Financial Educators Day Award Honorees

Mae Yang

It was challenging for me to select how Mae contributes because she contributes to our non-profit organization in so many intertwined ways. Mae Yang came to us as an eager volunteer ready to help teach life skills with a financial literacy focus, specifically to those involved with the justice system. Mae dedicates her time and schedule to support The Reentry Initiative (TRI), which serves individuals that are returning to the Boulder County community after incarceration. These individuals may have grown up indigent and not provided this information and we often see they may have to rebuild their finances and establish credit upon release. Our members even have barriers with obtaining a bank account due to their felony backgrounds. Mae has provided virtual open office hours for TRI members to pop in and ask a financial related question or work towards budget skill building. Mae has also provided opportunities for group financial literacy learning along with individual financial literacy needs. I have witnessed Mae serve our members as if they are paid customers; Mae gives her full knowledge and support as a selfless service with no agenda to the member. Mae is highly resourceful and her work does not stop at just providing financial literacy: Mae provides resources for low-income and programs that serve marginalized populations to support the needs of the member she’s working with. Mae encompasses skills that make our members feel comfortable, valued, and relieved when they are working with her. These are many of the reasons as to why I am nominating her for financial educators day award. Mae aligns to our mission as a non-profit of self-sufficiency and much of that starts with the financial literacy movement in which she educates, raises awareness about, and advocates for.

-Jyoti Sharma

Mae Yang is a Financial Strategist, NFEC Certified Financial Education Instructor, and founder of Money Ahead Method. She teaches numerous educational classes and workshops at all levels nationally whether it be one-on-one, group, organization, or government. Mae values community empowerment and giving back. Pro-bono financial literacy education classes and educational workshops are some events she is passionate about giving her time and expertise. Mae has been recognized by the LiSA Initiative for her extraordinary commitment to providing free financial education to the underserved community and empowering women to take inventory of their financial future so they can retire on their terms and transform their lives for a life-changing experience. She holds a space on Facebook called \”The Wealth Circle: Money Empower. Give Back. Retire On Your Terms.\” Inside of this space, she supports members through their financial journeys and encourages them to make smart money decisions. She empowers members to take charge of their finances, set goals, and achieve them. Mae has volunteered for over 3 years to help a local non-profit organization, The Reentry Initiative. She understands the impact of people leaving incarceration with a lack of resources. She knowledge that they face many issues and challenges in the community such as lack of financial resources, housing, jobs, food, clothing, transportation, basic toiletries, mental services, and limited access to healthcare. Transitioning back into the community could be scary and they need better resources. Particularly for women, they may need gender-responsive services to get back on their feet. She understands that financial literacy can serve as a tool to help them with their fundamental financial needs. She wants to be able to provide them a safe space to work on their finances and she’s willing to meet them where they are, whether that’s working with them one-on-one, group, or providing a series of financial education classes that they can apply to their daily life and personal finances. Building a solid financial foundation is important and she wants to pave the way for these participants so they can change their financial future, create the life they desire, have a positive experience with their financial journey, grow their money mindset, and empower them to achieve financial independence so they can live life more purposely and reduce their chances of returning to incarceration.