Today we’d like to introduce you to Amatullah Shabazz.
Hi Amatullah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
What first put me on this path is my decision to homeschool my 4 children, now for over 10 years. But what first sparked the idea of this type of program was me making a post in 2022 on social media expressing that I will be teaching my children business fundamentals and financial literacy for the upcoming homeschooling year, and the post took off!
I had so many people contact me expressing interest, asking could they bring their child to my school, and I was not ready for the response, lol. I was honored that so many people noticed and had interest in me teaching their children. So, from there we, my mother and I officially established Seed Dropper Academy. I say officially because we have been doing learning experiences with our children and other children for over a decade.
Then I connected with a good friend of mine, and we together established Wealth Climbers. She had a business where she taught financial literacy to the youth, and we combined our strengths, mine being the business/ entrepreneurial side of the financial industry. So quick back story on my experience, I have been working in the financial industry since I was 20 years old, started in the tax industry, from their personal credit to business credit/funding and business consulting and development.
We didn’t want to be like every other program, so we designed a program that teaches children thru interactive gamified learning. The program is designed to simulate real life and teach key and fundamental terms and methods on how to handle finances and being an entrepreneur. Unfortunately, after our first couple of workshops, my partner could no longer work on Wealth Climbers due to family and health reasons, and from there, I have been continuing on the program however remains a supporter and advocate.
Wealth Climbers concept was started after I experienced a few serious life changes events involving my children. One being my children surviving an attempted kidnapping in broad daylight, and the other being the death of my youngest son’s father all in a 2-month timespan. What it made me realize was that the youth go thru things too, and they need advocates, protectors, and people who actually care about their well-being and safety who a have an interest in providing real solutions and resources for them. So, I knew I wanted to create something that would not only uplift and help the youth but also that I could include my children with.
And from their Wealth Climbers has been on a roll, we have done workshops in Ft. Worth at the Urban Village Family Services, Dallas at Pan African Connection, Cedar Hill at M.E.T.R.O. Christ Church, and most recently the AT&T Connected Leaning Center in Addison. With over 70 Wealth Climbers in the DFW Metroplex.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road, but nothing that stopped the show, lol. First thing I didn’t see was not having my partner thought the growing and key-building process. That made me have to make some major decisions and changes so that I could handle tasks and duties myself without the support I originally intended on having.
The second challenge was marketing and a getting parents to get more involved with their children. I realized that though many people see the value of teaching children financial literacy and entrepreneurship, they still didn’t support with the same efforts as sports, so it make me think more creatively and build more connections.
Mindset adjustments and teaching the relevance beyond just words but also with action is a challenge we will constantly be facing and overcoming.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Wealth Climbers is a trailblazing social enterprise on a mission to elevate financial literacy and foster entrepreneurial skills in young minds ages 9-17 years old. Harnessing the power of engaging, gamified workshops, we are creating an exciting paradigm where learning about money management, business, and entrepreneurship becomes as fun as it is vital.
Our interactive workshops and training classes offer a dynamic blend of activities, including financial literacy games, entrepreneurial brainstorming and games, lively discussions, and rewarding prizes. Conducted by experienced educators and business professionals, every session leaves participants enlightened, empowered, and eager for more.
At Wealth Climbers, we believe in equipping the next generation with practical knowledge and skills to navigate their financial futures confidently. By introducing them to the world of entrepreneurship, we ignite their creativity and foster innovative thinking that can transform their life paths.
We are currently partnered and sponsored by AT&T, Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas, M.E.T.R.O Christ Church, and Panera Bread. We have over 70 Wealth Climbers throughout the DFW Metroplex, being establish December of 2022.
We offer monthly workshops and, during the summer, bi-weekly workshops and classes with our partners all over DFW. Our summer workshops are currently listed on Eventbrite. We are very proud to announce that we will be hosting STEAM Summer Camp at the prestigious AT&T Connected Learning Center July 31- Aug 4th, from 11 am-4:30 pm.
We will also be hosting a Back-to-School bash along with our partners at the Singing Hills Rec Center Aug. 11 from 10 am -2 pm. We will be offering free haircuts and hairs styles for the youth, free backpacks with supplies; there will be an interactive robotics exhibit, community resource vendors, food, and more!
We would love to bring these amazing experiences to your organization or community. Feel free to reach out to us for more details on how we can bring Wealth Climbers program to your youth.
Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We are open to working and partnering with organizations and individuals. We can work in conjunction to your current program by coming in and offering full fun experience, or you can schedule us to come to your facility, and we will come in and either teach your youth or utilize your space so that we can conduct workshop experiences to your community.
We are flexible, and we love to build and grow with other creative and community-driven organizations. We accept support in the form of sponsoring youth to attend our workshop, sponsoring an entire workshop or learning session, and we also accept donations. You can find more info and direct links to support us on wealthclimberslife.com/sponsors
Pricing:
- Training & Computer Play Hour $10pp
- Wealth Climbers Workshop- $50pp
- STEAM Summer Camp(5 days)- $450pp
Contact Info:
- Website: wealthclimberslife.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wealthclimberslife
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wealthclimberslife
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amatullah-shabazz/
