Arnerich Massena is the first Oregon sponsor of Rock the Street, Wall Street (RTSWS), a non-profit organization that works with financial services companies to deliver financial and investment education to high school girls to inspire them toward careers in finance. The RTSWS program is arranged with a fall session, focusing on investment and financial literacy, and a spring session, focusing on professional development and career planning. Arnerich Massena volunteers completed the spring session at Grant High School this April, and we couldn’t be prouder of our amazing students! Resumes and cover letters in hand, they are prepared to become the investment advisors and research analysts of the next generation. What a wonderful way to honor Financial Literacy Month!

The Arnerich Massena volunteer team bonded with the RTSWS club in the fall, as we taught weekly sessions on topics such as stocks, bonds, debt and credit, and asset allocation. The group of about 18 girls was highly engaged and enthusiastic, excited to learn. The fall session culminated with a field trip, as Grant High School’s Career and Community Partnerships Coordinator Madeline Kokes brought the girls to Arnerich Massena’s office for a half-day in November. Individuals from across the firm talked about their jobs and career paths, with panel discussions and casual Q&A. You can read more about the field trip and see pictures here.

Beginning in February, we returned to Grant High School for weekly spring sessions focused on providing mentorship in professional and career development. The students explored different career path opportunities in the financial services industry, examined their own skills and strengths to identify areas that might be of interest to them, and learned about resources available to them as they begin their career journey. We worked with them to craft a resume, learn about cover letters, and explore digital job seeking tools like LinkedIn. Finally, we held mock job interviews so they could get a sense of the dos and don’ts of interviewing for a position. The girls learned a great deal, and had fun along the way.

We’re very proud of our first RTSWS alumnae group, and excited to announce that Arnerich Massena will be returning to Grant High School in the fall for the 2023/24 school year. Our graduates will now become advocates recruiting for the RTSWS Club next year. We look forward to building on our success next year and continuing to encourage students in their financial careers. And to the joy of being inspired by a group of such remarkable, enthusiastic, and vibrant young women!

To learn more about RTSWS and the work they are doing nationwide, visit https://rockthestreetwallstreet.com/home/.