Young CEO Inspires Middle School Students with Financial Literacy Talk

URBANA ÔÇö Urbana Middle School students gathered in their gymnasium Friday to listen to a young CEO talk about the importance of financial literacy. The event was made possible by the Champaign-Urbana Schools FoundationÔÇÖs Vincent O. Greene Grant, which funded the visit of 13-year-old Caden Harris, a Georgia entrepreneur who started his own company at age 7.

Harris, an impressive young individual, addressed an audience of approximately 900 students during three sessions. His engaging presentation covered topics such as how to earn, save, budget, and invest money, leaving a lasting impact on the students.

The students were inspired by Harris’ success at a young age. Seventh-grader Abdullah Inayat said, “I learned that you can start a business when you’re young.” Another seventh-grader, Blessing Mfuluma, added, “He’s inspiring people to do things at a young age or even older.”

Harris revealed that his interest in financial literacy was sparked by accompanying his dad, who works in business-development consulting, to business meetings. This exposure motivated him to learn about financial literacy and teach it to kids in a way that they can understand.

At only 13 years old, Harris has already accomplished a lot. He has created and sold books, flashcards, T-shirts, and webinars. He even raised $50,000 to retrofit a school bus into a mobile classroom, which gained attention and earned him a feature on Hulu’s Big RV Remix. His journey, filled with entrepreneurial achievements, serves as an inspiration for young students.

The idea to bring Harris to Urbana Middle School originated from Letitia Douglas and Alyssa Ginzburg, two sixth-grade teachers at UMS. Douglas saw Harris’ “Financial Learning Bus” on the television show and applied for the Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation grant. Their successful application granted them $4,000 to bring Harris to their school.

Kelly Hill, executive director of the school foundation, expressed her support for financial wellness and literacy among students. She believes that if more kids had an opportunity to learn about financial literacy, it could positively impact the country’s situation.