During the week of April 10, the School of Business and Industry hosted a five-day workshop
program for FAMU students and the wider community to learn about financial management and
improve their financial literacy.
The goal of the workshops was to develop and increase student’s minds and knowledge about
money, budgeting and investing. During Financial Literacy Week at FAMU, various activities
and events took place.
The events were led by financial experts, including professors and guest speakers, who
provided guidance and advice on topics ranging from budgeting to investing and retirement
planning.
SBI partnered with the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development (SFEPD)
Financial Ambassadors and Scout. To start the literacy week, Monday was "Kickoff Fireside
Chat" with Mike Haddix, the CEI and co-founder of Scout.
The workshops for day one began with student athletes in the SBI G12 North building. In this
session, athletes were offered one-on-one coaching sessions and workshops to help them
understand their finances better and make informed decisions.
By providing student-athletes with financial education resources and tools, FAMU is assisting
these athletes in avoiding common financial pitfalls and setting themselves up for long-term
financial success.
Following up the chat with Haddix the next day was "Lit All Day Lit Hours.”
This included workshops on stress management, mindfulness, self-care, and referrals to mental
health professionals and financial counselors. Also, equip students and parents with the tools to
manage their finances effectively and build a solid financial future.
Jessica Kennel, a parent of a Florida A&M student, was incredibly pleased to see that her son
was getting the proper education in managing money during this event.
“My son learning how to manage his money makes me happy. I thank FAMU because the more
we learn, the more we grow,” said Kennel.” These students are our future and FAMU is
excellently preparing them for real-world financial situations.”
After a long day of eating and socializing on the last day of financial literacy week, SBI hosted
its last event: “Finance Lunch and Learn” via Zoom starring Dana Peterson, the Chief
Economist of The Conference Board.
Jennifer Lewis, a student on the Zoom call, shared her thoughts about the Zoom meeting.
“First off, I would like to be an amazing woman. She drops some vital information about the
economic standpoint of managing money in the world we live in today,” Lewis said. “She is a
Black, successful woman who gave advice, and the inside scoop about her life was amazing. I
have learned a lot throughout the Zoom meeting.”
By attending the events hosted, students learned about various topics related to personal
finance, developed practical skills, and gained access to resources and tools to help them
manage their finances effectively.
FAMU SBI financial literacy week addressed the growing problem of financial illiteracy among
college students. Many students need to gain the essential knowledge and skills to manage
their finances effectively, leading to debt, poor credit scores, and financial stress.