Talking money, building confidence
Jerry Buckland, CMU Vice-President Academic and Professor of Economics and International Development Studies, will host the upcoming Face2Face conversation exploring how open discussions about money can reduce shame and help build financial confidence.
As rising costs and economic uncertainty continue to affect households across Canada, CMU invites the public to join a candid discussion about building financial literacy and well-being, and the role that community plays in this process.
The university's upcoming Face2Face conversation, "Money and the Cost of Living: Building Financial Confidence Together," will take place on Friday, September 18 at 7:00 PM in Marpeck Commons (2299 Grant Ave.) on the CMU campus and via livestream. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.
Money affects nearly every aspect of our daily lives, yet it is often one of the hardest topics to talk about. As people navigate earning, spending, investing, retirement planning, and many other financial decisions, they often carry their concerns and stress alone.
"One of the key things we're trying to talk about is the stigma and this confidentiality that seems to surround money and how people manage their money," says Dr. Jerry Buckland, CMU Vice-President Academic and Professor of Economics and International Development Studies. "When we face tough financial issues, it's often difficult to talk to others about it... that can become a vicious cycle, where suddenly you start to have a lower self-image because you're struggling with something you think you shouldn't struggle with because nobody else is complaining. In fact, we're all struggling, we're just not talking about it because of this shame barrier."
This Face2Face event will consider how honest conversations about money can reduce shame, build confidence, and help people make informed financial decisions. Financial literacy is not something reserved for experts, but rather a skill that can be learned, developed, and strengthened within community.
Buckland will host the evening, drawing on his extensive research and teaching in economics and community development to help guide the discourse amongst both a panel of guests and the audience.
Joining him on the panel are:
- Jesse Dollimont (CMU '16), a board-certified music therapist at Renfrew Educational Services in Calgary and a sessional instructor in music and expressive arts therapies for the WHEAT Institute
- Venaika Jean, a CMU Redekop School of Business student
- Joel Schlesinger, a Winnipeg-based freelance journalist and regular contributor to the Winnipeg Free Press, covering business, finance, health, and technology
Through personal stories, practical insights, and thoughtful dialogue, the panelists will address questions about how to better understand the changing economy, what role community plays in helping us make wise financial decisions, how to talk about money in ways that foster empathy rather than shame, and what lessons we can learn from older generations.
"I did this Financial Diaries project where we met with 80 people over the course of 6–12 months and we got to know them very well. They shared with us information about their finances and we talked about, 'how are you feeling about your finances and what are your goals?'" Buckland says. "What we found, at the end of the process, was that many of our diarists were sad it was over because they had found it beneficial to have someone to talk to about it.... That showed me that talking about these big issues is really important."
Whether attendees feel confident managing their finances or are looking for a place to begin, this Face2Face event offers an opportunity to connect with others, gain knowledge, and explore ways to build financial understanding, resilience, and hope.
Face2Face events are a series of conversations with CMU faculty and special guests designed to engage the community on various current issues at the intersection of faith and life. More information on the upcoming event and the livestream feed, as well as previous Face2Face discussions can be found at cmu.ca/face2face.