United Way and MidSouth host financial literacy class for Macon students

Elementary to high school students learn budgeting and saving at Booker T. Washington Community Center

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — United Way of Central Georgia partnered with MidSouth Community Federal Credit Union on Thursday to host a financial literacy class for elementary, middle and high school students in the area.

The students were taught the importance of budgeting and saving money at the Booker T. Washington Community Center. Kelsey Mahone, the Training and Development Manager at MidSouth, says her own experience with misusing credit cards in the past motivated her to teach others what to do if they happen to do the same.

“It’s a matter of growing in your knowledge and understanding how to get yourself out of those situations and continuing to make good decisions as you move forward in your future,” Mahone said.

Mahone says conversations about financial literacy often don’t begin early enough for children when they are growing up. She believes starting earlier can change outcomes.

“Children understand more than we give them credit for sometimes,” she said. “It’s just a matter of explaining it where they can understand it and trying to keep it front of mind so they can continue to learn and grow in their financial literacy.”

Kaylyn Benson, the Community Schools United Coordinator for United Way, explained to the students how their financial literacy can impact future generations of their family.

“There’s a lot of financial trauma that comes with just being in poverty in general,” Benson said. “Knowledge is power. The more you know, the earlier on you know, the more likely you are to break that cycle.”

Benson added she was proud United Way could partner with MidSouth to teach students at a time of year when learning might take a backseat to other activities. She says the turnout and reaction from the students will hopefully lead to future classes both in the summers to come and during the school year.

“We had this many students to take the time to not play video games and learn something,” Benson said. “To me, it just shows that there is a thirst for knowledge in the community, and that it’s wanted and it’s needed.”