Clarissa Pena

Clarissa Peña is a seasoned facilitator having led workshops at conferences locally, statewide, and nationally. These conferences all focus on enriching and advancing the lives of system-impacted youth overall. She is really excited to facilitate financial literacy curriculum, having already done so and seen its direct impact on the lives of system-impacted youth. 

Having experienced foster care from age 9 to 21, she saved money from her weekly allowances by budgeting just $1 for a single dollar store snack, often a pack of gum to get her through the week. This resourcefulness led to her being cut off from extended foster care resources due to the amount amassed. Her social worker then said, “you might just be the richest foster youth in the county.” 

Drawing from this lived expertise, she channels her passion for transforming past challenges into stepping stones for financial independence. She brings an empathetic approach to create supportive spaces where young people, families, and communities build emotional resilience alongside practical skills in budgeting, saving, and planning ahead.