“All I have to do is dream, dream, dream”: This young millionaire in the making displays his dream board during the recent 8-week Financial Workshop hosted by Creative Wealth. (Photo by Arthia Nixon)
Nassau, The Bahamas… The financial future is set for about a dozen young men who now realize that they are the CEO’s of their own lives, having become the most recent graduates of an 8-week financial workshop put on by Creative Wealth Bahamas.
The seminar, held at St. Barnabas Parish Hall, was a joint effort by Programme Director and Founder of Creative Wealth Bahamas, Keshelle Kerr and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Ms. Kerr, the only certified creative wealth coach and youth financial educator in The Bahamas, is also the organizer of Camp Millionaire and The Money Game.
The graduates of Creative Wealth’s 8-week Financial Seminar take show of their certificates with wealth coach Keshelle Kerr (front left) and Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Nicola Evans who helped organized the seminar as part of the sorority’s mandate to better the Black male. (Photo by Arthia Nixon)
“As a part of our mandate in Alpha Kappa Alpha, is to uplift and empower African Americans and Black people,” explained Nicola Evans, of the internationally-recognized sorority’s Bahamas chapter. “We chose to work closely with this group as a part of our mandate to help advance the black male. We felt that if they build a firm financial foundation now, when they become adults they will be able to make sound decisions for themselves.”
“During the 8 weeks, the boys covered many money topics such as spending, budgeting, investing, borrowing, debt (good and bad), and of course entrepreneurship, all in a fun and engaging manner,” said Ms Kerr. “Each now knows what it is to become a financial success”.
Parents of the graduates agreed that some elements of the course have already affected their households in a positive way. Andrew Stanford noted that his son’s focus on money has become more intense while Ricardo Munroe agreed that he is pleased his son is able to learn such lessons so early.
Meet the parents: Families of the most recent group of Creative Wealth graduates get to meet wealth coach Keshelle Kerr to discuss ways in which their sons have brought home eye-opening tips to help their family save. (Photo by Arthia Nixon)
“The things my son learns today will keep him going on tomorrow,” said Mr. Munroe. “One thing I realize as an adult looking back is that we waste so much time making financial mistakes simply because we do not know what to do. I wish I had known some of the things Ms. Kerr taught them because I would have had an advantage. But I am glad my son has learnt to make it applicable to his life and business because now he has the tools to become a millionaire – of course, once that happens I can retire.”
The students got to plant their seeds of financial success by holding down imaginary jobs and having the option to spend it on a variety of things such as rent, vehicles, bills, or on pleasure items. They also had to create a poster to show what they wanted in their lives.
“I’m really happy to have taken part in this course,” said Travis, one of the graduates. “Overall I’ve learned that I’ve got to pay myself first. Most importantly, I realize that I have to tell my money where I want it to go instead of asking myself one day where it all went. I
am the CEO of my own life.”
