By Dustin Tyler Joyce
May 5, 2008

The Mayors’ National Dollar Wi$e Campaign invites mayors to address their citizens’ financial-literacy needs. Dollar Wi$e Week 2008 is coming up September 20-27. Applications for the 2009 Dollar Wi$e Capacity Grants Program will be accepted in the fall. For more information on Dollar Wi$e, contact Dustin Tyler Joyce at 202-861-6759, send e-mail to dollarwise@usmayors.org, or visit the website www.dollarwiseonline.org.

A year ago, Albuquerque Mayor Martin J. Chávez issued a challenge to the women directors of city departments and agencies: plan a citywide women’s conference. Make it free for attendees, provide free breakfast and lunch, and offer free child care, with no additional budget or staff.

The women directors accepted the challenge and succeeded in organizing Albuquerque’s first-ever Mayor’s Conference for Women.

So, Chávez reissued his challenge for this year. Just make it bigger and better.

Once again the women directors responded and organized the second-annual Mayor’s Conference for Women on April 19. They gave it a theme, “Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise,” emphasizing that personal financial skills are essential to overall health and wellbeing. They adopted a statue of the Greek goddess of wisdom and protection, Athena, as their symbol. A total of 340 women registered to attend. And they organized speakers, exhibitors, gift bags, and door prizes, all donated by local businesses and organizations.

In welcoming the conference’s attendees, Chávez explained that the “idea behind the conference was to provide an environment for women to attend life-enriching workshops and also to provide opportunities to network and connect with others.” Referencing Albuquerque’s reputation as a great place to live, the mayor noted that it was events such as this and other services the city provides that contribute to such a high quality of life. Chávez praised those in attendance, along with the city staff and other who worked tirelessly to make the conference a success.

The mayor also highlighted the opportunity to adopt pets at the conference. In addition to the city’s ambitious environmental-protection goals, Chávez said, the city is working to make sure a home is found for every adoptable pet in the care of the Animal Welfare Department, reducing the city’s euthanization rate to zero.

Attendees had the opportunity to attend workshops centered on the three values in the conference’s theme. Participants learned how to better manage their assets and build their wealth at a seminar on financial education and credit counseling offered by Money Management International, a nonprofit organization focusing on financial literacy, and First Community Bank. A workshop presented by the Hearth Hospital of New Mexico on heart wellness and the early symptoms of heart disease focused on keeping the women healthy. “Aerobics for the Mind” sought to keep women wise by suggesting techniques to enhance memory and stimulate the brain.

Exhibitors this year were asked to pay a small fee for their booth space. In all, 16 organizations and city departments focusing on women’s finances and other issues were on hand offering resources, products, and services to attendees. In addition to personal finances, topics covered ranged from health care and employment to senior living and personal wellbeing.

Organized now for two years running, Chávez’s women’s conference is becoming an Albuquerque tradition. According to Cheryl Rein-Borunda, a city staff member who helped organize the conference, they’re already planning on it again for next year. With the same constraints. Just bigger and better.