Chatham-Southeast Citizen 8-28-2019

Amid Inaction on Climate Crisis, Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Eliminating Barriers to Increased State Action — Page 3

Citizen Week of Aug. 28 , 2019

| Vol. 55 | No. 22 | www.thechicagocitizen.com

CHATHAM SOUTHEAST

Chicago Public Schools recently celebrated the end of their first Summer for Change program which was designed to keep at-risk students safe for the summer. Photo credit: Chicago Public Schools

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS CELEBRATES CONCLUSION OF INAUGURAL SUMMER FOR CHANGE PROGRAM

Over the last six weeks, 400 young people participated in Chicago Public School’s first Summer for Change program which provided at-risk youth with individualized mentoring, group-based therapy, educational opportunities, enrichment opportunities, and a small stipend. The Summer for Change program recently concluded with a culminating celebration for the students at Chicago State University. PAGE 2

NEWS

Tools Of The Trade Prepares Local High Schoolers For Skilled Trade Careers PAGE 2

BUSINESS

REAL ESTATE

Survey: 96% Of Managers Say Their Staff Are Experiencing Some Degree Of Burnout

Check out our real estate listings for important foreclosure information

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NEWS briefly EDUCATION

CODEVERSE PARTNERS WITH GIRL SCOUTS TO LAUNCH ALL-GIRLS CODING PROGRAM Codeverse is officially one step closer to their mission to “teach a billion kids to code.” The world’s first fully interactive school and educational tech platform recently announced that the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s out-of-school-time program, GirlSpace, has granted them a $45,000 scholarship to give Girl Scouts in low-income neighborhoods the chance to learn coding this fall at the Codeverse Lincoln Park location (819 W. Eastman St., Chicago).

GirlSpace is a year-round out-of-school-time program offered by the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, which provides girls a safe, structured and supportive learning environment that empowers them with essential skills for success in school and life – thus, a natural pairing for Codeverse.

HEALTH

SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS: CONSUMERS RARELY GET UP-FRONT ESTIMATES OF MEDICAL COSTS, ACCORDING TO EHEALTH SURVEY eHealth has released results from a survey showing that most consumers are rarely or never advised of their projected costs when receiving medical care. It also found that few consumers can afford to pay their annual deductible. The survey of consumers who purchased Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage at eHealth was conducted on a voluntary basis in July 2019. A total of 801 responses were collected.

Highlights of the survey report that consumers do not get an up-front estimate of costs: A majority (58%) said they are “rarely” or “never” given an up-front estimate of costs before receiving medical care and most have to ask for cost estimates. Of those who received estimates, 70% had to ask their medical care provider for the estimate; 30% were offered an estimate without asking. Forty-four percent of those given an up-front cost estimate said their final costs exceeded that estimate, according to the survey.

LAW & POLITICS

ILLINOIS COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (ILLINOIS CASA) RECEIVES STATE FUNDING FOR THE FIRST TIME Illinois CASA has been awarded a $2,885,000.00 in State funding. This is the first time in Illinois CASA’s 26 years of operation that they have received any state funding. CASA stands for court appointed special advocate. A CASA is a trained, community volunteer who advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are involved with the child welfare system. This funding will be split between thirty-one local programs across Illinois to expand their programing so more kids who have experienced child abuse or neglect can have a specially trained Court Appointed Special Advocate assigned to their case. In addition, there will be money to go into some counties to open new CASA programs to help serve the over 2,000 survivors who do not currently have access to a CASA program.

Executive Director Mari Christopherson stated, “This funding means that more children across Illinois do not have to go through the court process alone. We applaud the Governor in supporting a program that works.”

Chicago Public Schools Celebrates Conclusion Of Inaugural Summer For Change Program Continued from page 1

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Over the last six weeks, 400 young people participated in Chicago Public School’s first Summer for Change program which provided at-risk youth with individualized mentoring, group-based therapy, educational opportunities, enrichment opportunities, and a small stipend. The Summer for Change program recently concluded with a culminating celebration for the students at Chicago State University.

“When Mayor Lightfoot was elected, one of the things that we talked about was how we were going to ensure that children were safe this summer. She came to many of us and asked us for ideas. One of the key ideas we shared was the need to get programming in place for youth, particularly from the most vulnerable situation which are our students from the options schools,” said Jadine Chou, chief of safety and security for Chicago Public Schools.

Before Summer for Change came to fruition, there was a similar program called Choose to Change which Chicago Public Schools adapted to create the new summer program. The program was free for students and their families and each participant received a $200 stipend per week and a free lunch every day.

Throughout the six-week program, students received individualized mentoring for four hours per day, group-based trauma-informed therapy multiple times a week, and enrichment activities such as field trips, community service projects, and recreational activities. Chicago Public Schools was assisted

by Youth Advocate Programs and Children’s Home and Aid in delivering these resources to students during the summer program.

“This program taught me how to communicate. I had to call them, I had to let them know that I was coming, I had to let them know when I was leaving and that I was okay. I had to communicate with other peers too and that was a lesson for me but

now I can communicate with my sister and my daddy better,” said Kayla, a Summer for Change student. “There is a lot of stuff that was unhealthy for me that I don’t want to do anymore because I know there are other things I could be doing with my time that can bring me income.”

Students who participated in the Summer for Change program were able to stay engaged with the school system and stay safe during the summer, meet new people, gain exposure to new ideas and potential pathways, and learn life skills that they will be able to utilize for years to come.

“This program was good, it kept us safe, it kept us going, we had field trips, we did a lot of fun things to help us, and I met a lot of new people that I’m cool with now. Going to this program this summer kept me out of a lot of trouble because I was busy with myself during the daytime. I really appreciate them coming up with this program and it was really truly a blessing,” said Donte, a Summer for Change student.

Tools Of The Trade Prepares Local High Schoolers For Skilled Trade Careers

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

A graduation ceremony was recently held for 11 students who successfully completed a seven-week paid apprenticeship known as the Tools of the Trade program. Tools of the Trade is collaboratively hosted by After School Matters and ComEd to prepare young people, ages 16 to 18, for trade careers.

The program is open to students across Chicago and provides them with an opportunity to get hands-on experience and learn real-world skills that can lead them to successful careers as tradespeople. During the seven-weeks, students observe ComEd employees as they work in various capacities throughout the company and are taught basic energy industry concepts, according to information provided by ComEd. “We have a tremendous number of really good paying lifelong-type jobs that you don’t need to go to college for but you do need to have some physical skills and some mechanical aptitude. Our overhead work, our underground work, our transmission work all have a tremendous number of jobs that require those types of skills and we’re not seeing as much of a workforce there as we’d like to,” said Mark Falcone, vice president of support services at ComEd. ComEd has a well-known history of investing in programs that expose young people to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with a big focus on college-based career paths but Tools of the Trade was created to expose young people to sustainable career paths that do not require a college degree.

A graduation ceremony was recently held for 11 high school students who completed the Tools of the Trade program hosted by After School Matters and ComEd. Photo Credit: Provided by ComEd

“We really want to run this program as a way to highlight those jobs that are out there and not just at ComEd. There are lots of good jobs, whether you look at plumbers, pipe-fitters, or carpenters, and they’re all looking for the same skill set,” said Falcone. “If we can open up the eyes of some high school students, hopefully, they will tell their friends and get this career path to be a little bit more popular and that would be a success for us.”

Not only is this program impactful for students, the ComEd employees also enjoy getting to talk with young people about their careers and show them what they do

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on a day-to-day basis.

“It’s really cool to see the ComEd folks get involved with the kids and hear about how they’ve enjoyed it. They really get into teaching them something and trying to impart a little bit of their knowledge to them. They get a real kick out of it and they get a lot of satisfaction out of it to know that they’ve perhaps helped a kid right at the very beginning of their entry into a workforce,” said Falcone.

Recruitment for the Tools of the Trade class of 2020 will begin in January. For more information about Tools of the Trade, contact ExternalPrograms@ComEd.com.

CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Aug. 28, 2019

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NEWS

First-time and repeat homeowners can now receive up to $12,500 in assistance to purchase a home in Illinois The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has launched a new, limited-time grant to help homebuyers across Illinois afford their closing costs. Through the new IHDA Advantage Subsidy program, IHDA will give eligible homebuyers an outright grant of either $1,500 or $2,500, depending on household income, to pay for closing costs associated with their home purchase. The grant can be layered with IHDA’s current Down Payment Assistance (DPA) programs, allowing homebuyers to receive anywhere from $8,500 to $12,500 in assistance when purchasing a home.

“Across Illinois, homes sales have been on the decline for the past twelve months and the Illinois Housing Development Authority is seeking to end that by making homeownership more accessible and affordable for credit-worthy households,” said Tara Pavlik, managing director of IHDA’s Homeownership Programs.

“This additional $2,500 grant will provide homebuyers with the closing costs necessary to achieve the American Dream of owning a home.”

As rents and home prices continue to rise and student loans make it difficult to save, potential homebuyers consistently point to an inability to afford the down payment as their

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has launched a new, limited-time grant to help homebuyers across Illinois afford their closing costs.

primary obstacle to homeownership.

Expanding opportunities for homeownership is vital to the health of Illinois’ overall economy. In FY2018, IHDA was able to help 5,500 people buy a home through two DPA programs: 1stHome Mortgage: Financed through the federal Hardest Hit Fund Program, 1stHomeIllinois provides first-time homebuyers (veterans excluded) in four targeted counties $7,500 in down payment assistance.

Down Payment Assistance loans are in the form of a 5-year, forgivable 2nd mortgage, and are given in conjunction with an IHDA 1st mortgage loan product. The assistance incentivizes home buying in distressed areas across Cook, Marion, St. Clair and Winnebago counties, which helps to stabilize housing markets and prevent future foreclosures.

Access Mortgage: Launched in 2018, the IHDA Access Mort-

gage program is available to both first-time and repeat homebuyers.

Available statewide, each mortgage option comes with an affordable, fixed interest rate and up to $10,000 to assist eligible borrowers with their down payment and closing costs for the purchase of a new or existing home. The unique program offers three tiers of assistance depending on the needs of the homebuyer: IHDAccess Forgivable – Assis-

Amid Federal Inaction on Climate Crisis, Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Eliminating Barriers to Increased State Action Taking another step forward to combat climate change in Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3481 recently, repealing the Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998 which limits state action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

“We know that Illinoisans are suffering the effects of climate change, and we must act now. That’s why I joined the Climate Alliance in my first days in office and am proud to repeal outdated restrictions on the state’s ability to reduce emissions and tackle the climate crisis,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “While the federal government unravels the progress made under the Obama administration, Illinois will not stand idly by. We’re stepping up to protect the lives of generations to come.”

In 2001, the United States withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, leaving Illinois tied to goals that the federal government no longer intended to meet. After Illinois codified the protocol in state statute, state government has been restricted in enact-

ing more stringent emissions reduction standards.

HB 3481 takes effect on January 1, 2020.

“I believe that the United States, working with the international community, must aggressively address global climate change. Short of that, it is our local and state governments that must lead the charge in protecting our environment,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “I have no doubt that our changing environment is due, in large part, to human activity. I have long supported federal legislation and other initiatives that focus on alternative fuel production, air and water quality improvement and environmental protection for our communities.

Repealing this 1998 law now allows our state to forge ahead with vital policies and initiatives that will help protect our environment and preserve our planet.”

“In 1998, an anti-environment majority restricted Illinois’ ability to tackle air pollution, including carbon emissions.

Twenty one years later, a majority of the Illinois House and now Illinois Senate supports action on climate change and reducing Illinois’ carbon emissions,” said Jen Walling, executive director, Illinois Environmental Council. “This General Assembly along with our pro-climate action governor are set to lead the nation on tackling this issue.”

“Today, Illinois takes a first step to being a leader in addressing the climate crisis that threatens all of our communities, and achieving Governor Pritzker’s vision of an Illinois powered by 100% clean energy built by our union workers,” said Jack Darin, director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. “Scientists are urging bold action, and the economic benefits of clean energy can lift up disadvantaged communities and support a just transition away from fossil fuels. Trump may be taking America backward and out of the clean energy revolution, but today Illinois goes forward.”

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tance is limited to 4% of the purchase price up to $6,000. The 2nd mortgage shall be forgiven on a monthly basis over a 10-year forgiveness period.

IHDAccess Deferred – Assistance is limited to 5% of the purchase price up to $7,500. The full principal balance of $7,500, less any optional payments, is due upon the sooner of the maturity date or repayment of the 1st mortgage.

IHDAccess Repayable – Assistance is limited to 10% of the purchase price up to $10,000. The full principal balance shall be repaid monthly over a 10-year term at 0% interest.

Household eligibility for the new grant is based on income. Homebuyers earning less than 50% of the area median income are eligible for an additional $2,500 under the IHDA Advantage Subsidy program, while those earning less than 80% of the area median income are eligible for $1,500. Borrowers must meet all eligibility requirements established for IHDA’s DPA programs, and homebuyer education is required. The program is not exclusive to first-time buyers and may be used by buyers in any county in the state.

Interested homeowners can find additional information and a list of the nearest participating lenders at: www.ihdamortgage.org.

AMA condemns effort to remove patient nondiscrimination protections In formal comments recently, the American Medical Association (AMA) spoke out against the Trump administration’s proposal to remove anti-discrimination protections related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and the termination of pregnancy across a wide variety of health care programs and insurance plans.

The AMA noted that the proposal perverts the nondiscrimination provisions included in the Affordable Care Act by drastically limiting coverage protections despite decades of case law recognizing these protections.

The letter said: “This proposal marks the rare occasion in which a federal agency seeks to remove civil rights protections. It legitimizes unequal treatment of patients by not only providers, health care organizations, and insurers, but also by the government itself—and it will harm patients. Such policy should not be permitted by the U.S. government, let alone proposed by it.”

The letter concludes: “HHS should not finalize the proposed rule, but rather should redirect their efforts toward advancing health care access and equity for all.

The AMA remains ready to assist with such efforts.”

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BUSINESS

Survey: 96% Of Managers Say Their Staff Are Experiencing Some Degree Of Burnout The country is nearly at full employment, but U.S. workers may also be approaching full burnout. On the heels of the World Health Organization defining it as a syndrome resulting from workplace stress, a recent survey from staffing firm Accountemps found that nearly all senior managers (96%) believe their team members are experiencing some degree of burnout. In a separate survey, 91% of workers said they are at least somewhat burned out.

Senior managers were asked to report the level of burnout among employees on a scale of 1 (not at all burned out) to 10 (completely burned out), and the average was 5.6. One in 5 respondents rated their team’s burnout level 8 or higher. Workers also cited an average burnout level of 5.6, with more than a quarter of respondents (28%) falling within the 8 to 10 range.

Workers and managers alike seem to agree burnout is an issue, but they don’t see eye to eye on the main reason. When given a list of factors that may be contributing to employee burnout, workers ranked constant interruptions first, while senior managers believed unmanageable workloads were the biggest issue for their teams.

“Employees are often OK with working hard if they know that their efforts will not go

unnoticed by their employers and it helps them advance their careers,” said Michael Steinitz, senior executive director of Accountemps, a division of Robert Half. “However, maintaining high productivity cannot come at the expense of staff members’ well-being and engagement.”

Steinitz offered advice for organizations facing staffing challenges: “Managers need to identify responsibilities that can be reassigned or put on hold. They can also bring in temporary professionals to alleviate heavy workloads, support day-to-day needs and assist with projects requiring specialized skills. Companies that don’t take steps to prevent employee burnout could drive top performers away and find themselves in a bigger pinch.”

Tips and strategies to help staff are featured in the Robert Half blog article 4 Ways to Prevent Work Burnout at Your Company.

About the Research: The online surveys were developed by Accountemps and conducted by independent research firms.

They include responses from more than 2,800 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees and more than 2,800 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments in the United States.

About Accountemps: Accountemps, a

Robert Half company, is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. The staffing firm

has more than 300 locations worldwide. More resources, including job search services and the company’s blog, can be found at roberthalf. com/accountemps.

Sal Tiano Releases “Structural Alpha” with ForbesBooks Top Wealth Advisor Pens Strategies to Build Elite Wealth Management Practice Sal Tiano, co-head of Tiano, Armour & Smyth Wealth Managers at J.P. Morgan Securities, recently announced the publication of Structural Alpha: Building and Maintaining an Elite Wealth Management Practice (available now). The book is published with ForbesBooks, the exclusive business book publishing imprint of Forbes.

In Structural Alpha, Sal Tiano provides readers with a system he’s developed over his 30 years of experience as a wealth manager, acquiring and maintaining high-net-worth clients to grow their businesses. It’s a system built on specific activities and processes that connect advisors with their clients and their families to generate the trust needed to provide the type of high-level service they need and deserve. This practice is known as Structural Alpha.

Tiano explains, “This is not a theoretical book written by a consultant.

It’s a practical book written by someone who was once a newcomer starting with nothing who has grown a successful decades-long wealth management practice—and is still in the trenches, growing his business today.”

In Structural Alpha, Sal Tiano provides readers with a system he’s developed over his 30 years of experience as a wealth manager, acquiring and maintaining highnet-worth clients to grow their businesses.

Outside his career achievements, Sal Tiano has a strong tradition of charitable giving. In keeping with that, all the profits from this book will be donated to highly-rated charities that help underprivileged children.

Structural Alpha: Building and Maintaining an Elite Wealth Management Practice is now available for purchase on Amazon.com.

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CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Aug. 28, 2019

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CITIZEN On The Move

Jerome Simmons

IJC 37th INSTALLATION & SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS The Illinois Judicial Council representing Judges, held its annual 17th Annual Installation & Scholarship Awards Banquet.

The packed affair played host to many of the finest lawyers in the city. The Illinois Judicial Council Foundation raises funds to give law school scholarships for prom- Hon. Andrea Buford, MC, Hon. Thaddeus ising students entering colleges and uni- Wilson Co-Chair and Hon. Dominique versities.

Ross Banquet Chair.

Hon.. P. Scott Neville Illinois Supreme Court Justice swears in Hon. Freddrenna M Lyle

New Officers (l-R) Hon.. Judges Allen Walker, Steven Watkins,Bonita Coleman,Thaddeus Wilson, Toya Harvey, Cynthia Cobbs, Carl Boyd, Frederick Bates Kevin Lee, Kimberly Lewis..

IJC past Chairs - Honorable Judges Leonard Murray, Sharon Johnson, Carl Walker, Diane Shelley, Dominique Ross, Andrea Buford, Illinois Supreme Justice P Scott Neville Jr.,Sidney Jones III (ret), Mary Maxwell.

Hon.. P. Scott Neville, Illinois Supreme Court and Hon. Timothy Evans, Chief Judge Circuit Court of Cook County.

Hon. Freddrenna Lyle with the Musical Arts Band - under the direction Michael Manson

Niece and nephew Michael Harris proudly pose with Hon. Freddrenna Lyle, being elected Chairperson of the IJC. .

Chair Freddrenna Lyle Presents to Hon. Cynthia Cobb, outgoing chair a present for outstanding service.

Presenters and awardees - Dean Samuel Jones, Hon.. Marilyn Johnson (ret) Scholars Bryanna Jenkins Cody Morrison, Ryesha Patterson, Pilar Pitts, Hon. Shelvin Hall, Dean Jennifer Perea, Hon.. Sharon Johnson, Hon..Theodore Sherrod Jr.

Hon. Freddrenna M. Lyle is congratulated by family and friends at instal-lation of 2019-2020 Chairperson of the IJC.

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CITIZEN | Chatham Southeast | Week of Aug. 28, 2019

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CLASSIFIEDS SERVICE

SERVICE

19 academic year. Completing the FAFSA is the first step in receiving a financial aid award letter from schools. Of those who filed for the 2019-20 academic year, 25 percent did so in October, the first month the application is available. On the other hand, the majority of families waited until January or later to file, potentially missing out on free money for college.

For the complete report and a related infographic, visit SallieMae.com/HowAmericaPays. For new tools and educational resources that promote college planning, visit salliemae.com/college-planning.

“While more families are planning for college costs, we’d like to see that number continue to grow because we know those with a plan are better prepared to meet the costs, and typically have a better understanding of the financial aid process,” says Quinlan. __________________________________

PERSONAL FINANCE Tips to Build Good Credit During and After College (StatePoint) There’s a lot of learning that takes place during and after college, including many lessons outside of the classroom.

When it comes to personal finance, however, young people don’t need to learn their lessons the hard way.

Consider these tips to help you establish good credit that will lay the foundation for a healthy financial future --- well beyond college: Do Your Research With so many reports of rampant consumer debt, you may be tempted to shy away from opening a credit card account, but opening a credit card is a crucial step in establishing a credit history. A healthy credit history is not just necessary for most home and car loans, in many cases, it’s also required for establishing accounts with utility services and signing apartment leases. What’s more, good credit can help you avoid security deposit fees, get better insurance rates, and even help you land that dream job, as many employers run credit checks on candidates.

The good news is that 83 percent of college graduates and 57 percent of current college students have at least one credit card, according to “Majoring in Money,” a recent national study by Sallie Mae and Ipsos. Also, nearly all young adults -- 97 percent -- make at least the minimum payment each month. Moral of the story? Get a credit card and use it responsibly.

Be Selective

MISCELLANEOUS HOME IMPROVEMENTS Leafguard is the only one piece gutter system guaranteed to never clog, get a jump on Fall and Save 75% on installation and receive $500 for your old ladder! Call 1800-216-0539 __________________________________ TRAINING/EDUCATION AIRLINE CAREERS FOR NEW YEAR BECOME AN AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECH. FAA APPROVED TRAINING. FINANCIAL AID IF QUALIFIED - JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. CALL AIM 800-481-8312 __________________________________

EDUCATION

More Families Have a Plan to Pay for College (StatePoint) College may be getting more expensive, but new research suggests that more families are preparing to meet those costs one way or another.

Eighty percent of families say they are confident in how they paid for college last year, and nearly half have a plan to pay for all years of college, according to “How America Pays for College 2019,” a recent study from Sallie Mae and Ipsos, an independent global market research company.

All this preparation could be attributed to the fact that the overwhelming majority of families recognize the value of higher education, with 90 percent of families agreeing college is an investment.

“The individual and socio-economic benefits of a college education are clear, so it’s particularly gratifying to see that families continue to view college as a worthwhile investment,” says Raymond J. Quinlan, chairman and CEO, Sallie Mae. On average, families report spending

$26,226 on college in academic year 201819, with a sizeable portion of costs -- 43 percent -- covered out-of-pocket through income and savings.

Scholarships, grants, and gifts -- used by 82 percent of families -- covered 33 percent of costs, and that “free money” can be especially important, both logistically and psychologically, opening doors to opportunities that would be otherwise unavailable and even making a difference in the way students view the college experience as a whole.

The study also found that while borrowing covered 24 percent of overall college costs, 57 percent of the families who borrowed to pay for college say they had always planned to do so as part of their paying-for-college strategy. What’s more, many families are getting a head start on paying their loans back, with 41 percent making payments on student loans while the student is in school.

Families are being proactive in other ways, too. Seventy-seven percent of families completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2018-

There are many credit cards marketed specifically to young people. Make sure to select your credit accounts wisely and watch out for programs offering rewards and benefits that make maxing out, and then owing big, all too easy.

Instead, look for credit cards designed to promote and reward long-term financial responsibility, offered by financial institutions committed to customer success. For example, Sallie Mae is introducing a new suite of credit cards with a range of benefits that do just that. The Sallie Mae Ignite card, for example, is designed to help college students responsibly establish and manage credit. For those looking to make progress towards important financial goals, the Sallie Mae Accelerate card offers a cash back bonus program designed to help pay down any student loan. Finally, the Sallie Mae Evolve card, automatically rewards a cash bonus on your top two purchase categories each month.

All three cards feature universal benefits, including U.S.-based customer service, free monthly access to credit scores, immediate access to the card upon approval, a mobile app, and tools to deliver security and control. To learn more, visit salliemae.com/credit-cards.

“Our established relationships with college students and graduates helped us understand what they’re looking for in a credit card,” says Donna Vieira, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Sallie Mae. “These new credit cards, co-

created and developed with students, parents and recent graduates, provide benefits tailored to their needs.”

Don’t let credit be an undue source of stress as you navigate early adulthood.

Find the right products designed with your needs in mind and establish healthy financial habits.

Darrell Garth

President /Publisher

Janice Garth

Sales Manager General Manager

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