As we have a good time Ladies’s Historical past Month, that includes Dasha Kennedy felt like an apparent alternative. A monetary wellness activist and cash administration content material creator, she shares her data to particularly empower girls of colour. Dasha has created a secure area to show cash administration on her platform “The Broke Black Lady”.
Dasha’s private journey with debt started with divorce, an absence of transportation to buy reasonably priced meals and an accumulation of $20,000 in bank card debt. Regardless of her expertise within the monetary sector, she struggled to make ends meet with one revenue and two sons. After hitting roadblocks whereas paying off her debt, she didn’t need different girls to search out themselves dealing with the same wrestle. So, she determined to share monetary literacy with girls of colour—an often-overlooked group.
Kennedy began a Facebook group devoted to serving to girls find out about and focus on their private funds. She named it The Broke Black Lady as a result of that mirrored how she felt on the time. Inside months, she had amassed 20,000 followers.
Right now, Dasha has over 300,000 followers on Fb, Twitter, Instagram, and her private web site. She is understood for her candid, no-nonsense conversations that cowl the whole lot from cash and politics to racial and gender monetary equality. We invite you to get to know her higher beneath.
Folks Additionally Learn
What recommendation would you give to your 16-year-old self?
Decelerate. You don’t must determine it out instantly. Take your time and discover the world. Take heed to your mother when she encourages you to save cash. Keep true to your self, hearken to your coronary heart, and don’t be afraid to take dangers and step outdoors your consolation zone. There is no such thing as a one else fairly such as you, so use your presents and abilities to enhance the world.
What do you assume all girls ought to learn about private finance?
Each girl ought to know what monetary independence appears like. On the floor, monetary independence will imply one thing totally different for each girl however on the core, it ought to imply feeling safe and assured about making selections about spending and saving cash for the long run, being able to pursue objectives and desires with out worrying about monetary limitations, or having the liberty to decide on the approach to life they need with out worrying concerning the monetary implications.
What’s a very powerful lesson you’ve got realized about your self in your profession?
A very powerful lesson I’ve realized about myself in my profession is that I must dedicate as a lot time to private growth as I do to skilled growth. I might solely take my profession to the following stage once I labored on myself and my abilities, similar to well being enchancment, changing into a greater listener and thinker, bettering my confidence, and embracing empathy.
How do you speak to your baby about monetary literacy?
The earliest lesson I ever taught my kids about cash was the distinction between needs vs. wants, which is the inspiration of monetary literacy and cash administration. I speak to them concerning the significance of getting a price range, setting monetary objectives, and making a plan to succeed in these objectives.
One of many issues I realized as a single mom elevating two kids is that kids usually tend to do what they see you do versus what they hear you say. So, whereas I prioritize conversations about budgeting, saving, debt administration, investing, and incomes cash with my kids, I focus extra on being an instance and somebody they will aspire to be like relating to cash.
Did you’ve got a mentor early on in your profession who impacted you considerably? In that case, how did he/she affect you?
Sure, completely. She was my co-worker on the very first monetary establishment that I labored at. I used to be 19, and this was my first job in Company America after solely having labored meals and retail jobs prior. I had zero expertise in finance; my job was to stuff envelopes for the division, primarily accountants, and whereas she sat throughout from me, her job was very totally different. She held a Senior place, and slowly all through my employment, she taught me the whole lot she knew about finance and accounting, which sparked an entire change in my profession path.
Inside 4 years, I went from stuffing envelopes with no data of finance to holding a senior place inside the division till I took one other job with one other firm. She remained my mentor properly after I left the corporate and continued to encourage me all through my profession.
Who’s your position mannequin and why?
My private position mannequin is my mom, Shirese. My mother has labored arduous and taught me the significance of arduous work and dedication. She has been a terrific instance of what it means to achieve success and devoted to your objectives. My skilled position mannequin is Thasunda Brown Duckett, President, and Chief Government Officer of TIAA. She is somebody who advocates for monetary inclusion and helps communities of colour perceive the significance of constructing a legacy by way of saving and investing, particularly for retirement.
How would you outline a “Monetary Activist?
A monetary activist campaigns for social change centered round monetary training and financial growth in marginalized communities. In my case, I emphasize Black girls in my work. Which means that I am going past the fundamentals of non-public finance and dive deep into the structural methods that form who has monetary energy, who has entry to monetary training, and the cultural specificities that decide what private finance appears like for various individuals.
This work is crucial as a result of it doesn’t heart on the private accountability and “bootstrap” narrative usually pushed in monetary training. It additionally highlights the truth of the unfair practices our financial system was constructed on and the way it impacts others.
Sure, I get this lots in my Fb group, and it’s nonetheless nothing I’ve gotten used to. I’m all the time equally joyful and excited to see that my strategies work. Ladies in our digital group share tales each day about utilizing my strategies, merchandise, and tricks to begin paying off debt.
In a single story specifically, somebody was capable of eradicate their debt utilizing my “Momentum Over Math” (taking each day, small actionable steps, towards eliminating debt) technique, which freed up an extra $800 monthly that she might then use to maneuver into a bigger house in a safer neighborhood along with her kids.
Whereas paying off your debt, what have been your objectives or inspiration?
I needed aid. I needed to open the mail with out worry of being hit with a closing assortment discover. I needed to indicate as much as work with out fearing my wages being garnished. I needed to reply the telephone with out fearing a invoice collector threatening me with authorized motion for my unpaid money owed. It could have been good to have extra frequent objectives like shopping for a home, a brand new automobile, or constructing an emergency as my major objectives, however I couldn’t see that far then.
On the decision, you talked about cultural monetary variations. Might you elaborate?
Understanding and respecting cultural variations in monetary training is necessary to constructing an empathetic and inclusive monetary area, for each educators and learners. One, it encourages monetary educators to be self-aware of their variations and privileges, and the way their expertise with cash influences their instructing. Two, understanding how historic monetary establishments and cultural biases primarily based on race, spiritual beliefs, household roles, instructional ranges, and socioeconomic standing, have helped formed cultural views on cash administration, banking, saving, and investing.
Lastly, tradition impacts our perspective and habits relating to cash and may both work with or towards our monetary well-being. Educators ought to concentrate on how tradition influences monetary selections in order that we will customise our method accordingly.
Do you’ve got an total message for Ladies’s Month and empowerment?
Sure, Monetary empowerment is girls’s empowerment. It’s necessary that girls have the arrogance, data, and skillset to regulate their cash and never enable cash to regulate them. Monetary empowerment signifies that girls have the power to stroll away from not solely individuals, however locations and professions that don’t help them.
Dasha’s work has been life-changing for the lots of of 1000’s of ladies she has helped navigate monetary independence. She feels gratification with every particular person she helps, as she sees a little bit of herself in every of them.
Her most up-to-date honors & awards embody 2022 Bankrate Monetary Activist of the Yr and 2021 Black Tie Group Award Recipient.
We salute Dasha, who noticed her personal difficult state of affairs as a possibility to financially educate and empower girls of colour. Nationwide Debt Aid is proud to accomplice with this monetary powerhouse.
As we have a good time Ladies’s Historical past Month, that includes Dasha Kennedy felt like an apparent alternative. A monetary wellness activist and cash administration content material creator, she shares her data to particularly empower girls of colour. Dasha has created a secure area to show cash administration on her platform “The Broke Black Lady”.
Dasha’s private journey with debt started with divorce, an absence of transportation to buy reasonably priced meals and an accumulation of $20,000 in bank card debt. Regardless of her expertise within the monetary sector, she struggled to make ends meet with one revenue and two sons. After hitting roadblocks whereas paying off her debt, she didn’t need different girls to search out themselves dealing with the same wrestle. So, she determined to share monetary literacy with girls of colour—an often-overlooked group.
Kennedy began a Facebook group devoted to serving to girls find out about and focus on their private funds. She named it The Broke Black Lady as a result of that mirrored how she felt on the time. Inside months, she had amassed 20,000 followers.
Right now, Dasha has over 300,000 followers on Fb, Twitter, Instagram, and her private web site. She is understood for her candid, no-nonsense conversations that cowl the whole lot from cash and politics to racial and gender monetary equality. We invite you to get to know her higher beneath.
Folks Additionally Learn
What recommendation would you give to your 16-year-old self?
Decelerate. You don’t must determine it out instantly. Take your time and discover the world. Take heed to your mother when she encourages you to save cash. Keep true to your self, hearken to your coronary heart, and don’t be afraid to take dangers and step outdoors your consolation zone. There is no such thing as a one else fairly such as you, so use your presents and abilities to enhance the world.
What do you assume all girls ought to learn about private finance?
Each girl ought to know what monetary independence appears like. On the floor, monetary independence will imply one thing totally different for each girl however on the core, it ought to imply feeling safe and assured about making selections about spending and saving cash for the long run, being able to pursue objectives and desires with out worrying about monetary limitations, or having the liberty to decide on the approach to life they need with out worrying concerning the monetary implications.
What’s a very powerful lesson you’ve got realized about your self in your profession?
A very powerful lesson I’ve realized about myself in my profession is that I must dedicate as a lot time to private growth as I do to skilled growth. I might solely take my profession to the following stage once I labored on myself and my abilities, similar to well being enchancment, changing into a greater listener and thinker, bettering my confidence, and embracing empathy.
How do you speak to your baby about monetary literacy?
The earliest lesson I ever taught my kids about cash was the distinction between needs vs. wants, which is the inspiration of monetary literacy and cash administration. I speak to them concerning the significance of getting a price range, setting monetary objectives, and making a plan to succeed in these objectives.
One of many issues I realized as a single mom elevating two kids is that kids usually tend to do what they see you do versus what they hear you say. So, whereas I prioritize conversations about budgeting, saving, debt administration, investing, and incomes cash with my kids, I focus extra on being an instance and somebody they will aspire to be like relating to cash.
Did you’ve got a mentor early on in your profession who impacted you considerably? In that case, how did he/she affect you?
Sure, completely. She was my co-worker on the very first monetary establishment that I labored at. I used to be 19, and this was my first job in Company America after solely having labored meals and retail jobs prior. I had zero expertise in finance; my job was to stuff envelopes for the division, primarily accountants, and whereas she sat throughout from me, her job was very totally different. She held a Senior place, and slowly all through my employment, she taught me the whole lot she knew about finance and accounting, which sparked an entire change in my profession path.
Inside 4 years, I went from stuffing envelopes with no data of finance to holding a senior place inside the division till I took one other job with one other firm. She remained my mentor properly after I left the corporate and continued to encourage me all through my profession.
Who’s your position mannequin and why?
My private position mannequin is my mom, Shirese. My mother has labored arduous and taught me the significance of arduous work and dedication. She has been a terrific instance of what it means to achieve success and devoted to your objectives. My skilled position mannequin is Thasunda Brown Duckett, President, and Chief Government Officer of TIAA. She is somebody who advocates for monetary inclusion and helps communities of colour perceive the significance of constructing a legacy by way of saving and investing, particularly for retirement.
How would you outline a “Monetary Activist?
A monetary activist campaigns for social change centered round monetary training and financial growth in marginalized communities. In my case, I emphasize Black girls in my work. Which means that I am going past the fundamentals of non-public finance and dive deep into the structural methods that form who has monetary energy, who has entry to monetary training, and the cultural specificities that decide what private finance appears like for various individuals.
This work is crucial as a result of it doesn’t heart on the private accountability and “bootstrap” narrative usually pushed in monetary training. It additionally highlights the truth of the unfair practices our financial system was constructed on and the way it impacts others.
Sure, I get this lots in my Fb group, and it’s nonetheless nothing I’ve gotten used to. I’m all the time equally joyful and excited to see that my strategies work. Ladies in our digital group share tales each day about utilizing my strategies, merchandise, and tricks to begin paying off debt.
In a single story specifically, somebody was capable of eradicate their debt utilizing my “Momentum Over Math” (taking each day, small actionable steps, towards eliminating debt) technique, which freed up an extra $800 monthly that she might then use to maneuver into a bigger house in a safer neighborhood along with her kids.
Whereas paying off your debt, what have been your objectives or inspiration?
I needed aid. I needed to open the mail with out worry of being hit with a closing assortment discover. I needed to indicate as much as work with out fearing my wages being garnished. I needed to reply the telephone with out fearing a invoice collector threatening me with authorized motion for my unpaid money owed. It could have been good to have extra frequent objectives like shopping for a home, a brand new automobile, or constructing an emergency as my major objectives, however I couldn’t see that far then.
On the decision, you talked about cultural monetary variations. Might you elaborate?
Understanding and respecting cultural variations in monetary training is necessary to constructing an empathetic and inclusive monetary area, for each educators and learners. One, it encourages monetary educators to be self-aware of their variations and privileges, and the way their expertise with cash influences their instructing. Two, understanding how historic monetary establishments and cultural biases primarily based on race, spiritual beliefs, household roles, instructional ranges, and socioeconomic standing, have helped formed cultural views on cash administration, banking, saving, and investing.
Lastly, tradition impacts our perspective and habits relating to cash and may both work with or towards our monetary well-being. Educators ought to concentrate on how tradition influences monetary selections in order that we will customise our method accordingly.
Do you’ve got an total message for Ladies’s Month and empowerment?
Sure, Monetary empowerment is girls’s empowerment. It’s necessary that girls have the arrogance, data, and skillset to regulate their cash and never enable cash to regulate them. Monetary empowerment signifies that girls have the power to stroll away from not solely individuals, however locations and professions that don’t help them.
Dasha’s work has been life-changing for the lots of of 1000’s of ladies she has helped navigate monetary independence. She feels gratification with every particular person she helps, as she sees a little bit of herself in every of them.
Her most up-to-date honors & awards embody 2022 Bankrate Monetary Activist of the Yr and 2021 Black Tie Group Award Recipient.
We salute Dasha, who noticed her personal difficult state of affairs as a possibility to financially educate and empower girls of colour. Nationwide Debt Aid is proud to accomplice with this monetary powerhouse.