Podcasts & Interviews

Interview of San Jose City Council Member - Mr. George Casey

Date: October 29, 2025

Ria interviewed Mr. Casey in City Hall, where he gave key takeaways to the importance of financial education for all youth. 

Rotary Club of Silicon Valley

Date: September 18, 2025

View our podcast: https://youtu.be/NUZm93Ciizk 

Ria and Mica presented to the Rotary Club of Silicon Valley with their mission and hopes for the future.

Interview with Lead Resident Services Coordinator, Date: October 3, 2025. Ria and Esha presented to the teen group at a Morgan Hill Affordable Housing community and had the opportunity to interview the lead adult coordinator. It gave us insight into what is important to the community and her perspective.

Please tell us a little bit your yourself and about your role, and the community you support name is Jocelynne, and I am the Resident Services Coordinator at a local Morgan Hill apartments complex. We are home to 112-unit families with children, adults with disabilities, seniors,  and the formerly homeless.

What struggles do you see in the community, generally speaking? And how can financial literacy help?

 I have seen the community struggle being able to budget their money to live within their means. As many are first-generation, they find it hard to find someone to guide them towards financial freedom. Financial literacy can help first-generation youth and adults be debt-free and break cycles of poverty.

 Why do you think financial literacy is important for youth, and how can it help them feel more confident about their futures?        

 Financial literacy is important to start learning at a young age, as it allows them time to make sound decisions that will benefit them in adulthood. Financial literacy allows them to feel more confident in their future by giving youth the tools and knowledge to achieve their financial goals.

 In your experience, what financial lessons do your adults or youth say they wish they had learned earlier?
Many adults or seniors say they wish they had learned more about retirement savings. Some were focused on paying the bills of the present, so they did not worry about saving money for their future, which ends up becoming a problem for most. Some did put money into their 401 (k), but did not know what the best decision was to choose for withdrawal.

 What words of advice do you have for youth? Do you have any personal guidance based on your own experience?

 My advice to youth is to lean on the resources made available to you in college/university to learn and practice your financial skills.  I was able to open my first credit card in university, which allowed me to build my credit. My sister struggled getting a credit card post-graduation and was only able to start building her credit at 25 years old, which became a barrier for her when she wanted to apply for a car loan. As first gen’s, we saw the obstacles that came with not having someone guide us to be financially literate, but leaning on community and utilizing the free resources made available to help you succeed is very important!