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Drop That Cardi B, Candace Okin Is Making ‘Money Moves’
When it comes to Texas Southern University alum Candace Okin, humility is second nature.
The Texas native was raised by her father following her parents’ divorce and from there, she discovered her love for poetry and short stories.
Having endured her own financial struggles after a job loss, and mismanagement of funds while raising a 1-year-old son, at the time, she used her circumstance as a segway to create a different lane for herself and others.
During an interview, she explained what led her to the development of her 2020 book financial literacy book for youth called, Mason Makes Money,
“I was laid off unexpectedly in 2019. I have a son and even though I knew he was too young to understand what was going on, he was still watching me. I still felt like I was his model for adulthood,” she said.
She added,
“I wanted to rise to the challenge that I was facing as best as possible because a lot of what we carry into adulthood, stems from our childhood.”
When it comes to her son, Okin says she wanted to be a parent that her son could look to as a role model and not the world.
“Honestly, I really wanted to rise to the occasion for my son to be the best as possible,” she said.
The author added,
“I didn’t want him to look at the world as a refuge for everything, but instead, I wanted him to ask questions so we could learn together.”
Okin took her own word, her experiences, and her failures to turn them into a lesson that was digestible for readers of Mason Makes Money,
“What is the point of going through hardship if we don’t learn from our mistakes? Our mistakes are just as useful.”
After launching her nonprofit, Mason Makes Money Fund in 2020 based on the book, Okin’s efforts are designed to help kids entrepreneurs through one of several of its programs,
Kidprenuer Konnection is a bi-monthly virtual seminar that connects young entrepreneurs in the making to develop their skillset to take on the challenges of the world for free.
She believes that since the economy has changed, the upcoming generation needs to be more “resourceful” in the global emporium.
The author admits that while adults can still have problematic ways with financial handling, it’s still a learning curve. However, “it’s essential [kids] understand their options” early.
Financial Literacy Across The Country
According to a study, per CNBC, 57 percent of adults are financially literate. Meanwhile, 31 percent of parents admit to talking to their children about finance management.
Mason Makes Money fund operates as a non-profit organization that’s supported 50-plus children to achieve awareness in an area that will affect them as they navigate the world’s inner workings.
With her skills as a grant writer, which helps organizations receive funding for their mission for empowerment, Okin will be awarding a grant winner for a kid business between the ages of 7 and 13.
As of now, submissions are open until Nov. 1. Click here to apply.
