Crenshaw High School STEMM Magnet just received a boost to its financial literacy program. This past week City National Bank decided to renew its three-year, one million dollar commitment to their “Dollars + Sense financial education program,” which will support students by teaching them money management tools.
The speakers at the presentation were City National Bank CEO Kelly Coffey; Principal Donald Moorer; and a student of the financial program, Kianna McCain.
“Financial Literacy is an important topic in life, and not many young people understand the benefits of being financial literate,” McCain said. “I have been blessed with many different resources by attending Crenshaw High School. A great resource that helped me understand financial literacy was the City National Dollars and Sense financial literacy program.”
“I recently completed the financial module that led me to get my financial certificate with a 90+ average,” she added. “This program taught me the importance of financial literacy by giving me real-life scenarios. We also have a student-operated Union Bank on campus, which helps students learn, train, and operate a bank. Students can make savings, checkings, withdrawals, and deposits at this bank.”
Coffey spoke about the impact City Bank wanted to make on LAUSD students.
“Knowledge is power, and financial knowledge is powerful,” he said. “We want every student to graduate high school with this knowledge that so many don’t receive. Our program helps students learn about saving, investing, credit, credit score, and identity protection. City National Bank is proud to show our commitment and support of this program by renewing our one-million-dollar commitment to LAUSD students.”
The school, which specializes in teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine (STEMM), has as its motto “Every Cougar – College Bound!” and Principal Moorer was grateful that students will benefit from the program.
“The biggest life lesson you can offer a student is personal financial management,” said Moorer. “Teaching them how to manage credit, build credit, and invest properly, are some of the most important things to teach our students because it also helps out a community that has suffered from generational debt. We have students solve real-world problems and bring real solutions to them, which makes our students feel like they have an advantage.”
Moorer said that one of the goals she has for the school is for it to become a hub for the community.
“This has to be a place people come to if they need a job, want interviewing skills, and financial literacy, and I want this place to be a service for our community,” she said. “I want the community to get involved. We want our families to know that your kids can get the same quality education here that they get from schools 30 miles away. We offer great programs here like the sports medicine program, business entrepreneur program, financial literacy program, among others, we offer a lot.”
The principal noted that the school recently had an art performing center built on campus and administrators are in talks with Debbie Allen Studios, which is offering scholarships to students. The Amazing Grace Conservatory is also partnering with Crenshaw.
“I want to make Crenshaw a premier place for the arts,” Mooer said. “We have historically been known for music, known for the arts. I want to bring that back here, and with the best theater in LA, I know we can do it.”
