What happens when a teaching career extends beyond traditional academic boundaries to embrace community service? Chris Van Duin's 35-year journey as a teacher demonstrates the profound effect educators can have outside the classroom walls.

Chris Van Duin, VITA Program

Chris Van Duin, a teacher at Rancho Cucamonga High School in Southern California,  has notably integrated community service into his role as a teacher by spearheading the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at his school. This not only enhances students' financial literacy but also provides invaluable tax preparation services to the community.

Chris shares, "Last year, we did over 350 tax returns and both schools now have doubled, so we have two sections. It's boomed more than I could have pictured, especially during COVID time when a lot of places had to shut down."

Throughout the episode, Chris discusses the practical aspects of teaching financial literacy through real-world applications. He shares how the VITA program not only helps students understand the complexities of tax preparation, but also empowers them by providing real-life skills that can be applied immediately.

Alongside tax preparation, the program also serves to foster responsibility, enhance communication skills, and build empathy towards others as students continuously interact with the members of their community facing different financial challenges.

By integrating this program into the curriculum, Chris has facilitated a unique educational experience that promotes personal growth while strengthening the community around him.

Get the podcast transcript and listening links here.

Also Check out Kyle Saelinger, Owner & Head of Program at Fintrinsic

Kyle Saelinger, head of Fintrinsic, shares her journey in empowering first-generation, low-income students through financial education.

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Kyle discusses how Fintrinsic tailors its resources to meet the unique needs of these students, ensuring that the content is both relatable and practical.

Discover how Kyle's leadership is making a profound impact on financial literacy by providing tools for success in college and beyond.

Join Us for this Week's LIVE Event

You can catch this week’s live Speaker Series on Pursuing Financial Emancipation featuring Christopher Phelps tonight (Thursday, February 20) at 4pm PT/7pm ET. Register here.

About the Author

Anton Ivanushkin

Anton is a student at UC San Diego. He is majoring in Cognitive Science with a specialization in Machine Learning and Neural Computation. Anton has been interning at NGPF since May 2023. He helps with video editing, podcast editing, and many other tasks.