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KEYS® by GM Financial Forges New Collaboration With Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute in Washington D.C.

Family is the source of a lot of knowledge. They teach you how to walk, talk and behave in certain scenarios. They guide you through your childhood, teenage years and beyond. Meanwhile, we learn some valuable skills in school, like how to do long division or write adeptly. But sometimes there are gaps in our upbringing when it comes to practical financial skills and knowledge.

KEYS^® by GM Financial aspires to help by providing foundational financial information both in person and online. In early May, the KEYS team made their way to Washington, D.C. to meet with interns from the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI).

The internship helps students, who are often first-generation college students, navigate professional growth, build their networks and prepare for future careers. Nicole Marin, CHLI Senior Internship Programs Manager, has led the group of interns throughout their experience.

“The nature of the internship is to give students hands-on experience in the public policy space in both Congress and corporate America over the span of the semester,” Nicole said. “Students are able to attend briefings and networking events to make connections with leaders in public and private sectors.”

KEYS became part of the internship experience for the first time in 2023 as facilitators guided interns through two learning modules covering credit and budgeting. These interactive modules prompted conversations about financial goals, wants vs. needs and credit strategies.

Students also heard from a panel of GM Financial officers, including leaders of Hispanic descent, who shared their personal experiences with common financial topics.

Carlos Eduardo Padilla Monroy, a CHLI intern and student at Florida International University, said he appreciated the panelists’ perspectives.

“I think it was good that we could relate to their experiences coming from immigrant families themselves,” Carlos said. “It helps me see that it’s possible to achieve financial success and climb the ladder in a big company.”

And the impact was meaningful for interns and presenters alike. Ryan Robertson, AVP Customer Service at GM Financial, co-facilitated the session with Mish Harrison, CX Strategic Programs Manager at GM Financial, and related to what the CHLI students have experienced.

“Coming from an immigrant family, we all have similar stories,” Ryan said. “There weren’t a lot of conversations about money. We were told to pay with cash.”

So, hearing about building credit from panelists who shared their personal experiences with credit cards and buying a home left a mark. Ryan left feeling grateful for the time spent with the interns.

At the conclusion of the learning session, students were encouraged to follow up their learning by visiting the digital side of the KEYS program, KEYS Online, and listen to the recently released podcast, Our Two Cents. Both complement the topics covered in the session and can help students continue to build for their financial futures.

“Learning how to deal with your finances early on is how you’re going to make it,” Carlos said. “I’m pretty sure that we’ll have a leg up because of information like this.”

GM Financial regularly interacts with other important stakeholders and audiences via KEYS, including interns from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF). Read more about our latest CBCF engagement on the GM Financial newsroom.

By Allison Scott, GM Financial

Allison Scott stays plugged in to all things electric cars-related, and likes to balance it out by sharing a budgeting tip or two. When she's not working, you'll find her jamming out to John Mayer, cracking "dad jokes" or cheering on the Dallas Stars.