Addressing Barriers to Financial Equity: Facilitating Caregiver-Child Conversations About Money

The study "Addressing Barriers to Financial Equity: Facilitating Caregiver-Child Conversations About Money" aims to empower Bronx residents by fostering financial literacy and resilience. In collaboration with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the project will engage community stakeholders at every step to ensure it addresses local financial interests. The project has three core aims: (1) assess how caregiver-child conversations about money can enhance feelings of financial empowerment, (2) develop a framework with practical tools for financially empowering Bronx residents, and (3) extend these insights to families throughout the Bronx and other underserved communities to support a more resilient local economy.

Community Partner:

Project Team:

Fr. Jose Felix Ortega

Pastor | Father Jose F. Ortega de La Fuente, L.C., has been vice-charge of the Pontifical Institute of Notre Dame in Jerusalem since 2017. He was pastor of St. Peter-St. Denis Parish in Yonkers, 2014-2017. From 2004 to 2014, he was territorial administrator for the Legionaries of Christ in North America. During that time, he was a weekend associate at several parishes in Westchester County. He was assistant to the territorial administrator from 2002-2004. A native of Valencia, Spain, he was ordained for the Legionaries of Christ in 2001. He entered the congregation in 1984 and made final vows in 1993.

Dr. Genevieve O’Connor

Associate Professor of Marketing, Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University | Genevieve E. O'Connor is an associate professor of marketing at Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University. She earned her Ph.D. from Rutgers University. Her publications have appeared in the Journal of Business Research, Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, and Journal of Consumer Affairs. She has presented her research to organizations such as the American Marketing Association, Academy of Marketing Science, and Frontiers in Service. Dr. O’Connor is a services marketing strategist specializing in consumer well-being, focusing on healthcare and financial well-being.

Dr. Margaret Echelbarger

Assistant Professor of Marketing, Stony Brook University | Margaret Echelbarger received her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Michigan. She studies consumer behavior, focusing on children’s early economic experiences, beliefs, and competencies. Her primary areas of interest include financial decision-making, variety-seeking, and product evaluations. She is also committed to public science and shares research findings and tips with parents on how to “Raise Good Consumers” via social media.