96% of participants report improved financial wellness
How Zora’s House
boosted financial literacy with WoC Wealth Builders
When Zora’s House, a not-for-profit co-working and leadership incubation space in Columbus, Ohio set out to create an innovative financial literacy program, its leadership turned to Kara “The Frugal Feminista” Stevens to achieve powerful results for participants.
About Zora’s House
Inspired by author, anthropologist and activist Zora Neale Hurston, Zora’s House in Columbus, Ohio is the Midwest’s only co-working space and leadership incubator specially dedicated to helping women and gender-expansive people of color to thrive.
The not-for-profit nurtures an environment with the clarity, confidence, and connections members need to amplify their authentic voices, grow and contribute their talents, and powerfully transform their lives, careers, and communities.
Zora’s House delivers a range of educational programming as part of this mission.
Boosting wealth know-how
Many of Zora’s House members are first-generation wealth builders. They are often the first people in their family to attend college, to own a home and have an opportunity to create true intergenerational wealth.
Problem
However, as the not-for-profit’s leadership discovered, this can come with real challenges. While they may be thriving, as an example, they may lack the understanding necessary to invest for the future and struggle to do it in a way that sits right with them.
Holistic Assessment
Likewise, their financial success may also create challenges within their family when dealing with those with differing financial outlooks.
Intersectional Solution
To address these issues (and many more), Zora’s House leadership set a goal: to create a financial education program targeted towards women of color identifying as “first-generation wealth builders”.
Why The Frugal Feminista?
When Zora’s House leadership decided to expand its programming with a financial literacy course, the team turned to Kara “The Frugal Feminista” Stevens
A powerful communicator, Kara works successfully with groups of all sizes: from intimate gatherings to stadium-filled audiences. Over the years she has spoken nationally and internationally for a diverse client list that includes everyone from Ladies Get Paid, Mogul X, and the NAACP to American Express, LinkedIn and Harvard
Meet WōC Wealth Builders
The Frugal Feminista worked closely with the team at Zora’s House to design and deliver WoC Wealth Builders.
Defining the program’s goals was a priority in early discussions. Agreed aims included:
- Redefining financial health and money mindset
- Fostering a safe space for community building and support around financial wellness
- Enhancing financial literacy knowledge and wealth management
Reducing high-interest debt - Increasing personal savings and investments
The Impact
With Kara’s help and guidance, WoC Wealth Builders’ first cohort in 2023 helped Zora’s House members achieve a great deal.
*Compared to the start of the program.
LC Johnson
CEO
Ivory Levert
Program Manager
What the Community is Saying
Everyone learns in different ways. For some participants, it started from the first cohort gathering
If you're interested in learning how to bring this programming to your organization, send an email to kara@thefrugalfeminista.com and someone on our team will get back to you.