L-R, Back Row: Carver Manager Waid Ramsubhag; Carver staff member Cherae Kingwood; Estephany Rivera-Munoz, Bankwell AVP, Retail Support Office at Bankwell; Abby Lemus, Bankwell Assistant Branch Manager, Darien; and Kevin Cardona.
Yesterday, Carver’s Youth Development Program (YDP) middle school students at the Carver Community Center got a hands-on introduction to financial literacy, thanks to our longtime partner Bankwell. This interactive workshop is part of Bankwell’s deep commitment to empowering young people with real-world financial knowledge through community partnerships.
Bankwell has stood beside Carver for years, sponsoring programs that help our students grow academically, socially, and personally. Just last month, the bank announced a new financial literacy course tailored for middle school students—a natural extension of its mission to equip youth with the tools to succeed. Yesterday’s session brought that mission into action.
The workshop began in a playful but purposeful way: students were given (play) “twenty-dollar bills” and asked simple but powerful questions:
What is money?
How do you save it?
What is an ATM?
What are loans?
From there, facilitators guided lively discussions about the difference between checking and savings accounts and the importance of saving versus spending. Using relatable examples—such as whether it’s smarter to buy a fourth pair of sneakers or save money for future goals—students were challenged to think critically about their choices.
Several students proudly shared that they already have bank accounts, while others filled the room with questions about banking, money, and even interest. The facilitators also shared their own career journeys in banking, demonstrating to students what it takes to build a professional path in the financial services industry.
Waid Ramsubhag, Manager of the Carver After School Program for Education and Recreation (CASPER) and Jr. YDP, reflected on the value of the experience:
“Workshops like these go far beyond financial lessons,” Waid shared. “They give our students opportunities to build character, ask meaningful questions, and engage with professional role models from the community.”
This month’s program is just the start. Later in October, the same group of middle schoolers will take a field trip to Bankwell’s Norwalk branch—with many already eager to see the vault(!).
Carver extends a heartfelt thank you to Nancy Caccia, FVP | Community Relations at Bankwell and the entire Bankwell team for bringing energy, knowledge, and care to our students. Their dedication demonstrates that financial literacy isn’t just about numbers—it’s about empowering kids with the confidence and skills to make informed decisions for their futures.
