“We Must Lift As We Climb…”
Financial Optimist was created out of our desire to give back to the community. We strive to be good stewards of the knowledge and tools we have and want to use them to empower the place we live. In specific, helping to strengthen the financial literacy of our community is a pillar of our core values. This is the essence of Financial Optimist: Good for your finances. Good for your future. Good for our community.
USF Financial Workshop Series
Earlier this year, I was asked to lead a four-part financial workshop series for students at the University of South Florida. My immediate reply was an enthusiastic “yes.” What made this opportunity so special is that I was also given the opportunity to present to the Black Leadership Network, the Women in Leadership & Philanthropy, and the Latino Scholarship Program scholars.
It was just eleven years ago I attended USF and sat where these students were. It was a great opportunity to give back to the university that has given so much to me over the last decade. Moreover, it was extra special to give back as a recipient and now donor of the USF Latino Scholarship and a current board member of the Latin Community Advisory Council.
The first of four events involved discussing the fundamentals of paying yourself first and how credit works. The remaining sessions will focus on the basics of investing, a comprehensive discussion on student loans and other debt, and we will wrap up by discussing life lessons for effective money management.
The idea behind the workshops is for each session to progressively build on the last, but also for the content to stand alone if a student can’t attend all of the sessions in the series. A huge shout out to these fantastic planners, Inga Timmerman over at Attainable Wealth and Amy Irvine over at Rooted Planning Group for their support and help with content.
USF Latino Scholarship Program and Latin Community Advisory Council
I am so incredibly proud of the USF Latin Community Advisory Council and the Latino Scholarship Program, and all of those who support and advocate for this great organization that I owe so much to. As a current board member, I hope to continue to shine light and support the initiatives. Since 1992, the esteemed board members have advised the USF President on initiatives and programs to strengthen the university and the student body population. The president and university board have earmarked around $3.5 million to the Latino Scholarship endowment over the last three decades, providing an opportunity for 550 USF students and families. One of those families being mine. Now, as our family pays it forward we can fulfill the motto, “We Must Life As We Climb…” of the scholarship program.
The mission of the Latin Community Advisory Council is to serve as a bridge between the University and the Hispanic Community, to assist the University in increasing the number of Hispanic faculty and decision-making administrators, to increase the number of Hispanic students enrolling and completing their degree at USF, and to inform the university about the specific needs and values of Hispanics in order to respond to the impact of the growing Hispanic population throughout our community, state, and nation.
The Committee advises the USF president on Latino/Hispanic community issues, programs, and initiatives, both internal and external to the university. In addition, the Committee assists the President in linking various Latinos/Hispanics individuals and community organizations in the community in order to further USF's mission and strategic plan. Finally, the Committee assists the President by serving as champions of the University of South Florida in the Latino/Hispanic community, and in recognizing Latinos/Hispanics through appropriate University channels.
The USF Latino Scholarship Program is available university-wide for freshmen or junior-level transfer students. The program is designed to assist USF in achieving and sustaining the education benefits of diversity. This includes increasing the number of USF students interested in issues affecting the Latino community and/or likely to give back to the Latino community after graduation.
How do you give? What’s important to you and your family?
