Financial Literacy Workshop Equips YouthWorks Teens with Tools for the Workforce

As part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore’s commitment to workforce development, 25 of our YouthWorks teens participated in a financial literacy workshop hosted at the Enoch Pratt Library’s Light Street location. The session was facilitated by M&T Bank and focused on foundational financial skills to help teens understand, manage, and maximize their income. This hands-on session reinforced BGCMB’s mission and offered youth meaningful guidance in budgeting, banking, and financial decision-making, key skills to prepare them for success in the workplace and beyond. 

YouthWorks is Baltimore City’s summer employment program, connecting thousands of young people ages 14–21 with meaningful job experiences. From early July through early August, participants work up to 25 hours a week while gaining real-world skills, professional development, and exposure to career pathways. This financial literacy workshop aligned with the program’s goal of helping youth make the most of their earnings while preparing them for long-term financial independence. 

The M&T Bank team—Sherrice Davis, Lawrence Ramsey, and Kat Leso—led participants through an interactive session focused on budgeting basics. Sherrice Davis, who has spent 35 years with M&T Bank, including 25 years in community reinvestment work, guided teens through key financial concepts and helped youth connect the dots between their paychecks and their goals. 

As they discussed “How can budgeting help me?”, teens offered answers that reflected real aspirations: saving for college, buying a car, building an emergency fund, and becoming financially independent. 

Many participants shared they would be receiving pay through direct deposit cards, but only about half had a bank account. This opened the door to a discussion about banking —how to deposit, withdraw, and monitor spending, and the importance of establishing trusted relationships with financial institutions. 

A spirited discussion around wants vs. needs helped teens think critically about their spending choices. One participant compared new clothes to food for the week, sparking conversation about balancing personal wants with financial responsibilities. 

Teens then completed a budgeting worksheet using their YouthWorks income. They outlined real-life expenses: groceries, rent, phone bills, insurance, gas, personal care and were challenged to balance spending and saving in a way that reflected their priorities. 

“It made me think about what I actually need to spend my money on,” one teen shared. “I can still enjoy some things, but I need to save, too.” 

This activity was a key part of BGCMB’s workforce development pillar—turning abstract financial concepts into personal decision-making skills teens can carry into future jobs, internships, and life after high school. 

By the end of the workshop, participants walked away with four core lessons: 

• There are multiple budgeting strategies, find what works for you. 

• Understand your income and what’s actually available to spend. 

• Track your expenses, prioritize your needs, and set savings goals. 

• Talk to someone you trust.  

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“If you stick with your budget and the process,” said Lawrence, “you can get the hoodie or save for the car—whatever your goal is.” 

For the M&T Bank team, facilitating this session was about leveling the playing field. 

“I volunteer because I want young people to have the opportunity to understand financial literacy at an early age,” shared Lawrence. “These conversations are important to me because teens are eager to learn—they just don’t always know who to turn to.” 

“Coming from a lower-income background where my parents didn’t have access to financial literacy, I know firsthand how uneven the information gap can be,” added Kat Leso, Assistant Vice President and Assistant Branch Manager. “In many communities, the environment can already be discouraging. That’s why I think it’s so important to equip youth with the tools and knowledge to succeed.” 

As the session ended, Sherrice shared, “At M&T Bank, we are committed to providing tools and resources to our communities, so they understand the value of money and smart financial choices in their daily lives. We understand that achieving financial wellness is important for everyone; and it is important that young people leave high school equipped to make informed rational decisions when it comes to their own finances.” 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore is deeply grateful to M&T Bank for bringing this experience to our teens. Their investment of time, knowledge, and care is helping shape a generation of financially confident young people. We look forward to continued collaboration to expand financial literacy programming and support even more youth on their path to workforce readiness and lifelong success. 

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