Hello.

This is Forum 360, where we have a global outlook from a local view.

And I am your host, Ashira Nelson.

My guest today once quoted, “my sole purpose is to educate and elevate any and everyone I have the privilege of meeting.

That's when I knew I had to have him as a guest on Forum 360 to learn more about the impact he's making in the community.

Mastering personal finance is one of the surest ways to achieve financial freedom.

The tools needed to flourish as an adult aren't always provided in grade school, secondary school, and not even in college.

This pattern of misinformation will continue the cycle in our community, but up until now, we have Jason Lockette starting his company, The Bread Winners, a multi-faceted resource group aiding in financial development of those within our community.

Hello, Jason.

-Good afternoon.

- Thank you for being here.

-Oh no problem I'm excited.

-I'm excited too.

I've always been a fan of the show, so.

Oh well thank you.

That means a lot.

I am so excited to have this conversation.

Learn more about what you're doing in the community because I'm so intrigued.

I love this work.

I have my own personal passion, so I love to see other people that look like me in this field.

And my opportunity to expand, your audience, your reach and whatever I can do.

I'm just so excited to help out.

Thank you.

I'm thrilled.

I'm thrilled to be here.

Okay, so let's jump right in.

So tell me a little bit about your personal background.

So I am born and raised here in Cleveland.

Okay.

Well, I'm Jason Lockett, senior.

Born and raised here in Cleveland.

I grew up in the Harvard area, so that's where I call home.

I'm proud.

CMSD alum.

Very proud.

Okay okay okay.

Super excited about that.

I wear it like a badge.

Hey, hey, we have to.

We have to be proud of where we came from.

Absolutely.

And shaped us into who we are today.

So 100%, 100%.

My journey is pretty interesting.

Okay.

of course.

Undergrad.

I went to Notre Dame College and I majored in marketing.

I thought marketing was like my thing in life.

-Interesting It's still my first love, though.

And I still get to apply it in all the facets that are here.

but it's just not primary.

as a soon to be CFP, I'm just waiting to complete my hours.

I should’ve went a different route.

I was too far down that path.

To turn around, so I pass the exam.

Did the coursework.

-Very nice congratulations.

I know all the required hours and studying That goes into that so -It was a commitment.

Oh, yeah.

A big commitment thanks to my wife for for being very, very, very understanding during that time.

Yeah.

So, yeah, I'm, from Cleveland.

I got my undergrad in marketing from Notre Dame College.

I got my masters in finance from Ashland.

Oh, okay.

And I got my certificate in financial planning from Howard.

That was the the last trip to school, and I think I'm done.

I said it before I don't know.

Don't sound too convinced.

No.

Okay.

There's something else that's out there that I'm looking at, but I don't know.

I'm learning it through experience now and in nonprofit space.

So I don't know how that all plays out, but yeah, I'll figure that out one day.

-Very nice.

I'm sure you will.

Okay, so what started or what inspired you to start?

Brant Winters.

So starting the academy.

It's a it's a crazy starting.

One of my good friends, doctor Carmen Daniels, she invited me to come and speak to her.

Her students at Cleveland Heights This was pre-COVID, and no this was post Covid, and she wanted me to come in and speak to them about, credit and first thing, cross my mind is no way.

Like, I am not going into that school.

So do you think she asked you to come speak because of your background?

What kind of connect with that?

What made her reach out to you?

Yes.

Because of my background.

Okay.

And finance is is like my my new found love.

Well, for about ten years now, but it's still new to me and it's still fresh.

Well, personal finance is.

You know -It's a huge difference.

You know, in college they teach you finance, but it's mainly business.

Finance but not personal.

So personal finance has always been a passion of mine.

And just helping people that helped me, especially from our communities.

So she knew me from, actually, she knew me from her brother.

And I'm married to her brother's sister.

-Small world -very small world.

So we are moving in those in those areas.

But I truly feel that it was more of a calling from God versus me just discovering it on a whim or that happened.

And I feel like everything happens for a reason.

-I can agree with that.

Everything from graduating college.

Not understanding money.

Messing up my money.

Messing up my credit.

Trying to figure life out how -get into that a little later.

I'm engaged.

Is that that whole process?

And, coming to where I am now, it's I can't I can't put this on anyone but the man.

The man above.

-Nice.

So what do you envision for the Academy?

Big picture.

Big dream.

Big picture.

Yes.

Let's talk with picture.

So, I would love for our curriculum to be in every school within the low to moderate income community across America.

Okay, that that's what we're shooting for.

It's it's very important to me because there's so many of, so many of us that's back there that may not have the same opportunities or may not have the same home, because we all go home to something different.

Oh, yeah.

So you think about all these students that's courageous, that has all these bright ideas, but they never come to fruition because they don't have the resources or help.

So I can't just sit back and be thankful for my life.

You know, I live my life out in the burbs or whatever.

And then, you know, say, forget everybody else is back there.

I can't live.

I can't live life like that.

So that's a part of the process as well.

Okay.

So can describe some of the services and resources that you offer to the community.

-Absolutely.

So we're primarily in schools.

So we are in middle schools, high schools, colleges.

and we do also workshops, free workshops within the community.

so we partner with like the Harvard Resource Center, and Seeds of Literacy and other nonprofits where we really just come in and do some free workshops.

Okay.

So what is included within those workshops?

Tell us a little more detail.

Yeah.

So we touch every pillar of financial literacy from saving and budgeting credit, short long term investing, taxes, insurance.

we bring in our board as well because we got some pretty good people on our board that will come in and, volunteer our time and give us that in-kind support as well.

So we touch everything with financial literacy.

But when we're in schools, it's super hands on.

we don't we don't use PowerPoints.

I hate Powerpoints.

so we omit those.

Shouts out to Microsoft that we love Microsoft, but we don't use them in schools.

we feel that oftentimes it becomes a crutch so that for us and for us and our instructors, we're super hands on.

And so we plan out our entire curriculum.

If it's 40 minutes, 45 minutes, and our lesson plans within that, it's super hands on.

We want our young adults to engage.

It's it's easier in certain schools where they can’t have their cell phones.

Yeah, but but for the schools that that do have their cell phones, that's where the real challenge comes into play.

But it makes us sharp and it forces us to be creative.

So how what's included?

Okay.

Because I'm so used to teaching through PowerPoint.

So let's say what?

No no no.

What's another like.

What does that look like then.

Is that like worksheets?

bringing in like, fake money and having them like, do different activities.

So what what's the gist or the foundation of the different activities?

Oh, absolutely.

So we use prop money as well.

Okay.

we use prop money.

It looks so real.

Yeah, it looks very real.

So we use that.

I can only see the young minds when they get their money in their hands.

Because I have been in schools before, and their creativity, gosh.

-They do the money, phones and all that stuff that the money fanning themselves But that's great though, just to see that side of them come out.

Yeah, that's encouragement.

Like yeah.

-And it's our culture too.

Oh yeah.

So take it away from our culture.

No culture is us, the good and the bad.

Oh, absolutely.

Okay, so we use that.

And also we do have visuals as well.

So we'll use, online platforms like Quizlet and Kahoot, and we use them as well for the students to engage.

Very nice.

We only use so we'll use not a Google slide, but we do create some presales through Canva.

But that's only if we're like yeah, it's so much better.

Yeah it's nice.

Yes.

And it's user friendly too.

Absolutely.

Yes.

We use that for large groups.

If we have like more than 30 students okay.

Then we'll use that as an aid.

But we I really force the notion of us, you know being active being engaged.

But it's it's exhausting at times.

So how do you go about building your team of instructors or do you call them instructors?

-Yes.

-Okay.

They're they're program leaders -Okay.

And we have college students.

Oh.

So tell me about that.

Did you come up with that?

You know, I was thinking about, I want to I want everyone to be relatable.

and because if you're relatable, then you can do a rapport.

Then you can engage.

Yes.

You can connect so much better.

So we use college students, and so I'll call up career services at these schools and try to build a relationship with them.

Yeah.

And then I'll send them over our, job description and things of that nature.

And then we'll go through the interviewing process and we'll bring the team along.

Okay.

So is that an internship for the College of students or.

Okay.

it's an internship turned into like a part time job over the summer as well.

Very, very nice.

I love that that's that was very, very innovative.

Yes.

Way to use our young minds or, empower our young minds within the schools, but also create such a dynamic culture of bringing in these college students.

That was very smart.

I love that idea.

Thank you.

They have that energy too.

They do.

They got the things that we as we get older, we lose.

We do have that certain level of energy and yeah, I really like that.

So how does your own experience shape the focus and goals of the organization Through pain So tell me about that.

Tell me about that pain.

-Through pain and I'll be brutally honest with you.

when I graduated college, I had horrible credit.

And the reason I had bad credit is because I developed asthma at a really late age, which is strange.

Yeah.

So I developed asthma and I was running track at the time, so, you know, those two don't mix.

So I kept going back and forth to the E.R., and all these hospital bills just start racking up, racking up, racking up and I'm going through this process of trying to find a home.

I'm engaged.

I'm the man at the house.

So, you know, I'm feeling like it's my responsibility Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

I got my first job, so I'm.

I'm looking at my father and say, yeah, that like, that's that's the path.

And it was so unfortunate because we couldn't rent a home because I had horrible credit.

And it was the point where my, the home that we actually did rent, we were sitting in this kitchen and it was my my fiance at the time and my older son and the guy was in there and he says, Syria, our rent to you.

But, Jason, I won't rent to you.

And as if it could be a separation like, yeah, it was weird, but, It was it was hurtful.

It was hurtful.

And then we ended up finding a place.

And it's still that was the biggest motivation I needed.

So I went through that entire process of learning the fair credit reporting back from front to back.

So I started working with self, fixing my own credit, learning how to budget.

And then once you go down that path and you're you're gone.

-Oh yes.

-You're finished.

Rabbit hole for days, months, years.

You become so intrigued about it.

-Oh yeah man.

So over like I can learn more and more okay.

Yes.

Now you talking my nerd language Yeah.

Okay.

So over the course of years I started learning all about finance.

And I became so intrigued with it and seeing how that impacted my life, I said, oh, I got to start helping other people and helping other people.

And then, you know, all the friends and family, especially people we grew up with.

They were all in the same boat.

Very nice.

So that started the path of me going down into finance.

Yeah.

And credit repair is such a popular topic.

Like even when I talk to people in the community that's one topic you for sure know that if somebody know you teach finance or you have some type of financial background, they're going to ask a question about it.

Like, everybody want to know how can I repair my credit?

How can I get a higher credit score?

So okay, but I am your host, Ashira Nelson.

And this is PBS Forum 360, where we have a global outlook from a local view.

My guest today is Jason from Bread Winners Academy here to share how he is impacting the community through financial education.

So what role does education play in like your approach in financial development.

So as you're in a classroom how important.

Well is financial literacy too, like being in the classroom or like with the students?

It's extremely important because money touches everything.

Regardless of your industry.

You can be a nursing, you can be a finance, you can be an education.

Whatever you go to school for engineering, it doesn't matter if you can manage your money, you never feel as successful or complete as you should.

So we all go to college.

Of course, to be liberal.

Okay.

And was 120 credit hours.

You know, we all go to school, but we all go to school knowing that we want to set ourselves up for the future, Financially.

And it still blows my mind that a lot of schools don't.

They don't incorporate personal finance in their curriculum for college.

It should be a requirement, -I agree.

but that's a conversation.

That's another conversation.

So, education is super important in financial education should be at the core for every school.

And that's something you shouldn't just check a box and do.

This is something that should be taught with care because everyone needs it.

So is your goal to have this as a actual class that students pick or like as an elective?

Okay.

Yes.

Yeah.

Okay.

So in every school that we actually teach in, it is an elective.

so they earn that 0.5 credit to graduate because it's a requirement now.

So we we do that in schools.

Oh let's talk about that.

So in Ohio now it is a requirement correct.

Yes it is.

Okay.

So since like when did that go into play.

Think post-Covid okay.

Yeah I think maybe two years ago or no it was last year was the first year.

So if you were an incoming freshman you had to take it to.

graduate.

Something like that.

-Yeah very close.

Very close.

I was staying up on it and then, but once you're not reading about it, seeing it every day, not in a classroom, we kind of forget the key gems of it.

Okay.

So the students so within the classrooms they are having the elective.

So are you teaching, is it like a half semester?

And then the next semester you get a new group of students.

How is that within the different schools?

Yes.

It's quarterly.

Okay.

So we teach a quarterly.

Our classrooms are roughly anywhere between 20 and 30 students.

Okay.

It's a big class.

we have two instructors or two of our program leaders in each classroom because the content that we're rolling out, it's super hands on.

So for them to keep up, we're going to have shorter groups, our smaller groups of people.

So if we have another instructor in there, then yeah, we can get these done a lot, a lot smoother.

Okay.

So what schools are you in within the Ohio area?

Oh, we're in total of 15.

Very nice.

And I don't always get this mixed up when it when I say them, but we're in CMSD.

I, we're in Cleveland Heights.

We're in Warrensville.

We're in Garfield.

we're in Shaw.

we're in a couple schools in Akron.

We're in one school in Columbus.

We have a host of schools in CMSD Wow.

Very nice.

So can you share a success story from someone who has been it from Bread Winners programs?

Absolutely.

So, the biggest success story I have, We're up.

We are now up to 11 students that purchased their first car with us.

Wow.

Yeah.

It's wow.

And these are high school students?

Took your course.

Now they feel the confidence to purchase a car.

Yes.

Which is such a big adult thing to do.

Like it.

Is it.

It is most of them came through our summer program last year.

So they were able to earn some income last year, had their other job.

But most importantly, you know, that money comes in is important.

But what you do with it, it's where the rubber meets the road.

Yes, that's where the rubber meets the road.

So I'm super happy we stay very close to them while we were going through that process, because we know temptation is real.

Oh yeah, especially at that age.

It's very real.

-Everything is shiny and nice.

Everything you don't have is until you get it.

So how do you engage, with communities to raise awareness outside of schools, or do you have any like different community partnerships?

We're still working on that.

So with community partnerships, we partner with While You, for our summer.

Yeah.

Internship.

Okay.

we also partner with other nonpr like Boys Hope Girls Hope, Boys and Girls Club and others like Step Forward and all those organizations just so we can get into more communities and really get access to those people.

Because when you're new, they don't know who you are.

And then if you come in and talk about finances, in this world of and they're going to say, no, thank you.

But.

Right, having partners like that is pretty good.

What are some common misconceptions people have about personal finance that you aim to correct.

That you can't have balance?

Okay.

So tell me more about that.

Like balance because we know you have like well the great analogy is like rich dad poor dad.

And then it's, Dave Ramsey and it's like on it got to be one or the other.

Yeah.

The reality you don't, but it's okay if you're one or it's okay that you're, you're the other because everyone's relationship with money is different.

Everyone goals are different.

So all of these things makes us who we are.

And it's great because we see that come out of our students and some out of the adults that we work with.

So balance is huge.

you of course, we need to be fiscally responsible, but you can still live the life that you want.

Now, you may not be able to go to the Maldives, but Bahamas is cool.

Okay, right.

That's great.

I would take it LA is cool like Vegas.

We I think we've overdone Vegas, but I'll still go.

Yeah I'll drop to Columbus I love, I love.

Oh that's always a weekend trip for me in the summer.

That's the hidden gem.

The hidden gem in the Midwest is Columbus.

Absolutely.

Two hours.

Boom, boom.

We're good.

Yep.

So have a great time E good and affordable.

Crazy.

It is so good.

The food.

So can you talk about any partnerships or collaborations that you have currently going on.

Yes.

So the biggest collaboration that we're entering into will be with John Carroll University.

Okay.

And this summer our summer internship with John Carroll, we're taking 25 student From their students?

These are CMSD and first spring suburb kids.

So we got some students from Maple, Garfield Befford, John Hay, John Adams, John F Kennedy.

Bard we got a good mix of students, okay.

And they're going to be with us this summer for six weeks learning all about finance.

It's going to be very hands on.

Wow.

So during this summer, what's the time frame for like a typical day of the program?

10-2.

We're going to provide transportation.

We're providing lunch.

I think we're doing too much, but it's got it needs.

Yes, they got it.

But no, they're seeing the smiles on their faces.

throughout this whole process, it's it's pretty amazing.

So they're going to be with us for six weeks.

And at the very end, they're going to have a financial plan that they're building on their own, and it's going to be for the next stage of their life.

So very nice.

You're going to college, you're going to trade school, you're going to military, you're going to do something.

They're going to have a plan.

You're not going to be a bum that that's what that's what I tell them all.

And they always laugh when I say that.

Let's say, well, do you know any?

They say yes, I'm like, well, right.

Hey again, you have to be relatable, speak their language.

They know someone in that situation.

So and they know they don't want that for their lives.

So very nice that you're being relatable and be real because a lot of people are not real and that's what they need.

Thank you.

Yeah, it's very true.

So how do you measure the impact and success of your program?

That's always tough.

It's always tough because you got to meet everyone where they are.

Yeah.

But in schools it's all about outcomes, measurable outcomes.

For grants it's all about measurable outcomes.

So we measure it in so many different ways.

we do assessments pre and post all varying during our program of course, we all have final exams.

So we measure them by their grades.

So our students we also play a lot of games in the midst of it.

But our students must learn how to write a check.

They must learn how to file their 1040 easy taxes.

Wow.

We go through all of this stuff.

-CPA in me is Loving it.

They have to create their own budgeting play, while we're in school, especially for like their summer income because While you pays very well So they got to create their own budget and plan.

They have to submit it.

They got to learn how to write checks.

So during our final exam, it's a combination of everything we've learned.

We give them a study guide.

We go over to study guide with them.

and then after they take the final, we play our final game.

And our final game is, family feud But with financial literacy questions, this absolutely should be in every school, every school we like.

We split the groups up into and they play for real money.

Wow.

It's depending on the size of the group, it ranges from like 500 to $1000.

-That would give me focus those students on me right there.

And we invite, like our board and our community partners to come in and see what they've learned and it always blows my mind how much information they retain.

When you give them a little incentive, you see what happens, but they have some extra cash end of semester.

So the fun part is when it's around, like spring break.

So now they got some money and then your own break and now you know yeah it's it's a win win for everybody.

So how do you stay focused and passionate about your work and financial development.

It's tough.

It's tough.

But I look at life totally different since the academy started.

I have so much purpose, so much.

It's just different.

The air is different.

The sun is different.

Every everything is different for me.

So for me to stay focused, it's tough because I had to force myself to become a morning person.

Oh yeah.

You're in these schools?

Yes.

Work with the Young Mind.

So now I'm up at about a quarter to five.

And the house?

The house is quiet so I can work for a good two hours before anyone is up.

Wow.

And for me, that's great because my mind is fresh.

I'm not distracted because, as you know, once it's like in school, once that bell ringing, it's chaos until you come home.

Absolutely, absolutely.

So how has the landscape of financial literacy and education changed since you started your organization?

You know, I don't know if it's changed, but I know with the power of social media and everything that's out there, it's a gift and a curse because I don't think everyone should be giving financial advice, but I also love the importance of it.

But I just don't think everyone should be doing it.

But you can personally message them and tell them stop it.

Like chill out.

I'm giving tax advice.

I feel like, you're driving me crazy.

But you know what?

I will say this, in the finance space, one of the things that's becoming super, super like, more and more prevalent is scamming.

Oh, yeah.

And, it's been around forever.

Yeah, but just this generation.

Yeah, that's what they want to do.

And they take pride in it, which is.

It's harsh.

Is definitely heartbreaking.

yes.

And I'm not sure where we got lost in the connection with the youth in actually wanting to scam.

Yeah.

So it's heartbreaking.

It is.

We have we have those conversations that's built into our curriculum as well is how to not get scammed.

Yeah.

-I'm so happy that you're having a conversation.

Again the realness in like your messaging and your education is definitely needed.

I don't want to see these kids in jumpsuits right?

no, we don't want that.

But they see fast money.

They see the lure, which brings them in.

And it's sad, yeah, but I am your host, Ashira Nelson.

And this is PBS Forum 360, where we have a global outlook from a local for you.

Our guest today, Jason, talked about so many real topics, much needed topics, and shared his vision for Bread Winners Academy.

Thank you, Jason for being our guest and I'll see you guys again very soon.

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