![\"Logo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MJE-L-ERIEUNITEDWAY-0517.jpg\")
Logo for the United for ALICE podcast. (Submitted)<\/p>\nUnited Way of Erie County and Directions Credit Union are partnering together on a new podcast initiative called \u201cSpilling the Trust,\u201d focused on financial empowerment, community conversations and youth engagement throughout Erie County, according to a news release.<\/p>\n
The podcast series builds upon a strong year of financial empowerment initiatives connected to the United for ALICE movement, including VITA\/TCE tax preparation services and United Way\u2019s Financial Literacy Workshop Series.<\/p>\n
Each effort intentionally has focused on incorporating youth into meaningful leadership opportunities and real-world community engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpilling the Trust\u201d will create space for authentic conversations surrounding finances, financial wellness, community challenges, opportunity and collaboration, according to the release.<\/p>\n
The initiative also will serve as an opportunity to introduce Directions Credit Union to the Sandusky and Erie County community in a meaningful and relationship-centered way as the organization continues expanding its presence within the region, the release said.<\/p>\n
Logo for the United for ALICE podcast. (Submitted)<\/p>\n
The podcast also represents the second podcast initiative launched through United Way of Erie County, following the organization\u2019s \u201cHealing Connections\u201d podcast series focused on mental health, addiction recovery, resilience and community healing.<\/p>\n
United Way of Erie County has incorporated several young leaders into the series, including Alexandria Huffer of Huron High School; Sandusky High School senior Elijah Murri; and young professional Garrett Jackson, alongside members of the Directions Credit Union team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe being part of the process builds leadership and helps us absorb information better,\u201d said E.J. Brinson, executive director of United Way of Erie County, in the release. \u201cThis podcast gives us an opportunity to bring together multiple perspectives and generations to have honest conversations surrounding finances and community.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the same time, it creates an authentic opportunity for the community to get to know Directions Credit Union beyond banking \u2014 through conversations, relationships and shared investment in people. When youth are included in the work, they begin to see themselves as leaders capable of creating impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jenni Paramore, community impact manager at Directions Credit Union, said the effort is helping people in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cAddressing financial health requires more than products \u2014 it requires partnership, understanding and community voice,\u201d Paramore said in the release. \u201cTogether with United Way, we\u2019re helping ALICE households move from survival to stability.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alexandria Huffer is one of the participating students involved in the initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important to give back to the community because it\u2019s our youth, elderly and everyone in-between,\u201d Huffer said in the release. \u201cGiving back and helping the community helps people in need and makes our city a better place.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching my father interact with the community and help make a difference, really inspires me to want to give back and help. For teenagers the opportunities are out there, you just have to leave your comfort zone and ask questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiving back not only helps the community, it also helps you build your future as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Initial episodes of \u201cSpilling the Trust\u201d will include:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Episode 1 \u2014 \u201cIntroducing Directions Credit Union and the Partnership\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Episode 2 \u2014 \u201cBuilding a Financial Foundation\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Episode 3 \u2014 \u201cWhy Credit Unions Matter\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022 Episode 4 \u2014 \u201cTools and Resources That Help People Move Forward\u201d<\/p>\n
The initiative reflects a shared commitment to strengthening community relationships, increasing access to financial empowerment conversations, and creating opportunities for emerging leaders to engage directly in meaningful work, the release said.<\/p>\n
Additional podcast details, episode releases and community engagement opportunities will be announced in the near future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"United Way of Erie County and Directions Credit Union are partnering together on a new podcast initiative called…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":194296,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[86448,86450,86447,136,138,137,86449,26398],"class_list":["post-194295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-erie","tag-spilling-the-truth-podcast","tag-community-conversations-and-youth-engagement","tag-directions-credit-union","tag-erie","tag-erie-headlines","tag-erie-news","tag-financial-empowerment","tag-united-way-of-erie-county"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=194295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/194296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=194295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=194295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=194295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}