1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: My guess has been instrumental in providing resources that help 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: individuals make inform financial decisions, optimize their resources, and develop 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: healthy financial habits. Under her leadership, Grow Give Prosper has 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: partnered with initiatives like Grow with Google to offer certification 5 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: scholarships aiming to enhance career opportunities for underserved communities. Please 6 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: work with the Money Making Conversation Masterclass, Cassandra Lester. 7 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 2: How you doing, Cassandra, I'm doing swell rashon. How are 8 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 2: you pretty good? 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: Now? 10 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 2: Let's get this. Give us the name of your Is 11 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 2: it a nonprofit? 12 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 3: It is a nonprofit, Grow Gives. 13 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:42,840 Speaker 2: How did you come up with that name? 14 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 3: You know what? Actually, because that's what I want to 15 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 3: see my community do. I want us to grow together 16 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 3: so that we can give to each other and then 17 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 3: prosper as a collective. So that's how I came up 18 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 3: with that name. 19 00:00:57,720 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 2: How long you long have you had the foundation? 20 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:05,679 Speaker 3: I have been in the financial education since about twenty 21 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 3: seventeen and I started the nonprofit in twenty twenty three. 22 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: Okay, cool. 23 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: So when you said financial education, can you give us 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: a little of your background from a financial literacy standpoint 25 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: before we get into the infield. 26 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 3: Okay, sure. So it all started when I was a 27 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 3: human resource an office manager at a very prominent medical 28 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 3: facility here in the state of Georgia. And one thing 29 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 3: I noticed, from the people who had the PhDs to 30 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 3: the ones who had the GEDs, every time we sat 31 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,639 Speaker 3: down and do that tax paperwork, it leveled the playing field. 32 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,680 Speaker 3: So that's when I realized that financial education doesn't matter 33 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 3: who you are, what you look like. It's a matter 34 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 3: of accessibility. 35 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: If you got halfway listening to the show, I want 36 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: you to stop and focus on the show because this 37 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: is the reason of one of the many reasons I 38 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: brought her on the S Show for this interview her 39 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: partnership with Grow with Google. 40 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: That's the name of it. Grow with Google. 41 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: Now, Google is what we're about to concentrate on and 42 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: what they're doing with your foundation. 43 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 2: Talk to us about what is Grow with Google. 44 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 3: Grow with Google is a tremendous outreach initiative that Google 45 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 3: has delivered to community partners like myself, where we are 46 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 3: delivering career certifications, scholarships to any and everyone who wants it, specifically, 47 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 3: justice impacted, specifically economically impacted communities that may not have 48 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 3: access to that level of education due to financial restraints. 49 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:55,959 Speaker 3: So Google is now saying that, hey, we want to 50 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 3: give you a chance to thrive to So we're going 51 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 3: to give you a chance to get a career certification 52 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 3: entry level into cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, e commerce, 53 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 3: IT support, project management, or UX design, which is user design, 54 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 3: which is those apps and websites. So Google is now 55 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 3: leveling the playing field. They're saying, you don't have to 56 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,239 Speaker 3: have an Ivy League education in order to make an 57 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 3: earnable a livable. 58 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 2: Wage, not just beyond livable wage. I'm just let everybody 59 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 2: know that. Just go through, just go to the internet. 60 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: Google indeed and Google salaries of all the job titles 61 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: that she listed, you'll see that these are game changing 62 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: opportunities that this foundation that Cassandra Lester created that is 63 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: partnered with Google. And I want to hang on this 64 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: for a minute because I don't want to blow past it, 65 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,119 Speaker 1: because I want people to be able to reach out 66 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: to you. 67 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: Do you have a website that they can visit? 68 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 3: Certainly if they go to row with I'm sorry, grow 69 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 3: gifprosper dot org and scroll to the bottom, you're gonna 70 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 3: see the Google scholarship link, and the barrier to entry 71 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 3: is very low. We don't want to make it difficult. 72 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 3: If you have a commitment to yourself and if you 73 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 3: want to increase your earning potential, all you have to 74 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 3: do in the state of Georgia, no matter where you're located, 75 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 3: is go to this website, grow give prosper dot org, 76 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 3: scroll to the bottom Google Certifications, read the information. If 77 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:35,799 Speaker 3: it's what you want for yourself, then enroll and Coursera 78 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 3: is going to send you the link and you can 79 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 3: start learning today. 80 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 1: Now, let's go over those job opportunities that are available 81 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:43,920 Speaker 1: on your website. 82 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 3: Okay, so cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, and e commerce 83 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 3: and this. I kind of want to just really touch 84 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 3: on them really quickly. 85 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: Slow it down because I want people to understand that, 86 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: you know, let me also say. 87 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 2: This, you say the worst scholarship is their fee. 88 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 3: No fee, There's no fee. The only fee is that 89 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:10,919 Speaker 3: you have to commit to doing it because we have 90 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 3: to give data at the end of the program right, which, 91 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 3: by the way, was scheduled to end in December twenty 92 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 3: twenty five, and Google has extended it to December twenty 93 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 3: twenty six. So since These courses take three to six 94 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 3: months to complete. You have a chance to go in 95 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 3: and roll and get several certifications between now and December 96 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 3: twenty twenty six. 97 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: This level is the plan field for anybody that these 98 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: scholarships that's being offered through your foundation through Google. You know, 99 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: I'm sure I have a college degree on my wall, 100 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: a math degree, and I always tell people you can't 101 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: repoll that degree, which means you can't take that. But 102 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: once it's on that wall, you can't take it back. 103 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: And it's not like a car, it's like a house. 104 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: Once you've been certified or degree, that's yours for life. 105 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: And it also gives you a sense of empowerment that 106 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: you can change your life and the surroundings around you. 107 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: So you're going to give us more detail on each 108 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: one of these job titles that we're doing with I'm 109 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: talking with Cassandra Lester. Give us your foundation one more 110 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:13,559 Speaker 1: time and your website. 111 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:16,880 Speaker 3: Okay, grow gift Prosper and the website is grow gifprosper 112 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 3: dot org. And I'm going to dive into what Google 113 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 3: certifications are currently available. We have cybersecurity. You know, if 114 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 3: you're the kind of person who wants to be the savior. 115 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 3: You want to be able to come in and you know, 116 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 3: throw it all of these I think we just heard 117 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 3: a couple of days ago about a cyber attack that happened, 118 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 3: you know. I think it was in the city of Atlanta. 119 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 3: So if you want to be the kind of person 120 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 3: who can recognize these attacks before they happen, cybersecurity is 121 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 3: a great feel for you to get into data analytics. 122 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 3: If you want to tell businesses what's trending, where they 123 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 3: can find the money. Data analytics is for you. Digital 124 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 3: marketing and e commerce. We're all over the website. We're 125 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 3: all out here shopping online. Digital marketing and e commerce. 126 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 3: That's going to tell you, you know previously where I said, 127 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 3: you're going to show the businesses where the money where 128 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:09,960 Speaker 3: you are the one that's making the money. You are 129 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 3: putting your product or products for other people online and 130 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 3: making it avail and making it available for them to 131 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 3: purchase it. Support so you can stack it support with cybersecurity. 132 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 3: You are providing daily maintenance to laptops, phones, computers. It 133 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 3: support project management. Now, when I mentioned that you can 134 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 3: get several certifications, these are certifications that you can stack. 135 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 3: So can you imagine stacking project management with a data 136 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 3: analytics certification, and then finally UX design. So when I 137 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 3: say that, it may sound Greek to a lot of people, 138 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 3: but think about it. These apps, Instagram, all the websites 139 00:07:55,480 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 3: that you go to. UX design means user experience design. 140 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 3: You're designing the experience that the person who's on that 141 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 3: app is using. So I remember one time with my 142 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 3: banking app, I had an issue with getting my password. 143 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 3: Every time I would log out to get the password 144 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 3: and come back here and the app would close. Somebody 145 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 3: saw that and they fixed it. So that's what that 146 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 3: user experience design. Along that line, that's what you would 147 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 3: be learning. 148 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: You don't want to miss an episode of Money Making 149 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: Conversations Masterclass, So right now, follow a subscribe to Money 150 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: Making Conversations. 151 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 2: It's free and you can find. 152 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:38,840 Speaker 1: It on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 153 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. 154 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 2: Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more Money. 155 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 1: Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to Money Making Conversations master 156 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: Class with me Forshawn McDonald. First of all, thank you 157 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: for coming on Money Making Conversation master Class. 158 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 2: How have you been this sounds. 159 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: Like a program or your pro seems to be locked 160 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: into Google and providing dream like opportunities for people who 161 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: can get these scholarships by going onto your website. 162 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 2: How you promoting this or how you spreading the word? 163 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 3: Ah, mister Raushan, you know I'm country, mister Rashan, I 164 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 3: am boots on the ground. We are out here, grassroots. 165 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 3: We are going to every community center that's local. We 166 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 3: are going to the adult education classes. I am on 167 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 3: social media pushing this information out. I mean any and 168 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 3: everybody that will hear me. I'm trying to shout it 169 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 3: from the rooftops to let them know you don't want 170 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,079 Speaker 3: to miss this. You don't want to miss this opportunity 171 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 3: to increase your earning potential. So I'm literally out here 172 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,240 Speaker 3: getting in my car I call a Pearl, Me and Pearl, 173 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 3: driving up and down the highways, trying to get to 174 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 3: every adult education class that we can get to to 175 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 3: tell these folks you need to sign up. 176 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 2: Okay, fure we talk about the classes you're seeing. 177 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 1: So if someone in New y someone in Chicago, someone 178 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles, someone in Houston or Dallas, they can register. 179 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 3: They can. You have to be continental US. Wow. And 180 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 3: you know, of course Google is gonna know if you're 181 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 3: logging in from outside the US, but Continental US. And 182 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 3: when I tell you, they were generous, Like I gave 183 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 3: myself a pat on the back because I wrote that letter. 184 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 3: Do you hear me? They gave me over three hundred scholarships. 185 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,800 Speaker 3: So I'm ready to deliver it to the comte. 186 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:33,719 Speaker 1: Okay, cool, listen, So you have three hundred scholarships available nationwide. 187 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 2: All individuals can do that no charge. 188 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: Jesus scholarships three to six months were for online training 189 00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: for an opportunity to change your life. Your life, and 190 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:47,920 Speaker 1: you're doing the boots on the ground. Now you're on 191 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: Money Make Conversations masterclass. Now we're about to we're going 192 00:10:51,559 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: worldwide with you. Domestic US, Continental USA opportunities to register. Now, 193 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: let's talk about you, said Rashaw, You and Perl that's 194 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: the name of her vehicle going up and down the road. 195 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: When you go in these classes, what has been the 196 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: reaction or have you been disappointed in the reaction? 197 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 3: Actually, I am being well received. The program is being 198 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:18,079 Speaker 3: well received. The thing about it is that you are 199 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 3: changing I'm changing minds. People are thinking that I'll never 200 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 3: be able to get out of the situation. I'm robbing 201 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 3: Peter to pay Paul. And when they realized that you 202 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 3: have an opportunity, and what I wanted to do was 203 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 3: be credible. So I did some vetting on the back end, 204 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 3: and I asked people who are in hiring positions in it, 205 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 3: would you hire somebody with a GED and a Google certification. 206 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 3: A couple of people told me who graduated college with 207 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 3: a master's degree said they lost out on their first 208 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 3: job because they didn't have a certification to a person 209 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 3: who did. So it's valid. It's legitimate, and the people 210 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 3: that I meet, they are overjoyed. Some of them might 211 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 3: be a little skeptical at first, but once they realized 212 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 3: that it's legitimate. I initially had about five hundred scholarships, 213 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:17,439 Speaker 3: so we've had so many people to enroll that now 214 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 3: that number has went down. 215 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 2: To three hundred. 216 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: Come on, girds, give yourself around, employer, that's two hundred 217 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,960 Speaker 1: potential people. You've changed lives. Now, now let's talk about 218 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: a little bit more about you. Because I wanted to 219 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: get that out at the top of the conversation, because 220 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 1: I wanted people to hear exactly the opportunity that your 221 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: foundation brings to the table and it is changing lives. 222 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:43,480 Speaker 1: The importance of financial literacy. That's a financial literacy is 223 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 1: a huge buzzword in the community. What does financial literacy 224 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: mean to you? 225 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:54,800 Speaker 3: Financial literacy means to me that you understand the words, 226 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 3: You hear the conversation and it's not Greek to you. 227 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 3: You have tools that you can use to manage your 228 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 3: expenses on a daily basis, that you understand how this 229 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 3: applies to you. I heard a song from one of 230 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 3: our famous young female rappers who says that she doesn't 231 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 3: give an f about a credit score. I'm sure she's 232 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 3: changed her mind since it, because she's realized. She's realized 233 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 3: that you better care about that credit score because that's 234 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 3: going to make the difference in your borrowing potential and 235 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 3: how much money you have to pay back. So financial 236 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 3: literacy means that we understand the conversation and we know 237 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 3: what it means and how it applies to our daily life. 238 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 2: So what's a misconception. 239 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 1: Like you said, you have a rapper out there talking 240 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: to the generation of people telling them don't care about 241 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,640 Speaker 1: the credit card. What you and I know that's a value. 242 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: That's a value proposition to have your credit sCOD anywhere 243 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 1: above seven hundred. You get in an eight hundred, you 244 00:13:55,520 --> 00:14:00,319 Speaker 1: in as they say, platinum, platinum zone there. Now, talk 245 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: to the audience a little bit about that credit score 246 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 1: and how they can if you are aware of ways 247 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: they can fix it, but why they should not ignore it. 248 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:11,319 Speaker 1: You mentioned it a little bit about how it can 249 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 1: impact your loan, But it is a long ways to 250 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: employment opportunities too, because they check everything now, they do. 251 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 3: And they're looking for reasons to disqualify certain people, you know, 252 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 3: and sometimes they will use that as leverage to disqualify 253 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 3: you know, the next person from getting the job. But 254 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 3: you know, my financial literacy encompasses all earning, you know, saving, borrowing, investing, protecting, 255 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 3: and so among all of those. Credit plays a very 256 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:47,359 Speaker 3: big part because it's about your borrowing potential. And sometimes 257 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 3: the best time to get credit is when you don't 258 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 3: need it. But if you just want some really quick hacks, 259 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 3: if you're in debt, you know, and there is no 260 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 3: magic bullet, it's always to try and truth the snowball method, 261 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 3: you know, pay down your debt gradually over time, and 262 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 3: then extra credit increases on the cards that you have 263 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 3: don't close your oldest account. So there are so many 264 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 3: strategies that we can use to improve our credit. But 265 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:15,239 Speaker 3: the thing about it is that you have to stay consistent. 266 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 3: You need to go to the annualcreditreport dot com, pull 267 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 3: your credit report, see where you stand, and then devise 268 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 3: a plan from there and move forward consistently. There is 269 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 3: no magic bullet, there's no overnight pill. Just like losing weight, 270 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 3: just like managing your health, you have to be consistent. 271 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 2: I'm talking to Cassandra Lester. 272 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: Her foundation Go Grow Excuse me, Grow Give prosper as 273 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: partnered with initiatives like Grow with Google to offer certifications, 274 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: scholarships aim to enhance career opportunities for underserved communities. So 275 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: would you say that's your mission for your foundation? 276 00:15:56,760 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 3: Absolutely, yes it is. That's my mission. And a lot 277 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 3: of people know me. They kind of because I'll go 278 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 3: off on a tangent. In a minute, you know, I'll 279 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 3: start talking about you know, protection, I'll start talking about 280 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 3: ways to increase your earning potential. I do workshops twice 281 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 3: a month, and when I go into these workshops, I'm 282 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 3: not just doing a lecture. I'm really connecting with my 283 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 3: audience and I want them to feel why I'm so 284 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 3: passionate behind it. So I'm not just sitting up there 285 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 3: reading a paper. I'm really talking to my audience. I'm 286 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 3: asking them questions, you know, and the green doesn't hurt, 287 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 3: but definitely I left and I left out of one 288 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 3: workshop and I was like, dang, I feel like I 289 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 3: was in the pool pit because I really engage with 290 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,760 Speaker 3: my community partners when they invite me into these sessions. 291 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 3: I talk to these people like their life depends on it. 292 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: You don't want to miss an episode of Money Making 293 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: Conversations Masterclass, So right now follow a subscribe to Money 294 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: Making Conversations. It's free and you can find it on 295 00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 296 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: your podcast. 297 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 2: Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more Money. 298 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: Making Conversations Master Class. Welcome back to Money Making Conversations 299 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 1: Master Class with me for Shan McDonald. 300 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 2: So your passion comes from somewhere now, I'm pretty sure 301 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 2: you have. 302 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 1: Can you share with us the story because I gotta. 303 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: I want to pull back the curtain to find out 304 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: why did you start this foundation? You saying you're doing 305 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 1: it for the community, but was it a personal drive 306 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: that got you started. 307 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:38,479 Speaker 3: Yes, you know, not getting too much into it, but 308 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:43,280 Speaker 3: I've had a situation where I'm at a very young age, 309 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 3: my identity was compromised before I was even able to 310 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,920 Speaker 3: get out and get on my own. So aging out 311 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:55,479 Speaker 3: into life, I had the odds stacked against me because 312 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 3: my credit had already been ruined. And then realizing that 313 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 3: I'm paying more for the same services as the next 314 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 3: person because through no fault of my own, my credit 315 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 3: got messed up. And then realizing, you know, I had 316 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 3: my children young, I took several non traditional routes to education, 317 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 3: but realizing that education is key to bettering your situation. 318 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 3: So just you know, in a nutshell, I've always been 319 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 3: able to land in positions where I could see both 320 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 3: sides of the coins. When I was working at this 321 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 3: major medical facility, I saw CNA's coming in who I 322 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 3: resonated with and just wanting to help, you know, housekeepers 323 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,560 Speaker 3: and janitors just kind of help them to get that 324 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 3: mindset to you know, what you have options. And so yeah, 325 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 3: it all started from just my own personal experience and 326 00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 3: managing my bills and you know, trying to do what 327 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:50,399 Speaker 3: I can for my family and realizing that, you know, 328 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:51,920 Speaker 3: it doesn't have to always be like this. 329 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: So, Cassandra, you know, I've been frustrating in my life 330 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 1: because I try to bring individuals like you on my show. 331 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:00,160 Speaker 2: But I'm pretty sure. 332 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:06,400 Speaker 1: You're cheerleader for change telling us some of the roadblocks 333 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: that you've had to hop over, go around, in fact 334 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: run over to have an interview like this on this show. 335 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:22,640 Speaker 3: Wow. Some of the roadblocks just encountering people who minimize 336 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 3: the impact of obtaining financial literacy. And the very first 337 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 3: workshop I held, I asked them, why don't you want 338 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 3: to talk about this? And a couple of them, I 339 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 3: don't want you in my pocket. This is my business. 340 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 3: You know what you're talking about ain't gonna help me. 341 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 3: And then also just you know, the community as a whole, 342 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 3: certain demographics don't like to talk about money. They feel 343 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 3: like it's intrusive. And then also because I am a 344 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 3: small nonprofit, a lot of times I'm not taken seriously 345 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 3: by some of the bigger ones. I remember one time 346 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 3: I went to apply for a grant and I saw 347 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 3: one of my constituents apply for the same grant and 348 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,720 Speaker 3: they got the grant, and they told me, oh, sorry, 349 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 3: we don't do that. And I was like, but I 350 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 3: just saying, you'll give her like ten thousand dollars. 351 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 2: Right right, right, right right right, So you. 352 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,120 Speaker 3: Know, but despite it all, and I'm going to tell 353 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 3: you something. I quit every day and then I'll get 354 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,679 Speaker 3: a phone calls like Ms. Cassandra, are you coming to 355 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 3: the Senate this weekend? Are you coming on Saturday? Okay, 356 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:30,520 Speaker 3: I'll be back down there. 357 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: So I know the frustration can lead that. That's why 358 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:36,800 Speaker 1: I'm offering you. I'm very serious about that. You let 359 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: me know, and I'm gonna put into my calendar and 360 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: I'm gonna come down because you don't take me long 361 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,919 Speaker 1: to preach, and it will not take me long to 362 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 1: be able to tell these people this side all these 363 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: My degree in mathematage. My minder was in sociology and 364 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: computer science, so I'm a computer Sudus science nerd. 365 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 2: I were in college. 366 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 1: I almost went and got my degree in mis management 367 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: information system. So I've always been a person that's aware 368 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: of data management and data security. 369 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 2: Now, with that being said, let's tell everybody. 370 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: Google didn't come to you with this idea. How did 371 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: this idea come about? Because I always tell people It's 372 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: about the effort you put out that can generate the 373 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:23,880 Speaker 1: positive things you get back in return. 374 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:25,840 Speaker 2: Tell us how this relationship started. 375 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,919 Speaker 3: The relationship started because I'm out here for my people. 376 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 3: You know, you have a person that understands how important 377 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 3: this is. And even though some people may not quite 378 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 3: get it yet, that's not going to stop me from 379 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 3: trying to get stuff that's going to be good for them. 380 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 3: So I actually was using Google for a different capacity, 381 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 3: and then I was on a webinar and they were 382 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 3: just talking about some of the other products that were offered, 383 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,399 Speaker 3: and they you know, it's certain requirements that had to 384 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 3: be met, and they were like, if you want to 385 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 3: offer these scholarships to your community to help your community 386 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 3: increase their earning potential. And I'm going to repeat something 387 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:10,640 Speaker 3: that I said earlier, Justice impacted communities, low income communities. 388 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 3: Google is intentionally looking to seek these communities to give 389 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:18,719 Speaker 3: them an opportunity to level up if you will. So 390 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 3: once I heard that, I said, this is what we need. 391 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 3: You know, because you can't talk about managing finances if 392 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 3: you really don't have anything coming in. You know, it's possible, 393 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 3: but ultimately being able to earn a living is the 394 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:40,359 Speaker 3: first pillar in financial literacy, increasing your earning potential. So 395 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:44,359 Speaker 3: when I heard that that was an opportunity, I jumped 396 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:48,119 Speaker 3: on it. I you know, like I was obsessed. I was. 397 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 3: I wrote three, four or five different you know pitches, 398 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:54,679 Speaker 3: and finally I settled on one. I submitted it, and 399 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 3: it seemed like forever getting the word back. And then 400 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 3: when I got the word back, they were like, you're approved, 401 00:22:59,320 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 3: and you know this is what this is how it 402 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 3: goes and good luck. And I was like, wow, thank you. 403 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: You know well, thank you, thank you for coming on 404 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,520 Speaker 1: my show. Thank you for being honest about your journey 405 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:15,360 Speaker 1: and the fact that you are giving five hundred scholarships 406 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 1: Google scholarships. Now you're down at three hundred. Our goal 407 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 1: is to get it down to zero. Our goal is 408 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: to make your organization to be one of the top 409 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: job finders, a career finders for Google. 410 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 2: I want them. 411 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: I want Praise only comes through effort, Praise only comes 412 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:39,359 Speaker 1: through relationships and mentoring. And that's what I want to 413 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 1: do and mentor you. That's why I want to give 414 00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 1: you my time personally to try to get the word out. 415 00:23:45,720 --> 00:23:49,480 Speaker 1: But again, as we close the show, tell everybody about 416 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: your initiative that you grow with Google and the jobs 417 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 1: and how they can go and get these free scholarships 418 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 1: that are being offered three to six months depending on 419 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: the certification to floorish. 420 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 3: Yours all right? You know, community, come on out. If 421 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 3: you go to grow give prosper dot org scroll to 422 00:24:10,280 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 3: the bottom Google Scholarships just click on it. The barrier 423 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 3: to entry is low. The only thing we require from 424 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,640 Speaker 3: you is a commitment and a desire to want to 425 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 3: do better and to see the program through to the end. 426 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 3: So grow Give prosper dot org click on the Google 427 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 3: Career Scholarships. They have scholarships in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, 428 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 3: and e commerce, IT support, project management, and UX design 429 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 3: and these scholarships are self paced online typically take three 430 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:51,439 Speaker 3: to six months to complete. No experience is necessary. You 431 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 3: don't have to have any experience just to get started. 432 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 3: And one thing I didn't mention is that you will 433 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,719 Speaker 3: get a portfolio. At the end of your certification. You 434 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 3: will have created a portfolio that you can market to 435 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 3: in demand businesses and you can go from having no 436 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 3: experience to have to have created a portfolio that's going 437 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,919 Speaker 3: to make you viable in the market. 438 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: Just go to your website grow gear prosper dot org 439 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 1: and you can look for scroll down as you say, 440 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:30,200 Speaker 1: google scholarships. Go through the options, find out the one 441 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 1: that fits you. If you want to find out the value, 442 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:37,959 Speaker 1: the career value of these jobs, just google salary and 443 00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 1: they'll show you how in three to six months you 444 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: can start competing. 445 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,720 Speaker 2: That's all you want. That's all you want. 446 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: It's competing in an industry that you once thought was 447 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 1: impossible to crack a gig. Cassandra, thank you for coming 448 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: on Money Making Conversations Masterclass. 449 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:57,640 Speaker 3: Thank you mister Rashawn and bless your ministry. 450 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: Now. If you want to be a give so on 451 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: my show, Money Making Conversation Masterclass, please visit our website 452 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 1: Moneymakingconversation dot com and click to be a guest button. 453 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:12,119 Speaker 1: If you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, influencer, 454 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 1: a nonprofit, I want you on my show.