The Mississippi Council on Economic Education and State Farm Team Up to Get Kids and their Families to Talk about Money

Selena Swartzfager

A Collaboration to Provide Families with Family Financial Fun Nights

Tupelo, MS (July 2, 2024) – Seventy-two percent of parents experience at least some reluctance to talk to their kids about financial matters. To address this issue, the Mississippi Council for Economic Education (MCEE) and State Farm are proud to announce a collaboration to conduct Family Financial Fun Nights for families across Mississippi.


These engaging events are designed to bring students and their families together for an enjoyable evening focused on learning the importance of personal finance. The aim is to create an open dialogue about essential topics such as savings, spending, debt, and budgeting—subjects that are often not discussed at the dinner table.


Here in Tupelo, on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, a Family Financial Fun Night will be held at the Tupelo Police Athletic League from 6 pm – 8 pm. This event will provide a unique opportunity for families to come together and discuss financial matters in a supportive and educational environment. Dinner will be served. There is no cost to attend, but families must register no later than Friday, July 12.


The registration link is: https://form.jotform.com/MSEconEd/FFFNinTupelo


“We are thrilled to be working with State Farm. This program aligns with our mission to ensure children and families statewide are equipped with the vocabulary and knowledge needed to make smart financial decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Selena Swartzfager, President of the Mississippi Council for Economic Education. “You are never too young to learn and talk about money, and the school setting is a perfect place to start the conversation.”


The Tupelo event is also supported by The CREATE Foundation. For more information about the Family Financial Fun Night in Tupelo, please contact the MS Council on Economic Education at 601-974-1325 or mscee@millsaps.edu.


About the Mississippi Council for Economic Education (MCEE)
The Mississippi Council for Economic Education is dedicated to improving economic and financial literacy in Mississippi. MCEE provides resources and training to educators and students to help them understand economic principles and develop essential life skills.


About State Farm
State Farm is a leading provider of insurance and financial services, committed to helping people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. Through its community engagement initiatives, State Farm aims to support educational programs that empower individuals and families to achieve financial security.

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Mississippi Council on Economic Education Welcomes Julie Ingram as Community Engagement Coordinator

By Selena Swartzfager • February 3, 2026
Jackson, MS — February 3, 2026 — The Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) is pleased to announce that Julie Ingram has joined the organization as Community Engagement Coordinator, strengthening MCEE’s capacity to scale high-impact financial literacy and economic education initiatives across the state. In her role, Ingram leads community-based programming including the Stock Market Game, Danny Dollar Academy, Family Financial Fun Nights, and the Invest in Girls initiative. Her work focuses on expanding access, strengthening partnerships, recruiting industry volunteers, delivering afterschool educator professional development, and ensuring data-driven program outcomes. Ingram brings more than 15 years of experience in education, leadership, and curriculum development, with deep expertise in economics, personal finance, entrepreneurship, and workforce-aligned instruction. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and has served as adjunct faculty with MCEE, co-teaching Master Teacher of Personal Finance coursework in partnership with the Atlanta and St. Louis Federal Reserve Banks. Her career includes statewide and national recognition, curriculum authorship, educator mentoring, and service on advisory councils shaping Mississippi education policy. As Community Engagement Coordinator, Ingram will travel statewide to support educators, students, and community partners—advancing MCEE’s mission to build financially capable communities in 24 of Mississippi's counties. “The addition of Julie to the MCEE team will allow us to serve more families with the Family Financial Fun Night and more students in afterschool programs with economic and financial literacy education,” said Selena Swartzfager, president of MCEE. “We have an unlimited demand for our services; we just need the resources to meet the demand. Having Julie on our staff increases our capacity to address financial illiteracy in Mississippi. We are so thankful to have her on the team.” The counties served by the MCEE Community Outreach Coordinator are below. Organizations or individuals wanting to partner with MCEE in the counties to be served are encouraged to reach out for more information by emailing MCEE at mscee@millsaps.edu . Please use Community Outreach in the subject line. ### Mississippi Council on Economic Education 1701 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39210 www.mscee.org 601-974-1325 mscee@millsaps.edu