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LIBS 490 Project Proposal

Financial Literacy and Bridging the Wealth Gap

Eriona Shabani
Liberal Studies Senior Capstone Project Proposal
Senior Capstone Project Selection:
Community-Engaged Service-Learning
March 2, 2023
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I am excited to propose a series of interactive workshops on financial literacy to be

hosted at Delaware State University. The purpose of these workshops is to address the financial
disparities faced by African Americans, particularly the wealth gap that exists between them and
other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Through the workshops, I hope to decrease
that gap slightly while also bringing more awareness to the situation.
To guide this proposal, I will be referencing three primary sources of information: "The
Racial Wealth Gap: Why Policy Matters" by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition,
"The State of the African American Consumer" by Nielsen, and "Financial Literacy and African
Americans: Bridging the Wealth Gap" by the Urban Institute. These sources provide valuable
insights into the financial literacy gap that exists among African Americans and the policies that
contribute to it.
"The Racial Wealth Gap" report by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition
discusses policies that contribute to the wealth gap, while "The State of the African American
Consumer" by Nielsen and "Financial Literacy and African Americans" by the Urban Institute
examine African Americans' financial habits and literacy. All three reports highlight the need to
address these disparities and bridge the wealth gap through policies and financial education
programs.
Over the course of a couple of weeks, the workshops will cover topics such as budgeting,
saving, investing, and building credit. In addition to these practical skills, we will also delve into
the policies that have contributed to the wealth gap and the steps we can take to address them.
The workshops will be interactive, providing participants with the opportunity to ask questions,
discuss their own financial experiences, and work through practical examples.
As a student at Delaware State University, I have had the opportunity to gain knowledge
and skills in a variety of academic areas. This workshop series serves as a capstone project that
integrates and connects the knowledge gained throughout my undergraduate education
experience in a service-learning project. By sharing my expertise on financial literacy with
fellow students, I hope to contribute to a more financially savvy and empowered community.
Thank you for considering my proposal. I am excited about the potential impact these
workshops could have and am happy to provide additional information or answer any questions
you may have.
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References

Nielsen. (2011). State of the African American Consumer.

https://www.nielsen.com/insights/2011/state-of-the-african-american-consumer/
Sullivan, L., Meschede, T., Dietrich, L., & Shapiro, T. (2015). Why Policy Matters. Institute for
Assets & Social Policy, Brandeis University.
Traub, A., Ruetschlin, C., & Draut, T. (2013). Why policy matters: Securing equal economic
opportunity for all. Demos.
Urban Institute. (2014). Closing the wealth gap: Empowering minority-owned businesses to
reach their full potential for growth and job creation.
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/24491/904611-closing-the-wealth-
gap-empowering-minority-owned-businesses-to-reach-their-full-potential-for-growth-
and-job-creation.pdf