Community Champion: Shangra-La Jones
Shangra-La Jones displays her passion for spreading financial wellness on a broad scale not only through her professional pursuits, but also in her personal endeavors. She has earned a reputation in her hometown Denver and statewide for her financial wellness advocacy and influence. Her dedication to the cause motivated Shangra-La to establish the Colorado Financial Literacy Project, through which she has taken her position as a real community champion.
Showing a strong alignment with the National Financial Educators Council’s mission and vision, Shangra-La Jones inspires and empowers youth and adults across the Centennial State to seize control of their financial destinies. Her commitment to promoting financial education started in her teens and has continued throughout her financial services career and her ongoing advocacy efforts. Those efforts are enhanced by her personal presence, compassion, savvy, and devotion to the financial wellness movement.
Personal Statement
From a young age, I was driven by a desire to help others enhance their financial well-being. My journey through various roles in the financial industry has equipped me with the skills to assist individuals in achieving their retirement aspirations, securing loans, and minimizing tax liabilities. This professional experience, combined with my passion for promoting financial wellness, fuels my commitment to empowering others to take control of their financial futures.
One poignant experience that underscores the importance of financial education occurred while I was serving on the Financial Advocacy Committee for the National Financial Educators Council. During financial presentations at Denver Public Schools, I would often ask students about their future aspirations. Their responses – dreams of becoming professional athletes, models, or online influencers – sparked a unique opportunity for financial dialogue. I vividly remember the moment I told a group of aspiring influencers that they could leverage their platforms to pursue a career as mental health professionals, a field desperately in need of compassionate individuals. The students leaned in, captivated by the idea that their passions could align with a meaningful and lucrative career. I explained how certain programs could cover their college expenses, leaving them debt-free, and shared that the average starting salary for mental health providers is around $90,000, compared to $56,000 for influencers. This conversation highlighted the critical need for financial literacy and the role it plays in guiding future generations toward financial success.
My personal journey into financial wellness began as a teenager when my guidance counselor recognized my affinity for numbers. He encouraged me to enroll in advanced accounting and financial summer programs, where I connected with peers eager to start an investment club. We diligently saved money to open an account through a youth investment program, making direct deposits from our earnings. Witnessing the growth of our investments over the years was transformative and solidified my belief in the power of saving and investing. This experience ignited my passion for sharing the importance of financial responsibility with others.
Leading this campaign in Colorado allows me to instill financial literacy in youth, helping them set smart money goals early on and steer clear of detrimental financial habits. By empowering the next generation, I can achieve my goal of fostering financial wellness while making a meaningful impact in the lives of others.
Community Champion: Shangra-La Jones
Shangra-La Jones has proven her commitment to financial wellness advocacy by teaching financial literacy across Colorado for nearly two decades. Shangra-La works unceasingly to spread economic empowerment among her fellow Coloradans and beyond – a dedication deserving of notice.
Jones shows us every day how powerful a movement can become when people from all age groups and backgrounds collaborate together. Her efforts on the Colorado Financial Literacy Project, the NFEC’s Advocacy Committee, and the COFEC Advisory Board underscore the success of her outreach. On behalf of the Colorado Council, we extend our sincerest gratitude for her community leadership.
