Vanessa's Money Hour

Ready for solar? Philly experts talk about loans and costs, installers, Inflation Reduction Act incentives, solar job training programs, 2-mile remote access, and even powering your electric car with your solar-powered battery. Guests: ⁠Micah Gold-Markel of Solar States, Alon Abramson of Solarize Philly, and solar champion and activist, Larry Moyer of FUMCOG.

Original airdate Feb 22, 2024

The deadline for the Valentine Foundation grants for "Visionary Leadership" training programs is January 31st. Hear fund committee members share application details and past award profiles. Applicant agencies must be women-focused and operate in the Philadelphia region. Applications are encouraged for both emerging and established leaders.

The Welcome Table, a community resource center located within the St. James School, offers several programs supporting community connection, education, and financial security. On this episode I talk with staff members about their programs like the Saturday food share, legal aid, and community lending services, as well as the 2024 schedule of classes from chopsticks to fitness. I'm excited to work with them in relaunching their financial education classes. Listen to this episode for details on how to take part in any and all of these offerings.

Medicare Open Enrollment runs 10/15/23 to 12/7/2023. Make your appointment with a PA-MEDI advocate to ensure sure you’re making the best choices for your needs. PA Medi Counselor, Joan Adler, will explain all those letters – Parts A, B, D and sometimes C, and she’ll fill you in on the changes going on that affect senior healthcare access and cost. No one’s too young to hear this and those close to or over 65 shouldn’t miss a word of our conversation.  Original airdate 10/6/2023

WOMEN’S WAY 2nd Annual Gender Wealth Summit Friday, September 22nd, 2023 | 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM In this episode, I interviewed Kelly Sheard, Director of the WOMEN'S WAY Gender Wealth Institute, about their 2nd Annual Gender Wealth Summit and other programs addressing the gender wealth gap. There's still time to register to attend the Summit on Friday, 9/22/23 from 8am-1pm.

Original airdate Thursday, 9/14/23

Learn about the PAGE Hurdle Fund supporting BIPOC business growth with grants to get over the hurdles needed to access large contracts. Hear my interview with Economy League Philadelphia Anchors for Growth and Equity (PAGE) staff, Kenyatta James and Melina Harris, and business leader, Sulaiman Rahman, as they share fund details and discuss challenges and opportunities for Philly BIPOC business growth.

We’re nearing the end of 2023 first quarter. Great time to check on your saving goals - are you on target? This week I'll talk through my "Top 10 tools for financial success" with my friend, Bonnie Maize, of Maize Financial. These commonly available financial tools and strategies helped me to retire early. Join me for the countdown on VANESSA'S MONEY HOUR, 1pm EST tomorrow, Saturday, on gtownradio.com.

My Top 10 Tools for Financial Success: Emergency Fund | Budget & Net Worth statements |High Credit Score | Index & Life Cycle Funds | Traditional IRA Account | Roth IRA Account | FSAs & HSAs (flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts) | Automated Saving | Spreadsheet Skills

Original airdate 3/4/2023

Philadelphia gives funds for tangled title clearing to legal aid groups (inquirer.com)

Register of Wills, Tracey Gordon’s informational series, Plan.Prepare.Protect, urges Philadelphians to protect their homes by preparing wills and other estate documents. I’ll play her episode that covers the new legal assistance funding for tangled titles and details her Probate Deferment Initiative with two of the attorneys from the funded agencies.

Original airdate 2/18/23

The new SECURE 2.0 Act offers major incentives to help us save more for a secure retirement. For example, the “Saver’s Match Program” is a 50% federal match on up to $2,000 annually for lower- and middle-income earners, catch-up contribution limits for age 50 and over go up significantly in 2024, and new employer tax credits will open retirement saving to many who haven't had access before. Listen as I talk through these and other details with Chelsea Ransom-Cooper of Zenith Wealth Partners on VANESSA'S MONEY HOUR.

Original airdate 2/4/23.

Learning circles | Great (greatgtown.org)

Germantown Residents for Economic Alternatives Together (GREAT) held a wonderful gathering on MLK Day where neighbors talked about housing, shared food and built community. They also recruited folks for their new Housing Learning Circle. Spaces still available. You'll Zoom weekly on Wednesdays from Feb 1 - March 22nd, 6-7:30pm. Listen to my interview with GREAT member, Maleka Fruen, about this and other GREAT programs on this episode of Vanessa's Money Hour.

Original airdate 1/14/23

Reverend Naomi Washington-Leapheart is the director of faith-based and interfaith affairs in the Philadelphia Office of Public Engagement (OPE). She and I discuss their January training, “Building a Culture of Reparations Intensive". Hear the details about this 4-day transformative experience and consider bringing your faith institution on the journey. Sign up by 12/30/22.  The interview is followed by 15 minutes of testimony from Deadria Farmer-Paellman, in front of the CA Dept of Justice Reparations Task Force. See full YouTube video here.

Path to Prosperity - Mercy Neighbors

A Path to Prosperity offers $500 for folks to complete their 4-week job readiness program. Program Manager, Nicole Cobb, and two recent participants share all the details on VANESSA'S MONEY HOUR.  The next cohort starts January 10th and meets Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1-4pm. Register @ https://mercyneighbors.org/p2p/.

I met Maribel Francisco, the Immigrant-Money Coach(TM), and founder of OUR WEALTH MATTERS, at FinCon 2022. She teaches immigrants (documented & undocumented) about legally earning & saving money, and about investing in the stock market. We bonded over our Top 10 lists – mine, a list for lifetime financial security, hers, a list of issues she covers in working with her clients. There were many overlaps and also some unique issues I didn’t know about for immigrants maneuvering through the U.S. financial systems. 

Original airdate 11/5/2022

Mom Your Business (MYB) helps Black/Brown female entrepreneurs achieve exponential business growth through mentoring, coaching, and advocacy. Hear details from founder, Tanya T. Morris, and client, Jenné Johns, President of ONCE UPON A Preemie. We talked about MYB’s programs including the Raise Roundup pitch competition where the top winner walked away with $50,000! Attend their Business Expo and Gala Nov 4-6, 2022. Original airdate 10/27/2022.

The Welcome Table on Saturday mornings offers free groceries, community, and resources. It’s a project of the St. James School, Philly's only tuition-free private school. Welcome Table Director, Paul Bennett, joins me to talk about these programs and how they came about after leaders of an old Episcopal church asked, “how should we serve our neighborhood today?” Are your faith leaders asking the same questions? Original Airdate 10/13/22.

Women in Nontraditional Careers (WINC) Trades Readiness Program is a FREE 6-week training that starts July 12, 2022. Women working in union trades typically start making at least $18 per hour and make more than $500,000 more than jobs over their lifetime. I interview Sue Hoffman of WINC and two women working in the trades. Tune into Vanessa’s Money Hour at 1pm EST Saturday, on 92.9FM or online at gtownradio.com. Original airdate 4/30/22

LEVEL is tackling the racial wealth gap by convening multi-racial learning circles for women ready to make direct investments in Black female founders. Apply for the Fall cohort by July 15th. Hear details from co-founders Nikoa Milton and Jenny Tolan - their origin story, the 10-week training details, and how you’ll create deep connection with your sisters in learning and investing. 

Original airdate 7/2/2022 on VANESSA'S MONEY HOUR, on gtownradio.com.

Black founders seeking business capital need connections and relationships. The Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership helps them build those. Hear how their WOCConnecting Summit and The Making of Black Angels training program build connections needed to address one of the biggest obstacles for closing the Racial Wealth Gap.  Original airdate 6/16/22.

WorkReady | Summer

What's your kid doing this summer? Philadelphia Youth Network's WorkReady program offers kids as young as 12-years old training and exposure to the working world. They'll spend 20 hours a week learning, doing, and earning $11/hour. Hear details in my interview with 3 program staff and board member, Nasir, who did 4 summers in the program and just graduated from Temple with a double-major. Original airdate 6/4/2022.

Register for the Public Banking Learning Circle that starts August 8, 2022

Original show airdate 3/19/2022