Rock bands to teach students about personal finance

File photo

The band Gooding performs at Gretna High School during a previous financial literacy tour.

Weaving a high-energy, live rock performance with testimony of the artists’ life lessons on finance, two bands — Gooding, and Carter Hulsey with Me Like Bees — will visit eight Nebraska schools Aug. 27-31 to share with students how financial literacy and being purposeful enable them to make dreams realities.

The schedule is:

Gooding:

Millard West High School, Omaha: Aug. 27, 2 p.m.
North Platte High School, North Platte: Aug. 28, 2 p.m.
Keya Paha High School, Springview (with students from Ainsworth, Cody-Kilgore, Rock County and Valentine): Aug. 29, 10:30 a.m.
Fillmore Central High School, Geneva (with students from Shickley and Exeter-Milligan): Aug. 30, 9 a.m.

Carter Hulsey with Me Like Bees:

Centura High School, Cairo: Aug. 28, 9 a.m.
Adams Central High School, Hastings: Aug. 30, 9 a.m.
Wilcox-Hildreth Public School, Wilcox: Aug. 30, 2 p.m.
Plattsmouth High School, Plattsmouth: Aug. 31, 9:30 a.m.

The Nebraska Council on Economic Education coordinates and secures sponsors for the tour.

Jennifer Davidson, NCEE president and assistant professor of practice in economics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, explained why the bands’ music and message are a win-win for young people.

“Partnering with Funding the Future and nationally known musicians has been the most fun and engaging way to bring the important financial literacy message to today’s students,” she said. “The rock concert catches the students off guard and they are paying attention. Once the musicians establish their cool factor, the financial literacy medicine goes down and students are open to the message.”

After each concert, the band talks to students about the importance of saving, how compound interest works, why to stay away from payday lenders and how making wise financial decisions can help a person fulfill one’s dreams.

The NCEE has partnered with Funding the Future, a nonprofit committed to teaching financial literacy to students, on this initiative since 2015. More than 12,000 students at 22 Nebraska schools have been reached. The musicians’ message resonates with students because they openly discuss financial misconceptions that impacted them early in their careers.

“These financial principles are things I wasn’t taught in school growing up, and I am thankful and excited to be able to share this message with young people,” said Hulsey, who has toured the country for the past 10 years on the Vans Warped Tour, Bamboozle Road Show and with bands such as Third Eye Blind, Good Charlotte and Hanson. “Playing music is a great avenue to break the ice and then begin a conversation about financial literacy.”

Gooding’s music has been featured in “CSI,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Daily Show,” “Iron Man 2,” “Walk the Line” and “Suicide Squad.” Inspired by their work with Quincy Jones as part of Operation HOPE, they helped create Funding the Future.

For more information on the NCEE, contact Davidson at jdavidson2@unl.edu or click here.