The city of Gainesville will host the “What’s in Your Bag? Youth Financial Empowerment Summit” on Saturday, July 11, providing middle and high school students with practical financial skills to help them prepare for the future and navigate unexpected emergencies.
The free event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center (1714 SW 34th St.).
Designed to promote financial literacy among young people, the summit will feature interactive sessions covering topics such as earning income, saving money, managing bank accounts and other essential personal finance skills.
In addition to financial education, the event will address emergency preparedness and the financial challenges that can arise following natural and man-made disasters. Organizers note that emergencies can create unexpected expenses, result in lost income and place long-term financial strain on families, particularly those in underserved communities.
The summit is supported by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. In 2024, the nonprofit organization selected the city of Gainesville to participate in its Emergency Financial Empowerment initiative, which helps communities better identify and access financial relief resources following local emergencies.
City officials encourage students and families to attend and take advantage of the opportunity to learn financial skills that can support long-term economic stability and resilience.
For more information, contact Jamahl Rawls at RawlsJA@GainesvilleFL.gov or 352-393-8637.