Aja Clark, Chase’s community manager for Washington, D.C., is bringing free financial education workshops to residents across the District. In a recent Let’s Talk interview with Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes, Clark shared how her role is designed to connect banking resources with everyday community needs.
Based at the Chase Community Center branch at Skyland in Ward 8, Clark focuses on three pillars: financial literacy, small-business support and homeownership. Workshops cover credit, budgeting, savings, investments and entrepreneurship. Sessions are free, open to the public, and do not require participants to be Chase customers.
From the Classroom to the Community
A former teacher, Clark said her classroom experience shaped the way she approaches financial conversations. “I’ve learned to be tactful and create a safe space,” she explained, adding that many residents are engaging with their credit scores or financial planning for the first time.
Workshops and Partnerships
Clark hosts Financial Health “Scalable Solutions” workshops on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Skyland Community Center branch. She also partners with groups like the East River Family Strengthening Collaborative to offer virtual sessions. Topics range from budgeting and saving to small-business planning, and Spanish-language workshops are available through her colleague Marissa Gonzalez.
Expanding Citywide
What began east of the river is now reaching all eight wards. Clark works with local organizations and Chase consultants who provide free business coaching to help residents formalize side businesses or pursue entrepreneurial goals.
“Sometimes people just need to hear it more than once,” Clark said, noting that residents often return for repeat workshops. “The goal is to make the information stick.”