Kazmira Pitzrick (pictured left) and Jasminn Ray, both natives of Syracuse, feel well-prepared for their roles as two of five new financial counselors for the Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center launched last week. Both have attended countless training sessions, workshops, webinars, planning sessions and even logged in weeks of shadowing other professional counselors all as part of the stringent training requirements set forth by the creators and funders of the national program.
Kaz and Jas (we like to rhyme!) may have had different paths to the Syracuse FEC, but both are hoping to impact Syracuse and its residents with financial know-how and coaching within a program they know works. Kazmira, originally from Liverpool, has a degree in applied mathematics and Spanish and knows she can apply that knowledge to her counseling sessions held at the Southwest Community Center. She’s excited to stay in Syracuse to see the city continue to grow and be near family. Jasminn, grew up on Syracuse’s Southside and holds a degree in business administration from SUNY Cobleskill. She has seen first-hand the challenges people have with saving and using credit and is looking forward to sharing some great financial tips for those who visit her at ARISE and Cooperative Federal.