaged Spending Frenzy was made
throughout the activity! possible through collaboration
The event was designed to with the SPIPA Entrepreneurship
teach the basics of financial Academy, which focuses on
literacy in a fun, hands-on way. building financial confidence
Each participant received a budget and business thinking among
representing their General Welfare Tribal youth. By combining life
Exclusion funds and moved skills and entrepreneurship, the
through stations where they had event supported long-term career
to make decisions about real- readiness and independence.
world expenses such as housing, A heartfelt thank you goes out
food, transportation, phone plans, to Chehalis Tribal Government
savings and more. employees who volunteered
Along the way, they faced their time to staff budgeting
challenges such as unexpected tables and guide youth through
bills or financial setbacks, helping the simulation. Your support
them see how important it is to and willingness to engage with
plan ahead and spend wisely. the community helped make
Youth learned to identify the this event a meaningful and
difference between wants and memorable experience for
needs, how to balance a budget everyone involved.
and how saving early can help in Because of overwhelmingly
the long run. positive feedback, next year’s
“This was one of the most Spending Frenzy is already in
rewarding events we’ve done,” the planning stages. The TVR
said Carol Strader, Chehalis TVR Program looks forward to As part of the Chehalis Tribe’s summer Youth Workers Program, students
Program Manager. “Every youth building on this momentum to were given real-world experience budgeting and preparing for adulthood
stayed engaged the entire time and continue empowering Chehalis during the informative Spending Frenzy event.
really thought about their choices. youth with essential life and
It showed us how ready they are to financial skills.