Family fun: MCEE, United Way blend education, enjoyment
Published 9:33 am Saturday, January 25, 2025
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State Farm agent Donna Halford speaks with a family during Thursday’s event.
MCEE faculty member Kenneth Nelson speaks to the group.
Families blended fun with financial education at Thursday’s first-time event. (Photos by Terri Cowart Frazier/The Vicksburg Post)
Parents and students gathered at the Youth Development Center on Mission 66 Thursday to participate in a Family Financial Fun Night, which was offered through the Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) and sponsored by State Farm.
The event, led by MCEE faulty member Kenneth Nelson, was geared toward introducing various financial concepts through interactive activities that teach participants about budgeting, saving, investing, risk management and other important financial topics.
“Our goal is to spread economic and financial literacy to every family in the state of Mississippi,” Nelson said.
In addition to helping educate youth and their families about finances during Family Financial Fun Nights, Nelson said MCEE’s goal is to also train educators so they can be proficient in teaching Mississippi’s kindergarten through twelfth-grade students about economics, entrepreneurship, and personal finance so they will be able to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives.
During the past 10 years, Nelson said, there has been a more than 120% increase in teachers becoming certified through MCEE’s teacher education program.
“That’s our first outlet (the teacher education program) in getting our information to our communities,” he said.
The United Way of West Central Mississippi partnered with MCEE for Thursday’s first-time event in Vicksburg.
About Terri Cowart Frazier
Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”
Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.
Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.
Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.
“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’
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