Emotive association. On the negative side, this is what keeps high-need populations trapped in the vortex of personal brokenness and perpetual lack. For them, the opportunity glass (based on previous setbacks or current hardships) is always half-empty. On the positive side, affective experiences can fill their inspirational cup to the brim when the foreseeable future — even in a hypothetical game-based setting with real-world implications like our financial education apps — looks more promising than their dismal past. Here, vulnerable communities view the opportunity glass as being half-full. Yes, semantics and optics matter a great deal when economic freedom is on the line. Why? Because salient experiences with favorable outcome profiles allow inner-city students to scan their Rolodex of memories for those momentum boosters, just when the “quit now” or “give up” prompting grows deafening loud. And the sweet spot for personal growth or financial education downloads should take place when the brains of vulnerable youth are operating in the fertile ground state of alpha wave frequencies. During this time, children are making inferences and drawing conclusions about what is (or isn’t) possible in life based on environmental priming. They’re also starting to integrate both the right and left hemispheres of their brains, the emotional side working in tandem with the rational side. One more point, the alpha wave state offers children the luxury of shifting between imagination and realization in a rather seamless fashion. What’s prophetically pictured in the mind from a distance, can certainly be achieved through a marketable skillset and resilient mindset. In due season, of course. That is, when underserved students, who eventually become incredibly successful adults, capitalize on the timeless practice of betting on themselves. At an early age, this is how they bend the odds of success in their favor. I did. So let’s help them roll the self-development dice before it’s too late!

My methods aren’t always well-received in traditional school settings. Given the fact that teachers are, by and large, grossly underpaid and under-appreciated for their efforts — especially the good ones — money can be a rather taboo subject in a public- or private-school environment with middle class norms. The atmosphere is one of modesty and frugality, not vanity. But I not only talk about how students can make and manage a lot of money, I also give them a chance to win some of it. Here, the ends are intended to justify the means. Too much is on the line to shortchange their financial education experience. Most educators believe meaning trumps money any day of the week. I wholeheartedly agree! Money without meaning will eventually lead to misery. Meaning answers the “why-you’re-here-on-planet-earth” question, as in finding and fueling one’s purpose in life. But dollar bills are noteworthy props that get students’ immediate attention, even in a world where cash is becoming obsolete. Michael Jackson was known as “The King of Pop.” My self-described moniker as a bridge-the-wealth-gap crusader? “The King of Props.” For those who struggle seeing past their front door, props serve as visual aids or illustrative reminders of what could be in spite of how bad things have been.

In our Investing 101 app-based game, fifth-grade students are introduced to the basics of stock market investing. After a brief discussion on the risk-and-return profile of several mainstream investment categories, students test their skills as newbie investors. We keep things simple in this introductory game; only five options exist. One bank stock. One utility stock. Two technology stocks. One sporting goods stock. Participants select three out of the five for their portfolio. I’ll ask the class, “Are you ready to make some real money with your knowledge?” I then follow up with, “Can you name a publicly traded bank or financial institution?” Hands immediately shoot up in the air, and each correct answer is rewarded with a dollar. “Huntington Bank.” “Chase Bank.”  “Bank of America.” “PNC Bank.” “Park National Bank.” “Fifth Third Bank.” “Key Bank.” The same question is asked about utility, technology, and sporting goods stocks. I end the session with this comment, “You can make money in an up, down, or sideways stock market.” Lesson learned by the fifth graders; the down payment to get them fired up about their financial future has been made. Check this out. Low-income communities walk past publicly traded company brands everyday without even realizing it. Grocery stores, gas stations, gaming systems, to name just a few. Thus, wealth-building opportunities are hidden in plain sight from them. As U.S. congresswoman Joyce Beatty pointed out to me over a decade ago, “At-risk populations can’t just be on the customer side of the cash register. They also need to be on the owner and investor side, too!” Great advice.