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UNITED WAY OF
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA

Building Stronger
Communities, Together.

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BANK ON
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA

United Way is ensuring that everyone has access to a safe

and affordable bank or credit union account.

WHAT IS BANK ON SELA?

Bank On Southeast Louisiana is a coalition of local partnerships between financial institutions, community organizations, and government agencies that work to improve the financial stability of the unbanked and underbanked residents of our communities. Our members offer services and resources that help empower individuals and families to improve their financial capability, health, and independence.

Bank On SELA aims to improve financial stability by connecting residents to safe and affordable mainstream accounts in banks and credit unions, raising public awareness of these efforts and opportunities, and expanding access to financial education and other financial empowerment opportunities.

0 M

U.S. households are unbanked, without a checking or savings account

0 %

of Louisiana residents are underbanked

0 %

of Louisiana residents are unbanked, which is almost twice the national average

0 M

U.S. households are underbanked, relying on some fringe financial services

WHAT IS A CERTIFIED BANK ON ACCOUNT?

A Bank On certified account is a low-cost, low-fee bank account that meets national standards for safety and affordability. Bank On certified accounts are publicly available, transactional accounts that meet the  Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund’s National Account Standards . With a Bank On certified account, your money is secure, there are no surprise fees, and you have access to convenient online tools.

View a grid comparing certified accounts available in the region and determine which one is right for you.

View Certified Account Features

BANK ON SPONSORS

United Way offers three sponsorship levels for organizations to support their community through the Bank On SELA program.

BECOME A SPONSOR

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Chase
Community Center of St. Bernard
Credit Human Credit Union
East St. Tammany Habitat for Humanity
First Horizon

Gulf Coast Bank
Jefferson Parish Housing Services Development District
New Orleans Habitat for Humanity
Prominent Youth Foundation

Red River Bank
St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation
Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West
Woodforest Bank

PARTNER ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

United Way offers a variety of options for people to support their community, whether through donations, corporate partnerships, or joining one of our groups.

Financial Education

Bank On SELA partners provide free financial education to the community, virtually or in-person, throughout the year and at our annual summit.

Committee Development

Shape the future of the region and participate in one of the Bank On SELA committees.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

NEED
HELP?

United Way of Southeast Louisiana offers a wide range of free programming to residents in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes, including financial education and coaching, credit building and counseling, benefits screening, and income tax assistance.

Name

OUR PROGRAMS

United Way offers a variety of options for people to support their community, whether through donations, advocacy, corporate partnerships, or joining one of our groups.

READ MORE
ALL PROGRAMS

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

LEARN MORE

BECOME A SPONSOR

Sponsorship Levels:

Gold  –  $5,000

Silver  –  $2500

Bronze  –  $1500

Contact : ellenors@unitedwaysela.org

Helena Moreno

Campaign Email:  letsgo@helenamorenola.com
Contact Phone Number:  (504) 655-2878


Campaign Website and Social Media Handles
www.helenamorenola.com
@HelenamorenoHQ  |  @helenamorenola

Commitment: If elected, would you dedicate additional funding in the City budget for early care and education?

Yes.

If so, how would you prioritize it in the budget?

Both in the state legislature and city council, I’ve been a strong supporter of bringing early childhood education to New Orleans. In 2018, we allocated the first $1.5M in city funds for additional seats. As Council President, we doubled that to $3M. I was the lead author to put the pre-k millage on the ballot, providing millions more. I will continue this work as mayor. As for additional funding for pre-k, is there anything more important? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources. There are competing priorities, especially when it comes to drainage, but our kids desperately need pre-k, and so do our parents, who are under pressure to be both caregiver and financial provider.

Commitment:  If elected, will you use your power and platform to advocate at the state and federal levels for sustained early childhood funding? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Every leader at the local, state, and federal levels should be working together to provide high-quality early childhood education to our young people. I will always shout from the rooftops about the enormous benefits of Head Start and pre-k, along with Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, and kids’ programming on PBS. As mayor, I will lead a broad intergovernmental relations effort with constant coordination between city leadership, the legislative delegation, and advocates. I don’t think anyone is listening, for now, but that can change. More broadly, this is why the mayoral election is so important. New Orleans needs to stand on its own two feet. No one is coming to rescue us, so we must be strong in the face of unprecedented economic, environmental, and political headwinds.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to ensuring our early care and education providers can keep their doors open, grow their business, pay a living wage to their teachers, and help ensure families and educators can continue to afford to live in the city? If yes, please describe the specific actions you will take to do this.

Yes.

Child care providers will have a strong supporter in the mayor’s office when I am elected. Our city hall will serve as a hub, connecting needs and resources, with a focus on streamlining red tape for critical service providers, such as those offering child care. It is not enough to have more early childhood seats; we need quality. Even at current levels of local and state funding, pre-K early education programs exist in an environment where low wages are the norm and facilities are often in disrepair. The current climate at the state and federal levels may preclude additional funds. Yet, at the local level, as I mentioned earlier, is there anything more important than pre-k? We have demonstrated to the public that local government can make progress on this issue with increased resources.

Commitment: If elected, would you commit to ensuring essential local workers – including those in city government – can access childcare through local providers, and that private sector employers do their part in ensuring their employees can access the childcare they need to work, be productive, and grow our economy? If yes, please elaborate on how you would fulfill this commitment.

Yes.

I will always advocate amongst employers and at the state level for a real-living wage that can provide for a family. In workplaces across New Orleans and at city hall, I see parents working double time, struggling to keep up due to a lack of child care. Part of the answer is more public school seats for children aged 6 months to 4 years old. For older kids, I want NORD to do more. A lot more. I have been a leader in expanding NORD’s budget to record highs. Now the goal is to maximize services during non-school hours. Summer enrichment is especially crucial to prevent any backslide. In short, I want to usher in a NORD Renaissance, especially after school. This would go a long way, especially for working parents who need a few more critical hours of support before they can leave work.

Commitment: If elected, will you commit to maintaining this office and protecting these investments?

Yes.

How will you ensure these efforts are sustained beyond your term and are prioritized in future budgets?

Yes. I helped lead the effort for early childhood education with Agenda for Children, and I will commit to maintaining and protecting these early childhood investments. They were hard won, and we cannot lose them. If anything, we need an expansion, which will be the key subject of future budgets, which must balance ALL the city’s needs. The bottom line: we must support families, or else they will simply leave, and New Orleans will not have a future.