Morning Plenary Session III

Financial Literacy and the Education System; Making Education Aspirationally Relevant
Video
11:15AM - 12:30PM

In the 21st century education and financial literacy are new civil rights issues, and financial literacy is the first global silver right.  In an information age and a knowledge economy any nation, or person, that seeks advancement or to lead in the 21st century will have to embrace education as the ultimate poverty eradication tool, and financial literacy as the link to aspirational relevancy and self-empowerment.  With 30% of youth in the U.S. dropping out of high school, and 50% of urban youth dropping out of high school, it becomes clear that no nation is immune.  Operation HOPE argues that youth are dropping out of high school because they don’t see education as relevant to their futures.  One of the ways to make education relevant is to show kids how to do well, and how to succeed legally and ethically.  That’s financial literacy, free enterprise and capitalism, ownership, opportunity, and for many entrepreneurship.   This plenary will explore the practical connections between education and financial literacy, and strategies to create a cradle to college generation both in the U.S. and around the world.  The session will also explore ways in which we migrate the discussion of financial literacy from another version of a math class, to one of aspirational relevancy, and understanding the emotional nature of money itself.