I was at the University of Arizona Campus Saturday for volunteer orientation on the Tucson Festival of Books. A quick glance of the UofA mall showed the future of our community.

Our group was there to review the layout of the Tucson Festival of Books  (March 13 and 14th). This event is in its sophomore year and has already become one of the best book festivals in the country and the largest ever in Arizona. Over 400 authors will come, 300 exhibits and workshops will be held, and 50,000+ attendees will come to hear the authors and visit hundreds of exhibitors’ booths. Last year, this free event raised $200,000 to support literacy efforts in Tucson. A big beneficiary was the Literacy for Life Coalition. “The Coalition is all of us in Greater Tucson. It is everyone in Tucson who is or might want to be committed to helping achieve the goal of 100% literacy through 100% community engagement. Formed in 2008, the Coalition Steering Committee is the leadership for the organization. It is a group of about 30 members including literacy providers, educators in the school systems, the business community, local government and foundations. This steering committee has aligned on priorities and is working together to achieve them.”

As we were gathering for our tour, many of us watched the MESA, Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement, students demonstrating their projects. “MESA is a university-based outreach program operating in 8 states. In Arizona, MESA strives to provide an opportunity for ethnic minority, low income, and first generation college-bound students to explore college majors and career interests with a group of peers interested in attending college.” We watched as students captured and used solar energy with tinfoil and cardboard. We were amazed by students launching rocket propelled eggs (you heard me) to see whose could travel the farthest and remain intact.

On the TFOB tour we ran into the Credit-Wise Cats in front of Bear Down Gym. They were practicing ”Budget Ball”, “Financial Football” and “Financial World Cup Soccer” in preparation of the Family Finance Day on March 27th. “The Credit-Wise Cats is a program comprised UofA students who provide personal financial education to college students and students in grades K-12 in the greater Tucson community. The CWC educators are extensively trained by the Take Charge America Institute (TCAI) faculty and staff to provide community outreach through presentation of money management workshops that focus on the core topics of spending plans, saving, credit cards and credit reports.”

After learning from the CWC, the high schools form teams to participate in a competition, testing their financial knowledge. This year, the competition is taking on a new look and an enhanced presence. It includes an added component of using their financial stability understanding towards making a decision about purchasing a home. The Tucson Association of REALTORS ® (TAR) has partnered with the TCAI, providing an additional presentation on successful homeownership to be taught by trained members of the TAR speakers’ bureau. The added element of a home purchase will reinforce the concepts of financial stability and emphasize that successful homeownership is based on the foundation of good habits. Students will be judged by a panel of local experts from many fields on how well they managed their finances. The winner will be the team that has attained the most financially stable situation.

The competition is only a part of the “Family Finance Day”. As the name suggests, there will be activities for participants of all ages. Face painting, jumping castles and story time will entertain the youngest attendees. The middle school aged “Next Generation Competitors” will have activities to challenge and enlighten them; adults will be able to attend workshops on taxes, mortgages, savings, and budgeting. Organizations throughout the community will have tables and booths to provide information on all things relating to financial stability.

One brief stroll on a Saturday afternoon revealed the future of Tucson, and the future is bright!