Money is a taboo subject in general, but it’s even more off-limits for women. How does the gendering of personal finance affect women’s financial and physical health? And, what roles do stigma and shame play in achieving financial wellness? Ariana Contreras from Women’s Money Matters joins us to answer these questions, as well as talk about her organization’s approach to a women centered and empowered solution.

Ariana Contreras is the Senior Community Engagement Manager at Women’s Money Matters. Women’s Money Matters is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to building financial wellness, confidence, and security for women and girls living on low-incomes.

Ariana blends her experience in non-profit communication and programming with her background in education to bring a vibrant energy to Women’s Money Matters. Growing up in a small, resource-limited town in rural Arizona, where opportunities for women, mothers, and people of color were scarce, she found her passion for empowering change through Women’s Money Matters. With an International Affairs degree from Northern Arizona University, Ariana is driven to create a more equitable future. Outside of work, you'll find her sweating it out in exercise classes, exploring new culinary delights, hanging out with her tuxedo cat, Cherie, or soaking up the great outdoors of New England.

For more information about Women’s Money Matters, check out these links:

• To learn more about volunteering: https://womensmoneymatters.org/volunteer-opportunities/

• To learn more about joining a program or referring a woman or girl to the program (at no cost for participants): https://womensmoneymatters.org/join-a-program/

• Listen to WMM’s volunteer and supporter Stacy talk about money shame in a Level-Up workshop: https://youtu.be/KlvMqKCK51M

• Hear from graduate-turned-coach Ramonia Henderson share her experience https://youtu.be/z56gbfYWYyg

  
  

The production of this podcast was supported by Grant 6-T76MC00017-27-01 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the host and guests of this podcast episode and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA or HHS.