Empowering the Next Generation: Earn Your Leisure's Financial Literacy Curriculum Transforms High School Education

Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal, the hosts of the popular "Earn Your Leisure" podcast, have taken their mission to educate communities about financial literacy and entrepreneurship to the next level. In a recent episode of Financial Freestyle with Ross Mac, they discussed their groundbreaking curriculum that is now being implemented in high schools, equipping students with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions for their future.

Bridging the Gap: Bringing Financial Literacy to the Classroom

Addressing the Lack of Financial Education in Schools

Bilal acknowledges the glaring absence of financial literacy education in the traditional school curriculum, stating, "When you think of education, a lot of times financial literacy is not taught in the school. That's one of the most important things that we need in life." From understanding taxes and retirement plans to navigating real estate and the stock market, these essential life skills are often overlooked, leaving students unprepared for the financial realities they will face.

Developing a Comprehensive Curriculum

Recognizing this critical gap, Millings and Bilal, along with Bronx principal Dr. Travis Brown, have developed a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of financial principles. Their program explores topics such as the stock market, real estate, and entrepreneurship, equipping students with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their financial futures.

Launching the Pilot Program

The pilot program of the "Earn Your Leisure" curriculum was launched in 12 schools in the Bronx last year, and the co-hosts are now aiming to expand the program to more New York City schools and eventually take it nationwide. This ambitious goal reflects their unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation with the financial literacy skills they need to thrive.

Addressing the Importance of Financial Education

As an educator himself, Millings felt a personal responsibility to share his financial knowledge with students. He explains, "If I'm being honest, I started to feel... complicit in... some of... the futures of these kids. I'm like, if they're not learning this and I know it, I'm really doing them a disservice." This sense of duty has driven Millings and Bilal to create a curriculum that can make a tangible difference in the lives of young people.

Equipping Students for Informed Decision-Making

The ultimate goal of the "Earn Your Leisure" curriculum is to provide students with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed financial decisions, particularly at the critical juncture of choosing whether to pursue higher education. Millings emphasizes, "They're going to make a very big decision at 18, right? Whether they're going to go to college or not. There's a business decision that's being made, and they might not even know it until it's too late. And so we wanted to equip them with as much information, as much tools and enough resources to make the decision that was best for them."

Empowering Students for Financial Freedom and Inclusive Growth

The "Earn Your Leisure" co-hosts' mission extends beyond just imparting financial knowledge; they aim to empower students to make informed choices that will set them on a path towards financial freedom and inclusive economic growth. By providing this crucial education, they are not only transforming individual lives but also contributing to the broader societal goal of promoting economic prosperity for all.