The Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) is partnering with Tulsa Responds to provide families with resources to help them move toward financial stability and independence.
Though the partnership is new, both organizations have been active in Tulsa for several years. People visiting Tulsa Responds for services like tax filing can now also sign up for appointments to learn more about financial education.
Joelle Galapate-Ikpo with Tulsa Responds said the goal is to help people build a path toward long-term stability and financial independence. The service with the FEC is free, which Galapate-Ikpo says is essential to their mission.
“Our number one mission truly is to reduce any sort of barrier that there may be to the client to accessing assistance with enrolling in public benefits, keeping their full tax refund, and now being able to empower them through financial counseling services,” she said.
Finance, program manager Hieu Le said, isn’t always well-taught at home. Le hopes this new partnership will help more people gain a better understanding of their finances.
“It’s important for us to provide the services because it’s to empower our individuals who are not taught at home with the financial education and also to equip them with the knowledge so that not only they can empower themselves, but they can also empower the future,” Le said.
Anyone can make an appointment with the FEC through Tulsa Responds by visiting TulsaResponds.org/FEC or visiting the Tulsa Responds office at 21st Street and Sheridan Road.