A circle badge in Prudential Emerging Visionaries dark blue, with the Prudential logo across the top. The text reads "Emerging Visionaries" in large block text. Below reads "Financial Solution Winner".

Caden Harris

AGE | 14

LOCATION | Stonecrest, Georgia

PROJECT | Financial Literacy for All

Sectors: EducationEntrepreneurshipEconomic/Financial Empowerment

Youth Equity & InclusionCivic Engagement

 

Caden Harris, 14, of Stonecrest, Georgia, is the founder of “Financial Literacy for All,” a program on wheels that aims to create a world in which financial literacy is integrated into the curriculum of every school and is accessible to all young people. “Financial Literacy for All” operates a financial literacy bus that travels the country hosting events that teach students the importance of fiscal responsibility.

 

Caden first heard the term financial literacy when sitting in on one of his father’s business meetings. He wasn’t familiar with the concept and realized that many high schoolers have little to no financial literacy knowledge. Caden began learning about finance and started his initiative to help communities overcome economic disparities and ensure that all young people can access the knowledge they need to plan their financial futures. Since founding his project five years ago, Caden has visited dozens of schools across the nation on his financial literacy bus and taught over 10,000 kids the power of financial literacy.

The moment that led me to wanting to teach kids financial literacy is going to business meetings with me dad. I would go to meetings and they would talk about financial literacy and at that point I didn’t understand what it was. It was intriguing, when I did my research I found that most kids that graduated high school, didn’t know the basics about financial literacy. I knew that so could change that by teaching kids the basics early.

I’m helping solve the problem of economic disparity. I want us all to have the same resources to learn and have steps to plan a better financial future. If we’re more knowledgeable in our finances we can build better schools, communities and cities.

I’m tackling the problem by creating digital and physical problems that aid on teaching the basics. I also visit schools and organizations with my financial literacy bus to teach. When I had the idea for my bus I wanted to make learning fun and interactive so kids would retain the information better. Within the five years I’ve had my business I’ve impacted over 10,000 kids.

I have set my project up for success by making it a registered business and also connecting with a non-profit that can help me  deliver financial education to underserved communities. Although the bus is a great tool, I have to have funding to help with expenses. I’ve continued to serve my community and provide them with supplies they need. This back to school season I gave away over 250 filled backpacks. That’s something I wouldn’t have been about to do without setting things up as a business and raising funds.

My solution has made individuals want to learn more. It has made families want to teach their kids more about fiscal responsibility by purchasing my tools. Last year I went to the governors office to talk about how we can implement financial literacy into the school’s curriculum. Georgia has mandated financial literacy as a requirement.

After my events kid have wanted to learn more about money, start their own business and find ways to make their own money.