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With economic woes heavy on the minds of Americans, one group is tackling the issue to see how they can survive in hard times.

The theme of this year’s Black Women’s Conference is “Black Women, Work & Wealth: Economic Self-Sufficiency and Success During Tough Economic Times.” Sonja Feist-Price, director of the African American Studies and Research Program, said in an e-mail to the Kernel this topic is something that hits close to home for the campus community.

“Reflecting on the last 15 to 20 years, people are really feeling the pinch of today’s economy,” she said. “As a result of layoffs, high unemployment rates, the cost of living increasing while people are without pay raises, families are having to shop smarter, prioritize their needs and curtail their spending.”

Glinda Bridgforth is one of the conference speakers and an author and consultant on financial health. She will give her lecture, “Do You Really Have Money to Blow?” Wednesday at 6 p.m. in room 206 of the Student Center. Feist-Price said Bridgforth can offer an opportunity to learn about practical financial matters.

“She has a history of helping individuals explore the emotional, practical and spiritual aspects of their relationship with money, and specializes in cash flow and debt management,” Feist-Price said. “Ms. Bridgforth will provide our audience with information on how to be prepared, prudent and prosperous during today’s economy, and also provide them with practical tips to become debt-free, and overcome obstacles that keep them from experiencing financial security.”

Involving the community is a priority of the conference, Feist-Price said. People across racial, age and socioeconomic backgrounds all feel the impact of spending in some way, she said.

“An area that has been of utmost importance to me … is to ensure that women from all socioeconomic strata are present at this conference. This is done by personally inviting women at the Hope Center, homeless shelters, substance abuse treatment facilities and halfway houses to this conference … I want the conference to be an opportunity to not only be empowered by our speakers, but by each other.”

Another target demographic for the conference is students, Feist-Price said, because young people often fail to realize how their spending now will affect their future.

“At almost every turn, we are bombarded with opportunities to receive credit cards, especially if you have a decent credit rating,” Feist-Price said. “And too many times students fall prey to the lure of credit cards, especially with the opportunity to ‘buy now and pay later.’ ”

Calendar

Wednesday– “Do You Really Have Money to Blow?”; 6 p.m.; Room 206 Student Center; free and open to the public

Thursday– Conference registration begins at 9 a.m.

“Consumer Self-Control and Individual Well-Being”; 10 a.m.; Small Ballroom Student Center; free and open to the public

Mary McLeod Bethune Luncheon; Grand Ballroom Student Center; noon to 1:30 p.m.; tickets $15 general admission, $7 students

“Made to Make it in Challenging Times”; 2 p.m.; Small Ballroom Student Center; free and open to the public

“Reclaiming Our Entrepreneurial Legacy”; 3:15 p.m.; Small Ballroom Student Center; free and open to the public

“Counting Black Women and Counting on Black Women”; 5 p.m.; Center Theater Student Center; free and open to the public