The colorful classroom of East Side Community Center buzzed with unusual excitement last Saturday morning. Instead of typical weekend activities, twenty children aged 7-12 gathered around tables covered with piggy banks, play money, and custom-designed workbooks. Welcome to the inaugural session of the “Tiny Investors Club,” a new financial literacy program created by local entrepreneur Mahogany Williams.
“I grew up in a household where money was never discussed,” Williams told me as we watched the children eagerly sort coins into different saving categories. “By the time I reached college, I had no idea how to budget, save, or think about my financial future. I don’t want these kids facing the same challenges.”
The Tiny Investors Club represents a growing movement to introduce financial concepts to children earlier in life. Research from Cambridge University suggests money habits form as early as age seven, yet only 27% of parents regularly discuss financial topics with their children according to a 2024 T. Rowe Price survey.
Williams, who runs a successful accounting firm, partnered with childhood friends Marcus Johnson, an elementary school teacher, and Aisha Patel, a children’s book author, to develop the curriculum. “We call ourselves ‘Mahogany and Friends‘ because this truly was a collaborative effort built on our different expertise,” Johnson explained.
The program distinguishes itself through age-appropriate, hands-on activities rather than lectures. During my visit, I watched children participate in a “marketplace” where they earned play money through simple tasks, then made decisions about spending versus saving. One station featured a “Goal Bank” where kids wrote financial dreams on paper clouds and calculated how long it would take to save for them.
Ten-year-old Zoe, carefully calculating how many weeks of allowance she’d need to save for a new bicycle, told me, “I didn’t know money could be this fun! My mom always says we can’t afford things, but now I understand you have to plan for what you want.”
The program also incorporates diverse representation, with teaching materials featuring characters from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. “It was important to us that all children see themselves reflected in these materials,” said Patel, who authored the program’s storybooks. “Financial literacy isn’t just for certain communities—it’s a fundamental life skill everyone deserves.”
This initiative arrives at a critical time. According to the National Financial Educators Council, only 23 states require some form of financial education in schools, creating significant gaps in children’s economic understanding. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority reports that financial literacy scores have declined among young Americans over the past decade.
Community response has been overwhelmingly positive. The pilot program filled all twenty spots within 48 hours of announcement, with a waiting list quickly forming. Local credit union First Community has pledged support, providing real savings accounts for participants who complete the eight-week program.
“We’re seeing tremendous interest from parents across all income levels,” Williams noted. “Financial knowledge isn’t just about managing wealth—it’s about making informed choices with whatever resources you have.”
The curriculum covers age-adjusted concepts including saving, basic budgeting, differentiating needs versus wants, and even simple investing principles. Older children in the program are introduced to concepts like compound interest through interactive games and relatable examples.
Parents participate in complementary sessions, learning strategies to continue financial education at home. “The parent component is crucial,” Johnson emphasized. “When families reinforce these concepts together, the impact multiplies.”
For Williams, this program represents a personal mission. “Financial literacy changed my life once I discovered it as an adult. Imagine the possibilities if these children grow up confident about money from the beginning.”
The Tiny Investors Club plans to expand to three additional community centers by year’s end, with a long-term vision of developing shareable curriculum resources for schools nationwide. A companion app is also in development, allowing families to track savings goals and complete financial challenges together.
As I prepared to leave, I noticed nine-year-old Marcus carefully dividing his play money into envelopes marked “Save,” “Spend,” and “Share.” When I asked what he was doing, he looked up with a serious expression: “I’m practicing for when I get my allowance tomorrow. Did you know if you save some money now, you can buy bigger things later?”
It seems the lesson is already taking hold.
