The financial literacy gap in America has long been a cause for concern, but in Oakland, one woman is tackling this challenge head-on with remarkable results. For the past seven years, Shaheeda Saadiq has been empowering local youth through her nonprofit organization, teaching children essential money management skills that many adults still struggle to master.
Walking into one of Saadiq’s workshops feels like stepping into a miniature economy in action. Children as young as seven engage in animated discussions about budgeting, savings, and even investing – concepts that traditionally remain absent from standard school curricula until much later, if at all.
“I grew up in a household where money wasn’t discussed,” Saadiq explains during a break between sessions. “When I entered adulthood, I made financial mistakes that could have been avoided with proper education. I wanted to create something that would give kids the foundation I never had.”
Her program, which operates primarily in underserved Oakland neighborhoods, has already reached over 3,000 children. The curriculum cleverly disguises complex financial concepts as engaging activities that resonate with young participants. During a recent session, students created personal budget plans using colorful worksheets and participated in a market simulation where they practiced making spending decisions with play money.
What makes Saadiq’s approach particularly effective is how she contextualizes financial education within the realities of her students’ lives. “We talk about wants versus needs in terms these kids understand,” she notes. “Is the latest video game a want or a need? What about school supplies? These conversations help them develop critical thinking about money that will serve them for life.”
Research supports the urgency of her mission. According to a study from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, only 24% of millennials can answer basic financial literacy questions correctly, suggesting that without intervention, the next generation may face similar challenges.
Parents have noticed tangible changes in their children’s behavior. “My daughter started a small business selling homemade bracelets after attending the program,” shares Oakland resident Tanya Williams. “She now has a savings account and understands concepts I didn’t grasp until my twenties.”
The program’s impact extends beyond the children themselves. “We’ve had parents tell us they’re implementing budgeting techniques at home after hearing what their kids learned,” Saadiq says with evident pride. “Financial education creates ripples through entire families and communities.”
Local educators have taken notice as well. Oakland elementary school teacher Marcus Johnson has incorporated elements of Saadiq’s curriculum into his classroom. “The financial literacy gap disproportionately affects communities of color,” Johnson observes. “Programs like this help level the playing field by giving children tools to build generational wealth.”
Saadiq’s initiative comes at a critical time. Consumer debt in America has reached record levels, with the average household carrying over $90,000 in debt according to recent Federal Reserve data. Many financial experts believe early education could help reverse this trend.
“Financial literacy is about more than dollars and cents,” Saadiq emphasizes. “It’s about agency and empowerment. When children understand money, they gain confidence in their ability to shape their own futures.”
The program has recently expanded to include digital literacy components, teaching children about online banking, digital payment platforms, and even cryptocurrency basics – tools that will increasingly dominate the financial landscape as they enter adulthood.
Oakland city officials have recognized the program’s value, providing grant funding to expand its reach. “Investment in financial education pays dividends for the entire community,” says city council member Deanna Watson, who has championed the initiative. “When young people develop healthy financial habits early, everyone benefits.”
As for the future, Saadiq hopes to see financial literacy become a standard part of education nationwide. “Every child deserves to understand how money works,” she says. “It shouldn’t be information reserved for certain communities or socioeconomic backgrounds.”
With plans to create a replicable curriculum that can be implemented in schools across the country, this Oakland-born initiative may soon help close the financial literacy gap for children everywhere – one budgeting lesson at a time.
