Financial Education Course Launches with Success at Albuquerque’s Trauma Recovery Center
More than 40 residents begin their financial empowerment journey
ALBUQUERQUE – This week, more than 40 members of the community began their journey to smart money management at Albuquerque Community Safety’s (ACS) Trauma Recovery Center (TRC). In partnership with First Convenience Bank, ACS and the City of Albuquerque’s Bank On Burque initiative are proudly offering a new Financial Education Course. The first course, Adulting 101, launched a series designed to empower individuals with practical financial knowledge and resources.
Participants gained foundational skills including how to build credit, navigate employment, and prepare for independent living. In a major step toward financial inclusion, several attendees walked away with newly opened bank accounts, thanks to on-site support from First Convenience Bank representatives.
“This is about more than money – it’s about giving people the tools to shape their futures,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “By meeting people where they are, we’re building equity and helping every Albuquerque family get a fair shot.”
The course was hosted at the TRC, the first of its kind in New Mexico and the hub of ACS’s Violence Intervention Program (VIP). The TRC plays a crucial role in bringing trauma-informed services and opportunities to underserved communities.
“This course embodies what VIP is all about-providing real, life-changing support to those who need it most,” said ACS Director Jodie Esquibel.
Additional courses- including Introduction to Credit, Money Management, and Income and Expenses, will be offered in the coming months. Please visit the ACS events page for a listing of Trauma Recovery Center events.
“This partnership is a big win for economic inclusion,” said Vanessa Arballo, Program Manager for Bank On Burque. “By connecting people to no-cost, no-surprise-fee accounts and financial education, we’re helping break cycles of poverty.”
This initiative is just the beginning of a broader effort to build economic resilience and opportunity in Albuquerque. By combining trusted community spaces like the TRC with accessible financial tools and education, the City and its partners are laying the groundwork for lasting change one class, one account, and one empowered resident at a time.
###
About Albuquerque Community Safety
Albuquerque Community Safety is the City of Albuquerque’s third branch of public safety. Responders take calls for service involving behavioral health, substance use, and other non-criminal and non-medical issues. Request an ACS Responder by calling 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.