Saint Paul, Minn., Jan. 28, 2022—The Arc Minnesota is honored to announce that CEO Andrea Zuber has been appointed to serve as Chair of Saint Paul’s Financial Empowerment Community Council (FECC). Appointed by Mayor Melvin Carter, her term began on January 1, 2022 and will cover three years, ending in December 2024.
The Office Financial Empowerment (OFE) launched in March 2019 and advances economic democracy that shares prosperity with all Saint Paul residents—including deliberate work to repair generational injustices that harmed Black, Indigenous, immigrant and refugee communities. As another step towards this mission, the OFE is partnering with community members through the Financial Empowerment Community Council.
“The ableism and racism embedded in our systems and policies has left people with disabilities behind in these discussions and initiatives.” says Zuber. “Advancing employment, fair wages and financial empowerment have always been central to the work I’ve done. Now, it’s important we do this work with justice in mind.”
Zuber brings over 20 years of experience in Minnesota’s Employment First movement which advocates for systems change that is centered around the idea that every person, including people with disabilities, are capable of full participation in integrated employment and communities. She also brings her career in disability services and advocacy to the role.
“It is essential that people with disabilities are represented and considered when it comes to financial empowerment and prosperity,” says Mayor Carter. “The work we’re doing to ensure every person in our City has the chance to thrive will take all of us together.”
Current initiatives by the OFE include Saint Paul’s CollegeBound program, and the People’s Prosperity guaranteed income pilot. The FECC will support OFE’s citywide financial empowerment work by reviewing feedback on programming, creating community connections, offering advice, and more.
“All individuals who have disabilities—no matter their disability type and support needs—deserve the opportunity to build wealth, thrive financially, and to prosper,” says Zuber.
Mayor Carter and Chair Andrea Zuber will host the first FECC meeting virtually on Monday, January 31, from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
For more information about the Office of Financial Empowerment, visit https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/financial-empowerment
The Arc Minnesota is a statewide nonprofit organization that works to promote and protect the human rights of people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, actively supporting them and their families in a lifetime of full inclusion and participation in their communities. People with disabilities and their families trust The Arc for information, assistance, education, and public policy leadership. For more information, visit www.arcminnesota.org