Outreach & Training

Consumer Action’s multilingual and multicultural community outreach managers work to empower individual consumers and community educators nationwide through free, unbiased, rights-focused consumer literacy information and training. The team works with a nationwide network of community-based organizations (CBOs). Many of these CBOs become our network Affiliate members and receive membership benefits that include multiple free publication orders per year and the opportunity to participate in special in-person events. Visit our Affiliate webpage to learn more about becoming a Consumer Action Affiliate member.

Our Events

• Webinar explores the rise of contactless payments
  Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many consumers have begun to see contactless payments as a safer way to pay, without the fears that come with touching “germ-y” cash and PIN pads. Even after health-related concerns subside, this increasingly popular payment option is likely to stick around.
• Millions go hungry during COVID-19
  Consumer Action’s webinar on how the coronavirus has impacted the crisis.
• Keeping individuals, families housed amid an “eviction tsunami”
  Consumer Action's first webinar of the year couldn't have come at a better time: The Jan. 26 virtual event focused on the looming threat of an eviction crisis, which populations are most impacted by evictions, and how eviction moratoriums and financial assistance programs can help tenants remain housed.

( View More Our Events )  

Training Tools

• After a Disaster: ID Theft, Scams and Insurance (Presentation)
  Consumer Action's Linda Williams explains common scams and problems encountered by consumers who have been affected by a disaster.
• Using FinTech to manage money? You need to watch this
  Consumer Action recently announced that we will be distributing videos (in both English and Spanish) to low- and moderate-income (LMI) consumers on how to use financial technology (FinTech) to improve financial health. The helpful and timely videos are available for free viewing on Consumer Action’s website and YouTube channel.
• Resource Sheet: Serving Older Veterans: An Introduction to Veterans Benefits
  Senior Veterans may be eligible for a wide-variety of benefits available to all U.S. military Veterans. Veteran's benefits include disability compensation, pension, education and training, health care, home loans, insurance, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and burial.

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Our Network

• Making sense of pandemic-related aid and assistance
  Consumer Action teamed up with the Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) at Maryland’s Prince George's Community College to discuss federal stimulus packages and pandemic-related consumer protections.
• How FinTech has helped consumers save thousands during the pandemic
  Consumer Action launched two financial health and technology programs in 2020 with support from Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase.
• Testimonials (JPMorgan Chase Financial Inclusion Grant)
  Under a grant from JPMorgan Chase Consumer Action works to scale the integration of FinTech into financial inclusion programs at community-based organizations.

( View More Our Network )  

Best Practices

• Don’t leave thousands on the table this season
  Consumer Action has just published an updated version of our Get Credit for Your Hard Work guide reflecting increases in income limits and credit amounts. The guide for the 2021 tax-filing season (i.e., 2020 tax returns due in April) is available to download now in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. A Korean translation will be available by mid-January.
• The enduring impact of racism on your finances
  In an era of “alternative facts” and the ongoing systemic persecution of Black Americans, Consumer Action felt it critical to dedicate our Fall 2020 Consumer Action News to the impact of race on personal finances. The latest free quarterly newsletter examines the areas of individual and household finances most affected by entrenched racism—from car and student loans to mortgages and auto insurance. In each area, Consumer Action explores leading proposals for dismantling these barriers to financial inclusion.
• CFPB Watch: Flagrant redlining, fake foreclosures, and stimulus funds
  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is suing non-bank mortgage lender Townstone Financial Inc. for redlining.

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Recommended Training Tools

• Living Life Online (FTC resource)
  The nation's consumer watchdog offers great guidance for staying safe and avoiding scams online.
• CTIA’s Your Wireless Service
  CTIA - The Wireless Association has many solid resources to add to your wireless education efforts.
• Avoid ID Theft Training Kit
  The Federal Trade Commission offers a training package on ID Theft.

( View More Recommended Training Tools )  

Videos & Webinars

• After a Disaster: ID Theft, Scams and Insurance (Presentation)
  Consumer Action's Linda Williams explains common scams and problems encountered by consumers who have been affected by a disaster.
• Albert host financial technology webinars
  Consumer Action and Albert co-hosted two webinars on March 29 to educate our community partners about the Albert Genius service.
• Webinars teach CBO partners how to help clients deal with debt collectors
  Consumer Action and the Consumer Relations Consortium (CRC) partnered webinars in June

( View More Videos & Webinars )