FinLit: KARA's Financial Literacy Program for At-Risk and Underserved Youth Populations

Mike Tikkanen, Executive Director, KARA - Kids At Risk Action and Emily Saed, KARA Senior Programing Consultant

Mike Tikkanen served as a Guardian ad Litem for over 20 years before founding KARA. Mike is a current Board Member of CASA MN; the author of the highly rated book "Invisible Children;" and is a national speaker. He is a founding board member of KARA, Kids at Risk Action, a nonprofit supporting the people, policies, and programs that improve the lives of at-risk children. Emily Saed has more than 20 years of leadership in the education and non-profit community. Emily is a certified poverty awareness coach, helping educators and administrators identify and overcome the barriers of poverty in the classroom. 

FinLit is a financial literacy program developed and offered by KARA. FinLit brings at-risk yout ages 17 to 24 together for one year to learn fundamental financial skills. KARA provides grants for participants to save and invest while they learn. KARAs program is unique; it is designed for an audience impacted by agents of despair: childhood trauma, poverty, systemic neglect and abuse.