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Financial Empowerment & Wellness (F.E.W.) Association

July 26, 2007

The Financial Empowerment & Wellness Association, better known as the F.E.W. Association, was founded in response to several growing issues that Semaj Rashad, Christopher Pollock, Noble Okeke saw as freshman students at Bowie State University.

PG Chic recently had the opportunity to speak to one of the founders, Semaj, to learn more about the organization.

PG Chic: Hello, Semaj. Tell me how you and your co-founders came up with the idea to form F.E.W. at Bowie State University.

Semaj: Often times, as students we are only taught the scholastic skills it takes to get a degree and then we're sort of forced into the job market by everyone (advisors, faculty, keeping up our peers, media, and especially parents). However, to survive after college and through our "careers" (the rat race), what are you going to do since it encompasses the rest of your life?

PG Chic: What does F.E.W. hope to accomplish?

Semaj: F.E.W. Association, a not-for-profit organization, seeks to fill in the financial skills that are not necessarily taught in the classrooms. For example, if I was a Biology major, how can I learn to invest or figure out how to pay off credit card debt or school loans?

F.E.W. Association is an opportunity to gain dexterity in not only networking with the companies you wish to work for, but how to invest your money in the company, how to run the company or even start one of your own.

PG Chic: Tell me about some of your programs.

Semaj: As students ourselves, the programs we have created involve what we feel are key financial concerns for any individual in school:

- What is Debt & Credit?
- What is Saving?
- What is a Stock?
- What is Real Estate?
- What is Business and Entrepreneurship?

PG Chic: Who have you partnered up with and what can we expect in the future?

Semaj: Some of our partners include the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce and Futuristic Youth. Also, we have worked with L.I.F.E. Youth Investment Group and the African American Association for Financial Advisors. This coming semester we plan to work with programs like Freddie Mac's Credit Smart Program and other industry experts in the finance world.

For more information, please visit our Web site at www.fewassociations.com or contact us at few@fewassociations.com.

PG Chic: Thank you, Semaj. We wish the F.E.W. Association continued success!