ALEXANDRIA, Va.-NCUA Chairman JoAnn Johnson and a handful of other key government officials will travel to Chicago to address the Midwest Regional Conference on Reaching Unbanked People. "I am honored to participate in this important Conference," Johnson commented. "It will not only provide education and insight into reaching the underserved, but will also give an opportunity to highlight the unique role that credit unions are playing in emphasizing the importance of financial literacy to their members." The May 1 event, which is in conjunction with the recent launch of the National Strategy for Financial Literacy, will also feature U.S. Treasurer Anna Escobedo Cabral, Representative Judy Biggert (D-Ill.), Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Education Dan Iannicola, and Bert Otto, deputy comptroller of the currency for the central district. The national strategy is a blueprint for improving Americans' understanding of issues like homeownership, credit management and retirement savings. Johnson commended the strategy, stating, "Without the proper tools of financial education, Americans are facing a steep climb to achieving their financial goals. I encourage all credit unions to continue serving as a reliable financial partner by taking every opportunity to educate their members." The conference will also feature expert panelists and allow participants to discuss critical financial literacy issues. Credit unions can RSVP for the free, one-day conference to Louisa Quittman at Treasury at [email protected] or (202) 622-8103.