Community Champion: Charles Fisher
Charles Fisher feels passionate about improving the lives of youth and young adults in New York City, across the country, and worldwide. This passion extends into his personal life in addition to his professional career. As an advocate and activist, Charles has made a huge impact for over four and a half decades in his volunteer efforts to address societal issues including poverty, hunger, illiteracy, gun and gang violence, educational funding cuts, and response to natural disasters. In his spare time, he authors books that spread a spiritual message, including Power of the Prophets: Preparation for Armageddon (1914-2004), published in 2000 and Armageddon Has Arrived, published in 2021.
Every day Charles demonstrates his strong alignment with the National Financial Educators Council’s mission and values. His community leadership and ability to construct influential media and celebrity networks to make a difference are accompanied by his positivity, relatability, and deep caring for others.
Randy Fisher, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, Charles Fisher.
Personal Statement
I was born in Brooklyn, New York and later moved to the borough of Queens, where I attended Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson High Schools and also CUNY’s York College. All my life I’ve felt a deep connection to New York City and a sense of commitment to making a difference in people’s health and well-being – especially young people. In 1978 I founded Youth Enterprises & Associates and also got involved with Hip-Hop music, which is now a multibillion-dollar industry. It’s the greatest international cultural phenomenon ever created. The music and culture transcend race, religion, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and are the music and lifestyle of choice for billions of young people worldwide. Hip-Hop is the #1 genre of music; that’s why I’ve used its positive influence as a catalyst to organize rallies, produce documentaries, publish books, promote voter education and registration, elect politicians, and start community projects aimed at bringing that awesome power to bear to help solve some of the problems young people face daily. In 2023, Hip-Hop celebrated its 50th anniversary.
David C. Banks, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools, alongside Charles Fisher, Founder of the Hip Hop Summit Youth Council
I first got involved with the National Financial Educators Council in 2009 when I helped gather celebrities to participate in the Money XLive event in New York City. I have learned over the years that financial literacy is a subject that can help alleviate all of today’s social ills: poverty, illiteracy, gun and gang violence, the opioid crisis, obesity, and more. Right now, gun violence is the top cause of death for children and teens, and car crashes are second. Teaching people financial literacy starting when they’re young can make an impact on solving both of those crises by giving them the skills to start their own businesses and make positive life choices. If we are going to make real changes in our society, it all starts with our PreK-5 students.
My collaboration with “The People’s Shark” Daymond John of the hit ABC TV show, Shark Tank is one connection that’s making a difference for New York kids. Daymond supported the release of our “Call 2 Action” App so we could build a team of people across the U.S. to help address social issues having a negative impact on the growth and development of our youth and young adults. We developed a financial literacy curriculum based on Daymond’s New York Times bestselling book, Little Daymond Learns to Earn, and brought it to NYC schools. We also started the Little Daymond Money Club (LDMC), teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship during the school day and after school, with the goal of establishing LDMC chapters in schools, public housing, and youth centers in the U.S. and around the world.
I truly believe the NFEC’s programs are ingenious and sorely needed in schools everywhere. Kids need financial literacy and entrepreneurship education, and their parents need it even more. We must push harder to get the media and celebrities involved to bring our collective resources into schools and communities and work toward policy and social change. I’m looking forward to collaborating with the New York Financial Educators Council Advisory Board, with its outstanding and seasoned professional members, to make that happen.
Community Champion: Charles Fisher
Charles Fisher has shown his dedication to financial literacy and entrepreneurship education throughout his more than four and a half decades of career and community service; and in his contributions to the New York Financial Educators Council’s esteemed Advisory Board. His leadership, connections, and positive focus are a continual source of inspiration.
Charles’s guidance and networking expertise help the NYFEC work toward achieving its core goal: bringing greater financial security and economic empowerment to New Yorkers. His advocacy and activism highlight his true community championship.
On behalf of the New York Council, we extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to Charles Fisher for his leadership and commitment.
