The HBCU Development Action Coalition (HBCU CDAC) has announced that Sharon Kent has been named Program Director for Our Money Matters (OMM), a comprehensive financial wellness initiative for students and faculty at HBCUs and MSIs, as well as the residents of the neighborhoods surrounding their campuses. This new $5.6 million initiative, funded exclusively by the Wells Fargo Foundation, is taking a more holistic approach to helping people who may be facing food and housing insecurity, college debt and other financial hardships to increase opportunities for financial inclusion and future economic success.
In this new role, Kent is responsible for the successful oversight of the program to include the management of the Our Money Matters online platform, managing all public relations of the program, and cultivating relationships with significant partners/investors.
Ron Butler, CEO, HBCU CDAC comments “We are delighted that Sharon has joined our HBCU CDAC team. We are excited to continue our organization’s journey with her as the new leader of the Our Money Matters initiative. We are looking forward to seeing the contributions Sharon will make and sharing many OMM/CDAC successes together”.
Before Our Money Matters, Kent spent the last 17 years with NeighborWorks America in various capacities. Kent’s most recent role was Senior Manager, Curriculum and Training.
She was responsible for developing and delivering the community engagement, neighborhood and community revitalization, small business lending, and community and economic development tracks taught nationally. Before that role, Kent was the regional operations manager for the southern region of NeighborWorks America, where she was responsible for managing grants and the operations management of the region.
“I am excited to be a part of such an important program that gives HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions students the tools they need to develop financial freedom for this generation and generations to come” comments Sharon Kent, Program Director, Our Money Matters.
Over the next three years, OMM will expand to 25 HBCUs and Minority Serving Institution across the U.S., equipping roughly 40,000 college students and community residents with much needed financial capability skills, personalized tools for managing finances and student loans, and access to support services like career closets and emergency financial assistance. Over the long term, this initiative aims to accelerate opportunities for building generational wealth within communities of color to help to close the racial wealth divide.
To learn how to get involved as a student, participating school, or community partner visit: www.OurMoneyMatters.com
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