Living in the Village

Living in the Village is an economic empowerment campaign which focuses on providing comprehensive education and tangible resources to those in need across the country. 
 
Volatile economic times call for drastic measures.  As unemployment rises, real wages remain stagnant, and our economic futures become increasingly more uncertain our communities continue to show signs of financial distress.  Homelessness, higher crime rates, and increased drug usage are only a few of the results of a lagging economy.  The Optimum Institute of Economic Empowerment (OIEE) has created this economic initiative to directly address these financial concerns and more. 
 
Living in the Village, is not just another financial literacy workshop.  It is an economic empowerment movement based upon the premise that if it really takes a village to raise a child, the strength of the child depends upon the strength of the village.  Comprehensive economic empowerment depends on not only the knowledge of stocks and bonds, but the sharing of the resources that exist within our own human capital for the benefit of uplifting our community.    Therefore OIEE will not just talk about stocks and bonds at these workshops, but will provide all of the following:
 
•          The Optimum Seven Steps to Financial Freedom (found at www.optimum-capital.com) and other important principles of financial literacy including:
o         Avoiding Predatory Lending
o         The Dangers of Excessive Consumption
o         Investing in the Community
o         Procuring Loans
o         Starting a Business
•          Local community businesses will make presentations to display where community resources should be concentrated.  Presenting businesses will also provide information and strategies to assist attendees who desire to create their own businesses.
•          Community not-for-profits and social organizations that provide resources such as educational, job training, and food/shelter will make presentations to increase community resource awareness. 
•          Attendees will communicate life visions and goals to other attendees to solicit support from community.  It will be a group obligation to provide at least five suggestions of tangible support for each attendee who presents.