November 8, 2025 • 19 mins
In Worcester, there's a branch of a local credit union that has a lot of young energy behind the scenes! All One Credit Union recently opened up a branch at Worcester Technical High School, and patrons who come to do their banking will find students behind the counter processing their transactions. Nichole talks with Lauren Hayes, the head of the Finance, Marketing, and Business Management department at WTHS, Dr. Patricia Suomala, the Director of Career and Technical Education at WTHS, Brittany Haley, All One Credit Union's Assistant VP of Financial Education, and a student in the program to learn all about it.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England
Weekend where each week right here we come together we
talk about all the topics important to you and the
place where you live. Thanks for joining us again this week.
I'm Nicole Davis. For many students learning out of a
book or listening to a lecture, it's not the easiest
way for them to pick up a subject. Instead, they
prefer to actually get busy and do it. That hands
(00:30):
on experience as always front and center for students at
Worcester Technical High School, especially for those interested in the
world of finance.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Recently, a local credit union called all One opened up
a branch inside the school, and you might think it's
just for kids and school staff, but that's not the case.
The public actually are able to come into the high
school throughout the day do their banking just like they
would at any other branch. So let's talk about it.
Here on the show, we have Lauren Hayes. She is
the head of the Finance, Marketing and Business Management Apartment
(01:00):
at Worcester Tech. Doctor Patricia Sumila is the Director of
Career and Technical Education at the school. Brittany Haley is
all Ones Assistant VP of financial education and Tashwani Prazad
is a student in the program. It is great to
have all of you on the show. Lauren, I would
like to start with you first. Let's get a run
down of that finance program, what you offer the kids
(01:22):
and how you do it.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
So for the finance and Marketing program, our students get
many different pathways. In the business industry. We focus on
the financial industry with investments and accounting as well as
financial literacy, and then in marketing they get the whole
scope of marketing. So we do all we do the website,
all the social media and the outreach and communication for
(01:44):
our school.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
And doctor Sumila, How does that sort of education then
translate hopefully for kids in real life.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Definitely. The fact that they're starting here in practicing those skills,
getting feedback in real time from both the public that
they're interacting with and their instructors gives them that step
up and readiness for the workforce in general.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So how did the program with all one come together?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yeah, excellent question. So we rely heavily at this school
as a school that works on actual our industry partners
and live work within the school. We have this credit union.
We also have a live working veterinary clinic. We have
a live working autoshop, we have a restaurant. So all
of those give our students the real life experience in
(02:30):
real time in the classroom, real hands on and so
we look for partnerships like the partnership we have with
all One. We had a credit union in place prior
to COVID. COVID shut everything down, as everybody knows, and
in that rebirth and rebuild from COVID, which has happened,
this partnership came up and we were extremely appreciative of
(02:53):
their commitment to education, financial literacy too, high school students
in their families, and that was really important to us.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
We'll talk about a little bit more of the all
One side in a moment, but I really want to know, Lauren,
what is it like preparing the kids to take a
job like this on top of you know, normal high
school stuff is a lot as it is, Like I
used to teach high school students, so I'm very well
aware of like all the extracurriculars they have to do,
and like getting into college these days is like so
insane everything that kids have to go through. What is
(03:22):
the program over at Worcester Tech doing to make sure
kids are ready to go into this credit union and
pretty much work.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
So we have a large focus in our whole school
on professionalism. So what's going to set the students apart
from every other teenager that they're going to be interviewing against.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I guess is.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
And so we practice heavily on the soft skills and
preparing them to interview, to work with customers, their accountability,
their initiative work ethic, So we focus on that and
we actually rate them and on their employability skills heavily,
which we'll set them apart and be ready to work
(04:04):
in the industry.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Tashwand you tell me how you went through that process yourself.
I want to hear from you how it all went.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
So, being a student at TECH, I feel like the
way we balance school makes it really easy for us.
The soft skills that we learned, the professionalism that we
learned through our teachers have been very helpful. But for
us to have this privilege of working at a bank
and working with people outside, were able to apply and
actually learn through personal experiences. It's not oh, an example
(04:35):
and you relate to an example, it's your own personal
experience where you know where to go from.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
There, Yeah, Brittany, and then working with the kids. Let's
talk about the all one credit union side of things.
How did you all come to the conclusion that this
was a good idea for your credit union and your
company in general.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
One of the things that was really appealing to us
was the vocational aspect and the program as a whole.
We have had some experience with some other vocational programs
and partnerships, but to be able to be embedded in
the finance, business and marketing class itself, and we know
(05:13):
that these students really are their top tier and they
really are taught and have the experience that is really
beneficial to the credit Union for potential career rear paths
that may be alternative for some students that may not
be attending college right away. And so it's a really
(05:35):
great opportunity for us to really embed ourselves in that
job market and also with the educational side of it,
be able to educate them on financial education, which is
so important right now in general.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Yeah, I mean for all of us. I mean, the
economy is up and down doing its roller coaster thing
young people as it is, I think financial education is
critical for young people because I know I'm of a
certain age and I didn't get nearly enough of it
when like real life financial education and you know, Lauren,
tell me a little bit about then how you're working
with your side of things and meshing it into the
(06:11):
curriculum with all one. Tell me a bit about how
that combines as it were.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Okay, so actually we have with the Credit Union. Here
are sophomores right now. The credit Union is actually coming
up and co teaching us during our students academic week,
so they're taking a full course in banking one and
personal finance. Like today we learned all about the W
four form in taxes. So they're working in our classroom
(06:36):
with our students and preparing them. And then when they
become juniors, they go down and they're working in the
bank with the branch supervisor.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Tajwani. By the way, are you a junior or sophomore senior?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
What you're you.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
So you're like in the bank at this point, tell
me what it's like like. I want to know kind
of like a day in Tajwani's life at the bank.
What does it look like.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
It's a very professional setting. It's a lot different in
a way from shop. But our teacher makes it so
easy for us to learn, for us to catch on,
and overall, because we're in such a professional setting, we
take on responsibilities that we wouldn't normally take on. And
that's a privilege for us.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
What is it like for you to have people come
up and you know you're serving them and you're helping
them with their money? I mean, what is that like
for you as a young person?
Speaker 5 (07:23):
As a young person, it really makes me think how
I can apply this to future industry jobs I could
work in, how this exposure is really good for not
only me but for my peers around me. How to
put on my best face and make sure everyone is
attended to And yeah, do.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
People come in and they're like, oh my gosh, you're
like fifteen, sixteen years old, why are you serving me?
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Like?
Speaker 1 (07:47):
What's it like.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
All the time? But that's when you have to really
prove yourself that you are capable of putting on a
position like that.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Yeah, in the public.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yeah, and britainy, you know, when it comes to customers.
I mean, obviously I'm sure that people in the Unity
realize that this is a thing that's happening. But tell
me what it's like what you're hearing from customers about
the collaboration with Worcester Tech.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, it's definitely been a lot of excitement, so the
members that know that we've opened at Tech, the school
community as a whole, it's just been a lot of excitement,
a lot of great feedback. We try our best to
really put the members at ease, so you know, we're
trying to limit only have a couple of students interacting
(08:27):
with the member at a time, versus having the whole
class interacting with them. And I think it really helps too,
again being embedded in the school space, so they know
what they're expecting walking into the school. They know that, hey,
there are services open to the public here, so I
think they go in with that expectation that they may
(08:48):
be interacting with students, and I think honestly they leave
there really impressed and blown away by the students and
their professionalism. So all around, it's been buzzing with exc
I mean, we've just had so much excitement in the
Wister area and from the school community as a whole,
So it's been really great.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Yeah, and doctor Simla, I mean, this is a huge
deal for Worcester Tech you're certainly not new to interactive experiences,
but how do you personally feel this has been rolling
out and do you want to expand do more of this?
What are your thoughts on that.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
For sure, we're always looking in ways to increase industry
partnerships because it results in more service to the community
and of course more service for our students and our teachers,
So any kind of expansion would be something we would
welcome and talk about. The rollout of this was super positive,
(09:43):
super collaborative. There's so many details from our paint and
design students painted the bank to prep it, the redesign
it had been you know, it had been empty for
a couple of years. We had to look at it
rebranding within the school so that the public come in
could see where the credit Union is getting an ATM
(10:04):
back in the school. So, like all there's lots of
little details in Brittany and her team were amazing to
work with, and because over a school year, there's lots
of times when there's non pupil days and you know,
we still have to forge ahead with many of the
things that needed to happen in order to be open
in time, so that part of the process was amazing
(10:26):
and wonderful. And you know, we we both sides always
do their due diligence. We have MOUs with all of
our partners. It's not just like, oh, we're going to
open a credit union, We're going to open a vent
Mary clinic and hope for the best. Everyone on both
sides of the table, from the City of wester public
schools to the local school itself and our industry partner,
(10:48):
do our due diligence to see the win win in
this for our students and the community. Our instructors in
our shops are all subject matter experts within their the
subject that they're teaching, and that's an important piece that
helps our students also prep for working in this live
where many of our teachers have either worked in a
credit union or have worked in whatever field they're in,
(11:10):
have been there and done it, and helps in modeling
for our students as well.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, that's really the best experience if you ask me,
somebody who's actually been there, done that knows the good days,
knows the bad days too, because let's be real, there's
bad days in everything you do. Unfortunately, it's just the
way of the world. And you know, Brittany when it
comes to all one, do you think you're going to
move forward with more local partnerships like this, Like what
has this experience been like for you all over there?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
That's a great question. So I think, as Patricia had
spoken on earlier, through COVID, there was a lot of
shifts and changes in what we do and the high
school branch space as a whole in Massachusetts, we saw
a lot closed down, We saw a lot kind of
re allocate their their needs as far as you know,
(11:59):
school space are concerned. And something that I'm really proud
to say is that we really leaned into it. So
we went from having before COVID we had two school
branches and now we have four. So it's something we
leaned into it, we doubled it. We saw the need
for it and the importance of it. So I would
like to say that, you know, for the future, I
(12:21):
don't know what it holds, but it is a core
focus of ours is financial education and the high school
branch space program as a whole. And you know, from
there we our program in general. We got national recognition,
So I think because of that, you know, it really
kind of catapulted us in our area as a leader
(12:43):
in the high school branch space, and you know, I think, yeah,
I think that there's definitely potential for future partnerships, but
it's kind of looking at where our efforts are best placed.
And so, you know, with Worcester Tech, it really was
a no brainer because the vocational school is so incredible
(13:03):
and so for us it has just been an awesome
embracing opportunity and community. So it really was a no brainer.
So hey, if another excellent school like Worcester Tech were
to propose, I can't say I make those kinds of decisions,
but I would absolutely be in favor of it.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Absolutely. And you know, Tejwani, tell me what it's like
when you're talking to your friends about all this and
other kids in the class. Is this something that has
maybe inspired you guys to go work in the banking
industry or at least some sort of financial industry, Like,
what are people saying about this?
Speaker 5 (13:36):
It has actually, so I would say before we really
indulged into the bank, we weren't too short on a
career path. I mean, I know the conversation I have
had with my friends, we go really deep into you know,
what we want to do in the future and I
feel that, you know, a lot of people now being
exposed to the bank really kind of narrowed their path
(13:59):
to what they want to do. And let's say, if
they didn't exactly want to take up banking or being
an accountant, it does help with what they want to
do financially in the future. And one thing that I
personally learned that I may not want to be doing
banking in my future, but one thing that I have
(14:19):
learned in the bank is how to budget and take
care of my personal finances. So, whether it's the path
that you want to go or not, you learn incredible things.
And that not a lot of high school students are
able to acquire that type of education.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
No, it's true. It's very special. And Lauren, you know
you've got these great students who are just making huge strides.
What's that like for you? As somebody who works with
them every day and is somebody who's in education.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It's super rewarding. You know, we teachers get asked all
the time like how do you do it? I enjoy
coming here? Can I get emotional on it? I enjoy
coming here, I enjoy working with them, and I enjoy
seeing their success over the years and them. I mean today,
I'm sitting here super proud of Teja's responses to all
these questions because that tells me that she gets it
(15:08):
right and that she sees what this is doing for her.
And we see that throughout our whole program and throughout
our whole school. I personally was a graduate of westervocan
of this program, and we see that a lot here.
And my co op opportunity was in a Credit Union,
So I know personally what vocational education can do for
(15:29):
a student, and we see that success while they're here,
and we continue those relationships while they're alumni as well
and see what our students go into in the future.
So and in addition to the whole financial education that
they're receiving all on, credit Union has opened up so
many other opportunities as well. Our students have already created
(15:51):
marketing material for the Credit Union, helping with promotions. We
do a big Credit for Life fair at the end
of the year where they are one of our they
are our partner with it. So there's been so many
more opportunities in addition to just the financial education.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Bob is a social star.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Yes, I believe it. I believe it I've heard great things.
So where is the location, what are the hours? How
can people sign up to work with the kids over there?
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Excellent? So it is open to the public. It is
within the school, so we're at one Officer Manny Familiar
Way in Whisper. It's the entrance into green Hill Park.
That's kind of how the community references where we're at.
And when you walk into the main doors of the school.
We have what's called Main Street and the credit Union
(16:41):
is sitting right there on Main Street before the cafe
in the restaurant, so as people move on down to
the cafe or the restaurant, they can stop and do
their personal banking. We also do a lot of internal
banking for our shops because all of our shops are,
like I said, live shops taking in revenue in sales
and so they'll be taking that revenue in that sales
and bring in The bank is helping us with that
(17:04):
piece within the City of Worcester's procurement kind of processing.
So that's kind of where we're at. Bob is there
bright and early as we are. I believe the hours
of seven thirty to two pm that the public can
come in and do their banking and students can their
signs up helping students if they need any financial help
(17:26):
with any maybe their first car or a family car
or what anything they need any help with any of
that notary public. I used the credit union not that
long ago to get something notarized, and so there's lots
of interactions that can happen with the public and internal.
We have over two hundred and fifty people in this
building on a daily basis staff and that's staff and
(17:51):
support staff. So when is welcome to utilize them their
credit union membership there and we appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Cool. Yeah, go to do your banking, get a sandwich,
just hang out over at Main Street and Worcester Tech, Brittany.
If somebody wants to join up with all one, where
can they find more information about that?
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Yeah? Absolutely so you can always come in and see
Bob and go from there, open an account live in
the branch, or you can check out all dash ONCU
dot com that has all of our information there, and
then if it's something that you want to partner with
financial education, you can find information there as well to
sign up for education sessions too that we offer free
(18:31):
to the public.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Okay, well, thank you all for the work you're doing
to make sure that our next generation has the financial
education they need to succeed and get by. I know
times are kind of weird right now, and it's important
for kids to know as much as they possibly can.
So thank you for getting so hands on. Thank you
for your time. I know it's been a really busy
time for you while rolling this out, but I appreciate
(18:53):
your time here on the show and all the best
of luck to you. Thank you have a safe and
healthy weekend. Please join me again next week for another
edition of the show. I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News
Radio on iHeartRadio.
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England
Weekend where each week right here we come together we
talk about all the topics important to you and the
place where you live. Thanks for joining us again this week.
I'm Nicole Davis. For many students learning out of a
book or listening to a lecture, it's not the easiest
way for them to pick up a subject. Instead, they
prefer to actually get busy and do it. That hands
(00:30):
on experience as always front and center for students at
Worcester Technical High School, especially for those interested in the
world of finance.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Recently, a local credit union called all One opened up
a branch inside the school, and you might think it's
just for kids and school staff, but that's not the case.
The public actually are able to come into the high
school throughout the day do their banking just like they
would at any other branch. So let's talk about it.
Here on the show, we have Lauren Hayes. She is
the head of the Finance, Marketing and Business Management Apartment
(01:00):
at Worcester Tech. Doctor Patricia Sumila is the Director of
Career and Technical Education at the school. Brittany Haley is
all Ones Assistant VP of financial education and Tashwani Prazad
is a student in the program. It is great to
have all of you on the show. Lauren, I would
like to start with you first. Let's get a run
down of that finance program, what you offer the kids
(01:22):
and how you do it.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
So for the finance and Marketing program, our students get
many different pathways. In the business industry. We focus on
the financial industry with investments and accounting as well as
financial literacy, and then in marketing they get the whole
scope of marketing. So we do all we do the website,
all the social media and the outreach and communication for
(01:44):
our school.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
And doctor Sumila, How does that sort of education then
translate hopefully for kids in real life.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Definitely. The fact that they're starting here in practicing those skills,
getting feedback in real time from both the public that
they're interacting with and their instructors gives them that step
up and readiness for the workforce in general.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So how did the program with all one come together?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Yeah, excellent question. So we rely heavily at this school
as a school that works on actual our industry partners
and live work within the school. We have this credit union.
We also have a live working veterinary clinic. We have
a live working autoshop, we have a restaurant. So all
of those give our students the real life experience in
(02:30):
real time in the classroom, real hands on and so
we look for partnerships like the partnership we have with
all One. We had a credit union in place prior
to COVID. COVID shut everything down, as everybody knows, and
in that rebirth and rebuild from COVID, which has happened,
this partnership came up and we were extremely appreciative of
(02:53):
their commitment to education, financial literacy too, high school students
in their families, and that was really important to us.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
We'll talk about a little bit more of the all
One side in a moment, but I really want to know, Lauren,
what is it like preparing the kids to take a
job like this on top of you know, normal high
school stuff is a lot as it is, Like I
used to teach high school students, so I'm very well
aware of like all the extracurriculars they have to do,
and like getting into college these days is like so
insane everything that kids have to go through. What is
(03:22):
the program over at Worcester Tech doing to make sure
kids are ready to go into this credit union and
pretty much work.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
So we have a large focus in our whole school
on professionalism. So what's going to set the students apart
from every other teenager that they're going to be interviewing against.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I guess is.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
And so we practice heavily on the soft skills and
preparing them to interview, to work with customers, their accountability,
their initiative work ethic, So we focus on that and
we actually rate them and on their employability skills heavily,
which we'll set them apart and be ready to work
(04:04):
in the industry.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Tashwand you tell me how you went through that process yourself.
I want to hear from you how it all went.
Speaker 5 (04:11):
So, being a student at TECH, I feel like the
way we balance school makes it really easy for us.
The soft skills that we learned, the professionalism that we
learned through our teachers have been very helpful. But for
us to have this privilege of working at a bank
and working with people outside, were able to apply and
actually learn through personal experiences. It's not oh, an example
(04:35):
and you relate to an example, it's your own personal
experience where you know where to go from.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
There, Yeah, Brittany, and then working with the kids. Let's
talk about the all one credit union side of things.
How did you all come to the conclusion that this
was a good idea for your credit union and your
company in general.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
One of the things that was really appealing to us
was the vocational aspect and the program as a whole.
We have had some experience with some other vocational programs
and partnerships, but to be able to be embedded in
the finance, business and marketing class itself, and we know
(05:13):
that these students really are their top tier and they
really are taught and have the experience that is really
beneficial to the credit Union for potential career rear paths
that may be alternative for some students that may not
be attending college right away. And so it's a really
(05:35):
great opportunity for us to really embed ourselves in that
job market and also with the educational side of it,
be able to educate them on financial education, which is
so important right now in general.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Yeah, I mean for all of us. I mean, the
economy is up and down doing its roller coaster thing
young people as it is, I think financial education is
critical for young people because I know I'm of a
certain age and I didn't get nearly enough of it
when like real life financial education and you know, Lauren,
tell me a little bit about then how you're working
with your side of things and meshing it into the
(06:11):
curriculum with all one. Tell me a bit about how
that combines as it were.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Okay, so actually we have with the Credit Union. Here
are sophomores right now. The credit Union is actually coming
up and co teaching us during our students academic week,
so they're taking a full course in banking one and
personal finance. Like today we learned all about the W
four form in taxes. So they're working in our classroom
(06:36):
with our students and preparing them. And then when they
become juniors, they go down and they're working in the
bank with the branch supervisor.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Tajwani. By the way, are you a junior or sophomore senior?
Speaker 2 (06:46):
What you're you.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
So you're like in the bank at this point, tell
me what it's like like. I want to know kind
of like a day in Tajwani's life at the bank.
What does it look like.
Speaker 5 (06:57):
It's a very professional setting. It's a lot different in
a way from shop. But our teacher makes it so
easy for us to learn, for us to catch on,
and overall, because we're in such a professional setting, we
take on responsibilities that we wouldn't normally take on. And
that's a privilege for us.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
What is it like for you to have people come
up and you know you're serving them and you're helping
them with their money? I mean, what is that like
for you as a young person?
Speaker 5 (07:23):
As a young person, it really makes me think how
I can apply this to future industry jobs I could
work in, how this exposure is really good for not
only me but for my peers around me. How to
put on my best face and make sure everyone is
attended to And yeah, do.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
People come in and they're like, oh my gosh, you're
like fifteen, sixteen years old, why are you serving me?
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Like?
Speaker 1 (07:47):
What's it like.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
All the time? But that's when you have to really
prove yourself that you are capable of putting on a
position like that.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Yeah, in the public.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Yeah, and britainy, you know, when it comes to customers.
I mean, obviously I'm sure that people in the Unity
realize that this is a thing that's happening. But tell
me what it's like what you're hearing from customers about
the collaboration with Worcester Tech.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yeah, it's definitely been a lot of excitement, so the
members that know that we've opened at Tech, the school
community as a whole, it's just been a lot of excitement,
a lot of great feedback. We try our best to
really put the members at ease, so you know, we're
trying to limit only have a couple of students interacting
(08:27):
with the member at a time, versus having the whole
class interacting with them. And I think it really helps too,
again being embedded in the school space, so they know
what they're expecting walking into the school. They know that, hey,
there are services open to the public here, so I
think they go in with that expectation that they may
(08:48):
be interacting with students, and I think honestly they leave
there really impressed and blown away by the students and
their professionalism. So all around, it's been buzzing with exc
I mean, we've just had so much excitement in the
Wister area and from the school community as a whole,
So it's been really great.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Yeah, and doctor Simla, I mean, this is a huge
deal for Worcester Tech you're certainly not new to interactive experiences,
but how do you personally feel this has been rolling
out and do you want to expand do more of this?
What are your thoughts on that.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
For sure, we're always looking in ways to increase industry
partnerships because it results in more service to the community
and of course more service for our students and our teachers,
So any kind of expansion would be something we would
welcome and talk about. The rollout of this was super positive,
(09:43):
super collaborative. There's so many details from our paint and
design students painted the bank to prep it, the redesign
it had been you know, it had been empty for
a couple of years. We had to look at it
rebranding within the school so that the public come in
could see where the credit Union is getting an ATM
(10:04):
back in the school. So, like all there's lots of
little details in Brittany and her team were amazing to
work with, and because over a school year, there's lots
of times when there's non pupil days and you know,
we still have to forge ahead with many of the
things that needed to happen in order to be open
in time, so that part of the process was amazing
(10:26):
and wonderful. And you know, we we both sides always
do their due diligence. We have MOUs with all of
our partners. It's not just like, oh, we're going to
open a credit union, We're going to open a vent
Mary clinic and hope for the best. Everyone on both
sides of the table, from the City of wester public
schools to the local school itself and our industry partner,
(10:48):
do our due diligence to see the win win in
this for our students and the community. Our instructors in
our shops are all subject matter experts within their the
subject that they're teaching, and that's an important piece that
helps our students also prep for working in this live
where many of our teachers have either worked in a
credit union or have worked in whatever field they're in,
(11:10):
have been there and done it, and helps in modeling
for our students as well.
Speaker 1 (11:15):
Yeah, that's really the best experience if you ask me,
somebody who's actually been there, done that knows the good days,
knows the bad days too, because let's be real, there's
bad days in everything you do. Unfortunately, it's just the
way of the world. And you know, Brittany when it
comes to all one, do you think you're going to
move forward with more local partnerships like this, Like what
has this experience been like for you all over there?
Speaker 2 (11:35):
That's a great question. So I think, as Patricia had
spoken on earlier, through COVID, there was a lot of
shifts and changes in what we do and the high
school branch space as a whole in Massachusetts, we saw
a lot closed down, We saw a lot kind of
re allocate their their needs as far as you know,
(11:59):
school space are concerned. And something that I'm really proud
to say is that we really leaned into it. So
we went from having before COVID we had two school
branches and now we have four. So it's something we
leaned into it, we doubled it. We saw the need
for it and the importance of it. So I would
like to say that, you know, for the future, I
(12:21):
don't know what it holds, but it is a core
focus of ours is financial education and the high school
branch space program as a whole. And you know, from
there we our program in general. We got national recognition,
So I think because of that, you know, it really
kind of catapulted us in our area as a leader
(12:43):
in the high school branch space, and you know, I think, yeah,
I think that there's definitely potential for future partnerships, but
it's kind of looking at where our efforts are best placed.
And so, you know, with Worcester Tech, it really was
a no brainer because the vocational school is so incredible
(13:03):
and so for us it has just been an awesome
embracing opportunity and community. So it really was a no brainer.
So hey, if another excellent school like Worcester Tech were
to propose, I can't say I make those kinds of decisions,
but I would absolutely be in favor of it.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Absolutely. And you know, Tejwani, tell me what it's like
when you're talking to your friends about all this and
other kids in the class. Is this something that has
maybe inspired you guys to go work in the banking
industry or at least some sort of financial industry, Like,
what are people saying about this?
Speaker 5 (13:36):
It has actually, so I would say before we really
indulged into the bank, we weren't too short on a
career path. I mean, I know the conversation I have
had with my friends, we go really deep into you know,
what we want to do in the future and I
feel that, you know, a lot of people now being
exposed to the bank really kind of narrowed their path
(13:59):
to what they want to do. And let's say, if
they didn't exactly want to take up banking or being
an accountant, it does help with what they want to
do financially in the future. And one thing that I
personally learned that I may not want to be doing
banking in my future, but one thing that I have
(14:19):
learned in the bank is how to budget and take
care of my personal finances. So, whether it's the path
that you want to go or not, you learn incredible things.
And that not a lot of high school students are
able to acquire that type of education.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
No, it's true. It's very special. And Lauren, you know
you've got these great students who are just making huge strides.
What's that like for you? As somebody who works with
them every day and is somebody who's in education.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It's super rewarding. You know, we teachers get asked all
the time like how do you do it? I enjoy
coming here? Can I get emotional on it? I enjoy
coming here, I enjoy working with them, and I enjoy
seeing their success over the years and them. I mean today,
I'm sitting here super proud of Teja's responses to all
these questions because that tells me that she gets it
(15:08):
right and that she sees what this is doing for her.
And we see that throughout our whole program and throughout
our whole school. I personally was a graduate of westervocan
of this program, and we see that a lot here.
And my co op opportunity was in a Credit Union,
So I know personally what vocational education can do for
(15:29):
a student, and we see that success while they're here,
and we continue those relationships while they're alumni as well
and see what our students go into in the future.
So and in addition to the whole financial education that
they're receiving all on, credit Union has opened up so
many other opportunities as well. Our students have already created
(15:51):
marketing material for the Credit Union, helping with promotions. We
do a big Credit for Life fair at the end
of the year where they are one of our they
are our partner with it. So there's been so many
more opportunities in addition to just the financial education.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Bob is a social star.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Yes, I believe it. I believe it I've heard great things.
So where is the location, what are the hours? How
can people sign up to work with the kids over there?
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Excellent? So it is open to the public. It is
within the school, so we're at one Officer Manny Familiar
Way in Whisper. It's the entrance into green Hill Park.
That's kind of how the community references where we're at.
And when you walk into the main doors of the school.
We have what's called Main Street and the credit Union
(16:41):
is sitting right there on Main Street before the cafe
in the restaurant, so as people move on down to
the cafe or the restaurant, they can stop and do
their personal banking. We also do a lot of internal
banking for our shops because all of our shops are,
like I said, live shops taking in revenue in sales
and so they'll be taking that revenue in that sales
and bring in The bank is helping us with that
(17:04):
piece within the City of Worcester's procurement kind of processing.
So that's kind of where we're at. Bob is there
bright and early as we are. I believe the hours
of seven thirty to two pm that the public can
come in and do their banking and students can their
signs up helping students if they need any financial help
(17:26):
with any maybe their first car or a family car
or what anything they need any help with any of
that notary public. I used the credit union not that
long ago to get something notarized, and so there's lots
of interactions that can happen with the public and internal.
We have over two hundred and fifty people in this
building on a daily basis staff and that's staff and
(17:51):
support staff. So when is welcome to utilize them their
credit union membership there and we appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Cool. Yeah, go to do your banking, get a sandwich,
just hang out over at Main Street and Worcester Tech, Brittany.
If somebody wants to join up with all one, where
can they find more information about that?
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Yeah? Absolutely so you can always come in and see
Bob and go from there, open an account live in
the branch, or you can check out all dash ONCU
dot com that has all of our information there, and
then if it's something that you want to partner with
financial education, you can find information there as well to
sign up for education sessions too that we offer free
(18:31):
to the public.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Okay, well, thank you all for the work you're doing
to make sure that our next generation has the financial
education they need to succeed and get by. I know
times are kind of weird right now, and it's important
for kids to know as much as they possibly can.
So thank you for getting so hands on. Thank you
for your time. I know it's been a really busy
time for you while rolling this out, but I appreciate
(18:53):
your time here on the show and all the best
of luck to you. Thank you have a safe and
healthy weekend. Please join me again next week for another
edition of the show. I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News
Radio on iHeartRadio.
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