Today we’re diving into an idea that hits both ends of the spectrum: the good news we should celebrate and the tough truths we can’t ignore. Plus, we're exploring how money smarts in high school could add up to $100K and spotlighting a Chicago changemaker who's making STEM classes feel like play. Let’s go!
2 Ideas
‼️ Good News, Tough Truths
The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book shares how children in the United States are doing in school, health, and family life. There’s some good news: more kids have health insurance, more parents have steady jobs, and more students are finishing high school on time. These are signs that when families get support, kids can do well.
But there are also problems. Many students are falling behind in reading and math, and fewer little kids are going to preschool. Where a child lives can make a big difference, too. Kids in the South and Southwest, and many Black, Latino, and Native American children, often face harder challenges. Even with these struggles, the report shows that things can improve. Some states are making strong progress, and that gives hope. The message is clear: when we invest in kids and families, we can help all children grow up healthy, safe, and ready for a bright future.
💸 Financial Literacy Can Mean $100K+
Matthew recently shared an article showing how high school personal finance education can boost lifetime earnings by over $100,000. We talk about the importance of personal finance education every day, but seeing that number makes it feel even more critical. Every student deserves to learn how to manage money because it can be transformational. It’s also why programs that introduce budgeting, credit, and investing early are game changers.
2 Quotes
🧠 “Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.”
— Bob Talbert, Author and Sportswriter
💡 “If you don’t teach your children about money, someone else will—and they might not have your child’s best interests at heart.”
— Susan Beacham, Founder of Money Savvy Generation
O of Influence
🤖 Udit Agarwal, Founder of NextWaveSTEM
While working at Chicago Public Schools, Udit saw a gap in fun, standards-based STEM education. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve this gap in STEM Education, he launched NextWaveSTEM in 2017. Today, his team brings drone coding, robotics, AI, and 3D printing to over 500 schools and 200,000+ students. Udit and his team are making STEM and tech education exciting, accessible, and helping students get real-world ready. Learn more at NextWaveSTEM.com.
Want to brainstorm together about how to bring new energy into your youth programs?