Community Education Officer Miria Gray has made it her mission to provide financial education to people of all ages in Connecticut. To accomplish this goal, Miria helps students, teachers, community members, and others in various ways.
Teacher Grants
Chelsea Groton Bank offers $500 Teacher Grants to support educators in bringing personal finance education to their classrooms. Teachers receive the grant after administering six personal finance lessons. These lessons can be taught personally using the bank’s provided curriculum, by inviting Miria to teach, or through a combination of both. Once awarded, the grant can be used for anything the teachers need to enhance their classroom, from supplies to special projects.
High School Financial Literacy
Connecticut has taken significant steps to ensure that students are equipped with essential financial literacy skills by incorporating personal finance requirements into the high school curriculum. These requirements aim to provide students with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about budgeting, saving, credit, and other critical aspects of personal finance. Through her position at the bank and as Vice President (now President) of CT Jump$tart, Miria has played a role in advocating for and supporting these initiatives. Through her expertise and passion for financial literacy, Miria testified to the state about the need for a personal finance requirement. After becoming law, she has worked closely with educators, policymakers, and community leaders to develop resources and programs that empower teachers and students.
Financial Education in the Community
Chelsea Groton Bank and the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut have partnered to secure a grant through the state of CT aimed at providing personal finance education to the local community. The program’s aim is to provide an opportunity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and female-led households to engage in financial literacy education on their own time and at their own pace, and to provide an opportunity for those individuals to make empowered financial decisions. The program utilizes self-directed e-learning and professional financial coaching, provided by Miria, to guide participants in gaining financial stability through self-assessment, goal setting, and practical application of financial literacy skills. The grant funding will allow them to provide their program to the Greater New London area.
CT Jump$tart Coalition
In January, Miria became the President of the CT Jump$tart Coalition. CT Jump$tart is a state-level affiliate of the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing financial literacy, especially among youth. CT Jump$tart works to bring together educators, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies in Connecticut to promote financial education and provide resources for teaching personal finance.
On top of Miria’s work with these initiatives, she continues to teach financial education in classrooms across Southeastern Connecticut and hosts financial education classes through the Bank for individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Interested in learning more about our classes? Check out our offerings.
