Helping Kids in Care Succeed

Reading about kids aging out of foster care makes me sick. Literally. I aged out at 17 and I didn’t realize that the crappy education and skill set that I had was so much more than many of the other kids received. I wrote this book because I want to help the kids that are still n care have access to as much information as I can.

Order copies for your case load, kids in your group home, and kids in your school.

Everything from finding an apartment and getting the utilities turned on to paying for college and saving for retirement are covered. Resources for emancipating youth shared from organizations across the country are also included. This edition includes a bonus chapter on resumes, interviewing, and career advice.

Shay spoke at a financial education event for kids in care hosted by New York ACS. You care hire Shay to speak at your event as well.
Click the photo to visit Shay’s speaking website.

We have to start preparing kids in care to take care of themselves. The statistics are too sad. There is no reason that:

Outcomes during transition from care to adulthood	National data	Regional or Local data
Earned a high school diploma	54%	50% – 63%
Obtained a Bachelor’s degree or higher	2%	2%
Became a parent	84%	42%
Were unemployed	51%	30%
Had no health insurance	30%	29%
Had been homeless	25%	36%
Were receiving public assistance	30%	26%

From Foster Care  Alumni

These numbers are unacceptable. We have to do something to help.

Shay Olivarria is the most dynamic financial education speaker working today. She speaks at high schools, colleges, and companies across the country. She has written three books on personal finance, including Amazon Best Seller “Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook”. Shay has been quoted on Bankrate.com, FoxBusiness.com, NBC Latino and The Credit Union Times, among others. To schedule Shay to speak at your event visit www.BiggerThanYourBlock.com

Books on Kindle

You’re wishes have been answered! Now, all three of Shay’s amazing personal finance books are available for Kindle.

All My Mistakes: Money lessons for emancipating youth on Kindle

All My Mistakes: Money lessons for emancipating youth in print

Click here to read about why Shay wrote this book.

In this autobiographical personal finance book for emancipating foster kids, the most dynamic financial education speaker working today, Shay Olivarria, shares money lessons that she learned during her life while experiencing the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse that led to her being placed in foster care.

Everything from finding an apartment and getting the utilities turned on to paying for college and saving for retirement are covered. Resources for emancipating youth shared from organizations across the country are also included.

This edition includes a bonus chapter on resumes, interviewing, and career advice.

10 Things College Students Need to Know About Money on Kindle

10 Things College Students Need to Know About Money in print

This simple book provides clarity in understanding the 10 things every college student needs to know about money, including money attitude, compound interest, credit unions, retirement accounts, credit, the CARD Act and net worth, with humor and brevity. A glossary of common personal finance terms is included.

Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook on Kindle

Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook in print

Finally, a workbook that makes money management simple! This easy-to-read workbook from personal financial literacy coach and professional speaker Shay Olivarria explains topics such as savings, goal setting, credit reports, credit scoring, net worth and retirement vehicles for the everyday person. As the old saying goes, “time is money” and with this workbook you can save quite a bit of both. The enclosed worksheets help you understand your financial situation and provide the necessary guidance to get your finances under control. In these tough times we must be proactive with our own futures and take control of our money; with Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook we can do just that.

Read a book review of Money Matters here.

Purple Project’s 2nd Annual Youth & Adult Foster Care Conference

Financial education speaker Shay Olivarria, author Nakia Lashaul, Senator Nina Turner, Purple Project Director LaTasha C. Watts, and CEO Cherish Thomas at the Purple Project's 2nd Annual Youth & Adult Foster Care Conference in Cleveland, OH.

The most dynamic financial education speaker working today, Shay Olivarria, was on hand to help celebrate the 2nd Annual Youth & Adult Foster Care Conference in Cleveland, OH. The conference was amazing! Students and adults came together for three days to hear from foster care alumni, learn life skills, network with other foster care youth and alumni, and have fun.

Shay Olivarria begins the Friday keynote

Shay Olivarria delivered the keynote on Friday on goal setting and motivation. She also delivered three break-out sessions during the conference on skills emancipating youth will need based on her books:

Buy the book now

Buy it now

Students loved interacting with Shay! After working with Shay, students said:

“I learned that a credit union is better than a bank”
“I will be careful about what credit I apply for”
“I will not get store credit cards”
“I will save as much money as I can before I turn 18”
“Believe in yourself and your dreams”
“No matter how many obstacles you face in life you can overcome anything and be successful financially”
“The difference between credit unions and banks and to start saving money now”

There were so many good people there. Some of the other good folks to know include:
LaTasha C. Watts, Director of the Purple Project
Tanisha Cunningham, Director of the Underground Railroad to Success
Nakia Laushaul, author
Cherish Thomas, CEO Cherish Our Youth
DMC, hip hop legend

Senator Nina Turner with Shay Olivarria and Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook.

DMC of hip hop group Run DMC with Shay Olivarria and Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook.

Shay Olivarria represents for the I AM ONE campaign.

HEART Talk Interview

Shay talks about her time in foster care.

I just had a wonderful interview with Evelyn Polk of For a Child’s H.E.A.R.T. We talked about my experience in foster care, the things that Bigger Than Your Block, LLC is doing to educate youth about personal finance, my new book “All My Mistakes: Money tips for kids in care”, and the no-cost webinar this Saturday, “Money Tips for Foster Youth“, to celebrate Financial Education Month.

In case you missed it, click here and you’ll hear the whole thing.

TTFN

Purple Project

I’m really excited about speaking at The Second Annual Youth & Adult Foster Care Conference from The Purple Project. As you know, I was in foster care from 13 years old to 17 years old. That time in my life shaped many of my core values so I’ve decided to write a book about it. “All My Mistakes: Money tips for kids in care” will be published June 2011.

I’ll be delivering the keynote lunch address on Friday, two personal finance seminars on Saturday, and signing copies of my books:

Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook
10 Things College Students Need to Know About Money
All My Mistakes: Money tips for kids in care

Register for the Second Annual Youth & Adult Foster Care Conference now!

Other notables include hip hop icon Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Judge Michael Ryan, country music star Jimmy Wayne, and foster care advocate Cherish Thomas.

Shay on African Speak

I’m excited to be featured Saturday, July 10th on African Speak “Honoring Powerful Black Women in our Community”. As usual I’ll share some financial literacy tips, but I’ll also be talking about my journey from foster care to professional speaker and author in the personal finance arena. Along with me will be:
Jewel Carter – Community Activist / President Urban De’Version
Zekita Tucker – Author / CEO Zeniam Publications
Shanquil Merriwether – Community Activist / Milwaukee Chapter Pres. Action Network.

Join us every Saturday at 6:00pm (Central) for our Live Radio Show. We are dedicated to a rise in awareness of Afrikan people World-wide. We will cover topics that concern our Nation. Come share your views in our Chat Room with individuals of like mind. Call in your questions: (646) 381-4162 / Email your questions at AfrikanSpeak@yahoo.com or Text us at 414-379-7969 http://www.AfrikanSpeak.com

As a special treat I’ll be providing a discount code to purchase 10 Things College Students Need to Know About Money and Money Matters: The Get It Done in 1 Minute Workbook. Listen in online or by phone Saturday 4pm PST and 6pm CST.

African Speak