During the 2024-2025 project cycle, teen volunteers at the Northridge Branch Library have elected to work on a Teens Leading Change project designed to increase financial literacy among people of all ages in the local community. TLC team member Chloe H. describes the significance of this project, as well as the students’ vision for accomplishing their goals.
Financial literacy is the ability to make informed decisions about one’s own finances and includes skills such as budgeting and investing. It is an essential area of knowledge for all ages. However, ever since 2020, financial literacy rates have been decreasing. 2024 data from the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center shows that an average American scores only around 48% on a financial literacy test.
Having begun in the fall of 2024, the Teens Leading Change (TLC) group in the Northridge library has aimed to make a difference regarding these concerning numbers. Our goal is to educate the members of our community on this vital subject and even learn more about the topic ourselves along the way. After some discussion, it was determined that this could be achieved through programs and guest speakers at the library in partnership with non-profit organizations and bank companies. We will also be doing our own teen-led presentation to have a hands-on demonstration of both our teens’ learning on the subject and to help the people in the community as well.
Open to all ages, our hope is that everyone can be armed with the knowledge that can prevent them from being trapped in financial pitfalls and can reduce stress. Despite financial literacy being so important, it’s not a common topic taught in schools, so we hope we can make up for any deficiency in awareness. Higher financial literacy is tied to better decision-making, greater financial security, and independence.
—Written by Chloe H. Chloe is a high school sophomore. This is her first year participating in Teens Leading Change.
—Katie Wright, Young Adult Librarian, Palms - Northridge Branch Library
The Teens Leading Change initiative has funded and launched 52 projects across 60 branches with over 600 participants, including 9 projects across 10 branches that are happening now! Go to lapl.org/teens/tlc for more information.