Pocatello mayor declares April as financial literacy month

On Tuesday, Pocatello mayor Brian Blad declared April as Financial Literacy Month.

It was in cooperation with Junior Achievemen Idaho. JA Idaho is a program that uses business mentors and volunteers to teach kids in the classroom about important life skills. The program focuses on things like personal finance, the difference between credit and debit, and how to save for college. It’s goal is to teach things outside of normal curriculum that will help students in their future.

It’s accredited with common core and is free to schools to participate in. Sean Evans, president and CEO of JA Idaho, said proclamations like Pocatello’s help Junior Achievement create awareness of its programs. He said they are important skills for kids to learn.

“Well when you look at the generational debt that a lot of our families face, it’s because they never got that education from their parents,” Evans said. “Sometimes the parents are struggling so you want to make sure that the children get the education so that they can make better life decisions as they start getting out into the workforce themselves.”

He said local community support has been great. Twin Falls and Boise have also made similar proclamations.

Evans said JA Idaho has grown in recent years. In 2012, it reached about 1,600 kids. Last year, in 2016, it reached 15,000.

If you want to know more information about Junior Achievement or how you can be a part of it, look at the organization’s website.