BUFFALO, N.Y. — Black History Month represents a lot more than just a celebration of pride and culture. It's an important time to highlight resources available that people may need access to.
2 On Your Side's Claudine Ewing talked with Danielle Roberts, the YMCA's Vice President of Community Impact, about those resources available to people across Western New York.
When you talk about kicking off Black History Month, it's not just celebrating all the good things. It's also about educating people, and the Y wants to make sure that people in the Black community are educated, especially when it comes to financial literacy."
If you go to the William-Emslie Family YMCA, you will see something not in any other locations.
"It's the first of its kind to have a bank in YMCA, and we are so proud to have launched that, because it's financial literacy for a community who sometimes doesn't want to have a bank account," Roberts said.
There are financial literacy classes available to people at that location as well.
"They're learning about savings. They're they're learning about investments. They're they're learning about ownership. They're learning about entrepreneurship," she said. "These are our kids who come here every day, and our after-school program."
Roberts added: "The YMCA is a place that focuses on access for all, but specifically the William-Emslie YMCA has been a pillar in this community, serving this community, those who may be underserved."
There's an array of activities, year-round. In the summer, people can get outdoors. There's also gym activities and dancing.
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