Tuesday, November 20, 2012

THE POWER WITHIN - An Open Letter to the United Negro College Fund



I was recently humbled to be honored by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) “In recognition and appreciation of outstanding service toward financial literacy of young people in New Jersey and beyond.”

Proud to receive the award, and in a room filled with family, friends and colleagues, I was touched by the introduction by Michael Cox, the Director of Development for UNCF.  Michael is an inspirational human being.  He could have any job in corporate America – naming his own salary.  Instead, Michael, who also happens to be a clergyman, has chosen to make a real difference working for UNCF. In his introduction, Michael told of our first meeting and that after a few minutes we were finishing each others' sentences about empowering the next generation to give them the tools to build their future.  I was choked up listening to one of my heroes telling me that he was thankful to have me in his life.    Being acknowledged in this way is reaffirming.

When it was asked to speak, I wanted to talk about Hurricane Sandy.  The awards ceremony would be in New Jersey, and we had just experienced the most powerful natural disaster of most of our lifetimes – certainly mine.  I knew that Michael Cox, religious leader, would ask me “What have we learned?”

We learned that this disastrous natural weather event was indiscriminate -  saw no color or socio-economic status.  It was power and power can be positive or negative.

Just because most of us have our power back on – do we really?  We need to reflect upon our collective power and whether it is working for the greater good.  Out of the devastation came a positive power of people to care, to share and to give.  It reminded us that together we must rebuild our personal and collective infrastructures – our collective future.

This is what UNCF does for our youth of color.  It helps young people to prepare for the future by giving them the economic infrastructure that society has not afforded them.  The nation's largest and most effective minority education organization, for more than 67 years, UNCF has raised more than $3.3 billion to help more than 400,000 students attend college and graduate from college.  UNCF has distributed more funds to help minorities attend school than any  entity outside of the U.S. government.

Children of color were shut out from our higher educational network.  This wasn't a natural disaster, this was a man-made disaster.  We all know that poverty limits access to a future of choices.

UNCF cares, shares, gives and advocates by opening the shut door for our youth.  It gives kids the tools to build their future. They award 10,000 students each year through scholarships and internship programs so that underserved kids can afford college, but they need more help.

Hurricane Sandy taught me that I didn't lose my power – I lost my conveniences.  My power lies in my blessings: my kids, my grandkids, my friends and my colleagues.

I have been blessed via my work to have been able to follow my passion which is to give kids and their families the tools to build a healthy financial life. A life they will design, not a life that they are a victim to.  A life of choice.

I serve over 500,000 children through my programs: 200,000 youth of active military people, 100,000 kids in the National Urban League, 10,000 kids in Jersey City, NJ 5,000 kids in Newark, NJ, 135,000 in FCCLA and DECA, kids in the YWCA, Girl Scouts and ASPIRA.

I am also committed to working with UNCF – Michael Cox and I are designing what that will look like.  The vision is to empower those minds of younger children and their families so that the economic road to college is easier.  Michael and I share our approach to life, in fact when he came to my home, I showed him a small plaque hanging in my kitchen, which reads “There are two ways to life life: as though nothing is a miracle OR as though everything is a miracle.”

“A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste.”  Hurricane Sandy taught us that heart and soul are also terrible things to waste.

Thank you – United Negro College Fund – for the collective power that you foster.  Thank you for not wasting minds, hearts and souls - thank you for giving us all the true power for a better future.


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

STORM OF EMOTIONS



In the 1980's I created the topic of "kids and money" and in the following years I have
written 26 books and founded the Children's Financial Network to promote financial
literacy. Along with teaching families to become money savvy, I have also, always,
stressed the importance of sharing and giving of one's self in order to be "Citizens of the
Community."

In a time of crisis, such as the devastating after-effects of hurricane Sandy, we are
reminded of the inherent good of the American people. So many have been directly
effected by losing their homes or their livelihood or even a loved one. The rest of us
who have been fortunate enough to escape unharmed or perhaps inconvenienced,
have, once again, seen compassion in action. This is also a time of introspection.

All around us we see our first responders risking their lives to help strangers in crisis.
Neighbors are helping neighbors. Government agencies begin to assess damages and
to offer assistance to those that have been displaced. Charitable organizations step up
to the task of offering aid. Citizens rush to donate to those charities. Even politicians
put their differences aside in order to get work done.

I am one of the fortunate who has only been inconvenienced with the loss of utilities. As
the storm began to move into my neighborhood, I found myself alone in the dark -
listening to the rain pour down and the trees brush against my home. I was afraid for
my safety and my property, but my overwhelming concern was for my family - my kids
and my grandkids - and for everyone else being touched by this storm.

I was able to get to a friend's home for comfort and safety. Eventually, I was able to
contact my family and was assured that everyone was OK.

So many others were less fortunate. Just in my community, one family was left
homeless after a fire destroyed their home. In another tragedy, a couple was killed
when a tree fell on their car - leaving behind two young children who were also in the
car.

I am an advocate of teaching our kids about budgeting their allowance, and as part of
that education I teach that a portion of the weekly allowance be set aside for charity.
This week I proudly watched my friend's son, who upon learning of the neighborhood
tragedies, rushed to get his container filled with the charity money from his allowance.
Before I understood where he had disappeared to, I heard - "Mom, we have to take my
charity money and give it to that family whose house burned down." He followed up
with, "Where are they going to live? We have to help them."

I know that charitable giving will always be a part of this young man's life. The lessons
and habits we learn when we are young shape who we become as adults. Teach your
children to be givers - also teach by example. Remember that giving can be more than
donating money, you can also donate your time, clothing and even household items. Be
sure to get your family involved.

That generous young man is right - "We have to help." We should all do what we can to
help our neighbors. We can make a real difference.