Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cassandra Lester.
She is the founder of Grow Give Prosper, and discusses her nonprofit’s mission to provide financial education and career opportunities through partnerships like Grow with Google.
🔑 Key Themes & Highlights
-
The Mission Behind Grow Give Prosper
- Lester founded the nonprofit to help communities grow together, give to each other, and prosper collectively.
- She focuses on financial literacy, career development, and economic empowerment.
-
Partnership with Grow with Google
- Provides career certification scholarships in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, IT support, project management, and UX design.
- Scholarships are free and open to individuals across the U.S., requiring only a commitment to complete the program.
-
Breaking Barriers in Financial Education
- Lester noticed that financial struggles affect people regardless of education level.
- She aims to make financial literacy accessible and understandable for all.
-
Boots-on-the-Ground Outreach
- Personally visits community centers, adult education classes, and underserved areas to spread awareness.
- Actively engages with individuals to encourage participation in career certification programs.
-
Overcoming Skepticism & Challenges
- Some people initially doubt the legitimacy of free scholarships.
- Lester emphasizes that Google certifications are recognized by employers and can lead to high-paying jobs.
📘 About Cassandra Lester
Cassandra Lester is a financial literacy advocate and nonprofit leader dedicated to helping individuals build wealth through education and career advancement. Her organization, Grow Give Prosper, provides resources to underserved communities, ensuring they have access to life-changing opportunities.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to the show. I'm Rashaan MacDonald, the host of
Money Making Conversations Masterclass, where we encourage people to stop
reading other people's success stories and start planning their own.
Listen up as I interview entrepreneurs from around the country,
talk to celebrities and ask them how they are running
their companies, and speak with nonprofits who are making a
(00:25):
difference in their local communities. Now, sit back and listen
as we unlock the secrets to their success on Money
Making Conversations Masterclass. My guest has been instrumental and providing
resources that help individuals make inform financial decisions, optimize their resources,
and develop healthy financial habits. Under her leadership, Grow Give
(00:49):
Prosper as partnered with in partnered with initiatives like grow
with Google to offer certification scholarships aiming to enhance career
opportunities for under serve communities. Please work with the Money
Making Conversation massaclat Cassandra Lester. How you doing, Cassandra, I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Swell, Rashaan, how are you pretty good?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Now? Let's get this. Give us the name of your
is it a nonprofit?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It is a nonprofit, Grow Give prosper.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
How did you come up with that name, you know.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
What, actually, because that's what I want to see my
community do. I want us to grow together so that
we can give to each other and then prosper as
a collective. So that's how I came up with that name.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Of how long you long have you had the foundation?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I have been in the financial education since about twenty
seventeen and I started the nonprofit of twenty twenty three.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Okay, cool, so you said financial education. Can you give
us a little of your background from a financial literacy
standpoint before we get into the interview.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Okay, sure. So it all started when I was a
human resource and off manager at a very prominent medical
facility here in the state of Georgia. And one thing
I noticed, from the people who had the PhDs to
the ones who had the GEDs, every time we sat
down to do that tax paperwork, it leveled the playing field.
(02:15):
So that's when I realized that financial education doesn't matter
who you are, what you look like. It's a matter
of accessibility.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
I want to tell you, so, I have a math degree, Cassandra,
I am scared to death to do my taxes. I
have never in my life the easy form nothing I've
always paid somebody to do my taxes. So when you
say level the playfield you're talking about Rishan McDonald, I
am a person. Go can you do my taxes please?
Because I'm confused. So let's talk about you and what
(02:47):
you're trying to do. When you say the word community,
what do you mean when you are whole you or
referencing When you say the word community.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
A community, I'm talking about the people that I encounter
in my daily life walking outside, going to the grocery store,
going to the restaurant, going to the library. You know,
in my traditional nine to five. These are people who
I consider a part of my community. And what I
realized is that, like I mentioned before, it didn't matter
(03:18):
what their background was. We all had the same struggle
and the difference was that nobody was talking about it.
So to me, community is just everybody who has the
same need that needs to get that outreach and to
get that education.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Now, if you're not, if you got like halfway listening
to the show, I want you to stop and focus
on the show because this is the reason, one of
the many reasons I brought her on the show for
this interview. Her partnership with Grow with Google. That's the
name of it. Grow with Google. Now, Google is what
we're about to concentrate on and what they're doing with
(04:00):
your foundation. Talk to us about what is Grow with Google.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Grow with Google is a tremendous outreach initiative that Google
has delivered to community partners like myself, where we are
delivering career certification scholarships to any and everyone who wants it,
(04:26):
specifically justice impacted, specifically economically impacted communities that may not
have access to that level of education due to financial restraints.
So Google is now saying that, hey, we want to
give you a chance to thrive to So we're going
(04:46):
to give you a chance to get a career certification
entry level into cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, e commerce,
IT support, project management, UX design, which is user design,
which is those apps and websites. So Google is now
(05:07):
leveling the playing field. They're saying, you don't have to
have an IVY League education in order to make an
earnable a livable wage.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Now that's be on livable wage. I'm gonna just let
everybody know that. Just go to the Internet, Google or
indeed and Google salaries of all the job titles that
she listed. You'll see that these are game changing opportunities
that this foundation that Cassandra Lester created, that it's partner
(05:36):
with Google. And I want to hang on this for
a minute because I don't want to blow past it,
because I want people to be able to reach out
to you. Do you have a website that they can visit?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Certainly if they go to grow with I'm sorry, Grow
give prosper dot org and scroll to the bottom. You're
gonna see the Google scholarship link and the barrier to
entry is very low. We don't want to make a different.
If you have a commitment to yourself and if you
want to increase your earning potential, all you have to
(06:07):
do in the state of Georgia, no matter where you're located,
is go to this website, Grow Give prosper dot org,
scroll to the bottom Google Certifications, read the information. If
it's what you want for yourself, then enroll and Coursera
is going to send you the link and you can
start learning today.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Now, let's do go over those job opportunities that are
available on your website.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Okay, so cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, and e commerce
and this I kind of want to just really touch
on them really quickly. Digital markets.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Please do slow it down because I want people to
understand that, you know. And let me also say this.
You say the word scholarship. Oh yeah. Is there a fee?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
No fee, There's no fee. The only fee is that
you have to commit to doing it because we have
to give a you know, data at the end of
the program, which, by the way, was scheduled to end
in December twenty twenty five, and Google has extended it
to December twenty twenty six. So since these courses take
three to six months to complete, you have a chance
(07:14):
to go in and roll and get several certifications between
now and December twenty twenty fifth.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Would you give you several or job opportunities to go
out there and get in the game, as we say,
get the game and not get left out. And this
is somebody who may be working a blue college, blue
collar job, somebody who may be just have a ged
somebody who may have a two year degree. This level
(07:41):
is the plan field for anybody that these scholarships that's
being offered through your foundation through Google. And you're saying, Richard,
there's no charge. It's based on if you sign up,
please compete it. Please don't just sign up to be
signed up for the first time in your life. Make
an effort to complete something that can change your life both.
(08:02):
You know, I'm sure I have a college degree on
my wall, or math degree, and I always tell people
you can't repoll that degree, which means you can't take that.
But well, once it's on that wall, you can't take
it back. And it's not like a car, it's like
a house. Once you've been certified a degree, that's yours
for life, and it also gives you a sense of
empowerment that you can change your life and the surroundings
(08:24):
around you. So you going to give us more detail
on each one of these job titles that we're doing
with I'm talking with Cassandra Lester. Give us your foundation
one more time and your website.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Okay, Growth Gift Prosper and the website is growthgiftprosper dot org.
And I'm going to dive into what Google certifications are
currently available. We have cybersecurity. You know, if you're the
kind of person who wants to be the you know, savior,
you want to be able to come in and you know,
throward all of these. I think we just heard a
(08:55):
couple of days ago about a cyber attack that happened,
you know, I think it was in the city of Atlanta.
So if you want to be the kind of person
who can recognize these attacks before they happen, cybersecurity is
a great field for you to get into data analytics.
If you want to tell businesses what's trending, where they
can find the money. Data analytics is for you. Digital
(09:16):
marketing and e commerce. We're all over the website. We're
all out here shopping online. Digital marketing and e commerce.
That's gonna tell you. You know previously where I said
you're going to show the businesses where the money where
you are the one that's making the money. You are
putting your product or products for other people online and
making it avail and making it available for them to
(09:37):
purchase it. Support so you can stack it support with cybersecurity.
You are providing daily maintenance to laptops, phones, computers. It
support project management. Now, when I mentioned that you can
get several certifications, these are certifications that you can stack.
(09:59):
So can you imagine stacking project management with a data
analytics certification? And then finally ux design. So when I
say that it may sound Greek to a lot of people,
but think about it. These apps, Instagram, all the websites
that you go to. UX design means user experience design.
(10:22):
You're designing the experience that the person who's on that
app is using. So I remember one time with my
baking app, I had an issue with getting my password.
Every time I would log out to get the password
and come back in, the app would close. Somebody saw
that and they fixed it. So that's what that user
experience design. Along that line, that's what you would be learning.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Now let's ask you this, Sandra Cassandra. First of all,
thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation Masterclass. How
have you been This sounds like a program or your
proumdation seems to be locked into Google and provide dream
like opportunities for people who can get these scholarships by
going onto your website. How are you promoting this or
(11:08):
how are you spreading the word?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Mister rashand you know I'm country, mister rashand I am
boats on the ground. We are out here, grassroots. We
are going to every community center that's local. We are
going to the adult education classes. I am on social
media pushing this information out. I mean any and everybody
that will hear me. I'm trying to shout it from
(11:33):
the grooftops to let them know you don't want to
miss this.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
You don't want to.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Miss this opportunity to increase your earning potential. So I'm
literally out here getting in my car I call a Pearl,
Me and Pearl driving up and down these highways, trying
to get to every adult education class that we can
get to to tell these folks you need to sign.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Up, okay before we talking about the classes you're seeing.
So if someone in New York, someone in Chicago, someone
in Los Angeles, someone in use to their dollars, they
can register.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
They can. You have to be Continental US. And you know,
of course Google is gonna know if you're logging in
from outside the US. But Continental US and what I
tell you, they were generous, Like I gave myself a
pat on the back because I wrote that letter. Do
you hear me? They gave me over three hundred scholarships,
so I'm ready to deliver it to the community.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Okay, cool, listen, So you have three other scholarships available, yes, nationwide, Yes,
all individuals can do that. No, charge Jesus scholarships correct
three to six months worth for online training, but opportunity
to change your life. Your life and you're doing the
boots on the ground. Now you don't money, make conversations
(12:45):
master class. Now we're about to We're going worldwide with you,
domestic US, Continental, USA, opportunities to register. Now, let's talk
about you, said Rashelle, You and Perl that's the name
of her vehicle going up and down road. When you
go in these classes, what has been the reaction or
have you been disappointed in the reaction.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Actually, I am being well received. The program is being
well received. The thing about it is that you are
changing I'm changing minds. People are, you know, thinking that
I'll never be able to get out of the situation.
I'm robbing Peter to pay Paul And when they realized
that you have an opportunity, and what I wanted to
(13:27):
do was be credible. So I did some vetting on
the back end and I asked people who are in
hiring positions in it. Would you hire somebody with a
GED and a Google certification. A couple of people told
me who graduated college with a master's degree, He said
they lost out on their first job because they didn't
(13:50):
have a certification to a person who did. So it's valid.
It's legitimate, and the people that I meet, they are overjoyed.
Some of them might be a little skeptical at first,
but once they realized that it's legitimate. I initially had
about five hundred scholarships, so we've had so many people
(14:11):
to enroll that now that number has went down.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
To three hundred. Come on, girl, gid you said a
Ronald Bloyd. That's two hundred potential people. You've changed lives.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Please don't go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
We'll be right back with more Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
Welcome back to the Money Making Conversations Masterclass hosted by
Rashan McDonald.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
But their opportunities like you are being able to mind,
you are being able to create that have been brought
into our community that is leveling the playing field, and
by earning this opportunity to get certified, that they can
get a job, a career, a career. Thank you very much.
(14:58):
Excuse me for saying that. Now, let's talk about a
little bit more about you, because I wanted to get
that out at the top of the conversation because I
want the people to hear exactly the opportunity that your
foundation brings to the table and is changing lives. The
importance of financial literacy, that's a financial literacy is a
(15:19):
huge buzzword in the community. What does financial literacy mean
to you?
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Financial literacy means to me that you understand the words,
You hear the conversation and it's not Greek to you.
You have tools that you can use to manage your
expenses on a daily basis, that you understand how this
applies to you. I heard a song from one of
(15:45):
our famous young female rappers who says that she doesn't
give an f about a credit score. I'm sure she's
changed her mind since then because she's realized. She's realized
that you better care about that credit score. That's going
to make the difference in your borrowing potential and how
much money you have to pay back. So financial literacy
(16:07):
means that we understand the conversation and we know what
it means and how it applies to our daily life.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
So what's a misconception, Like you said, you have a
rapper out there talking to the generation of people telling
them don't care about the credits cade what you and
I know that's a value. That's a value proposition. To
have your credits code anywhere above seven hundred, you get
in an eight hundred you and as they say, platinum,
platinum zone. There. Absolutely I'm talking to Cassandra Lester her
(16:36):
foundation Grow excuse me, Grow Give prosper as partner with
initiatives like Grow with Google to offer certifications, scholarships aim
to enhance career opportunities for underserved communities. So would you
say that's your that's your mission.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Absolutely, yes, it is. That's my mission. And a lot
of people know me. They kind of because I'll go
off on a tangent in a minute, you know, I'll
start talking about you know, protection, I'll start talking about
ways to increase your earning potential. Well, first of all,
I'm passionate. I don't go I do workshops twice a month,
(17:14):
and when I go into these workshops, I'm not just
doing a lecture. I'm really connecting with my audience and
I want them to feel why I'm so passionate behind it.
I do workshops twice a month, and when I go
into these workshops, I'm not just doing a lecture. I'm
really connecting with my audience and I want them to
feel why I'm so passionate behind it. So I'm not
(17:37):
just sitting up there reading a paper. I'm really talking
to my audience. I'm asking them questions, you know. And
the green doesn't hurt, but definitely left. And I left
out of one workshop and I was like, dang, I
feel like I was in the poolpit because I really
engage with my community partners when they invite me into
these sessions. I talk to these people like their life
(17:58):
depends on it.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Well, you know, I'm going to tell you something. I
want to come to one of your sessions. I want
to be with you one time because I am all
about changing people's lives. And this is not I'm not
charging you anything. This is money making Conversations masterclass. All
it's all about if I can use my brand like
I'm using my brand of this show to let everybody
(18:21):
know about these career changing opportunities with these Google scholarships,
and all they have to do is visit your website
to register. They have a time commitment three to six months,
because each certification or scholarship has a time period of
commitment you have to do to become qualified and earn
the scholarships that's what we're talking about, and I'm just
(18:43):
talking to everybody in general. This is not tied to
a degree person. This is not tied to a person
who feels there they can't qualify. If you have a ged,
if you ever, if you didn't finish draw college, drop out,
the high school graduate, anybody who's doing a job that
you're not happy with this interview is something. Or you
(19:03):
have a relative, it's your husband, your wife, your partner,
your son, your daughter, your cousin, your nephew. Tell them, look,
don't give up. If you want to change your life,
that's what your foundation is all about, and that's what
you're doing. You're trying to really get them into the
financial literacy conversation, correct, Cassandra, I am.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I am, Because we lose so much money doing you know,
going to predatory lending options. So it's a vicious cycle
once you get in. But once you understand where you
went wrong or where you have been misled, then you
can understand where you need to make those corrections and
move forward toward a more positive outcome.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Well, you know the thing about it is that just
because you want to do good does not mean everybody
want you to do good a position you to do good.
It's Andrew. You know, I've been frustrated in my life
because I try to bring individuals like you on on
my show. I'm pretty sure you're cheerleader for change. Tell
(20:07):
us some of the roadblocks that you've had to hop over,
going around, or in fact run over to have an
interview like this on this show. Wow.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Some of the roadblocks just encountering people who minimize the
impact of obtaining financial literacy. And the very first workshop
I held, I asked them, why don't you want to
talk about this? And a couple of them, I don't
(20:37):
want you in my pocket. This is my business. You
know what you're talking about ain't gonna help me. And
then also just you know, the community as a whole,
certain demographics don't like to talk about money. They feel
like it's intrusive. And then also because I am a
small nonprofit, a lot of times I'm not taking seriously
(21:00):
by some of the bigger ones. I remember one time
I went to apply for a grant and I saw
one of my constituents apply for the same grant and
they got the grant and they told me, oh, sorry,
we don't do that. And I was like, but I
just saying you'll give her like ten thousand dollars, so
(21:20):
you know, but despite it all, and I'm gonna tell
you something. I quit every day and then I'll get
a phone calls like, mister Sandra, are you coming to
the center this weekend?
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Are you coming on Saturday?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Okay, I'll be back down there.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
I know the frustration, gleader. That's why I'm offering you.
I'm very serious about that. You you let me know,
and I'm gonna put it into my accounts and I'm
gonna come down because it don't take me long to preach,
and then it will will not take me long to
be able to tell these people this side all things.
In my degree in math manager, my minder was in
sociology and computer science, so I'm a computer juesusiene nerd
(21:55):
I were in college. I almost went and got my
degree in mis management information system. So I've always been
a person that's aware of data management and data security. Now,
with that being said, let's tell everybody. Google didn't come
to you.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
The relationship started because I'm out here for my people.
You know, you have a person that understands how important
this is. And even though some people may not quite
get it yet, that's not going to stop me from
trying to get stuff that's going to be good for them.
So I actually was using Google for a different capacity,
and then I was on a webinar and they were
(22:35):
just talking about some of the other products that were
offered and they, you know, it's certain requirements that had
to be met, and they were like, if you want
to offer these scholarships to your community to help your
community increase their earning potential. And I'm going to repeat
something that I said earlier, Justice impacted communities, low income communities.
(22:57):
Google is intentionally looking to see these communities to give
them an opportunity to level up if you will. So
once I heard that, I said, this is what we need,
you know, because you can't talk about managing finances if
you really don't have anything coming in. You know, it's possible,
(23:17):
but ultimately being able to earn a living is the
first pillar in financial literacy increasing your earning potential. So
when I heard that that wasn't an opportunity, I jumped
on it. I you know, like I was obsessed.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
I was.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
I wrote three, four or five different you know pitches,
and finally I settled on one. I submitted it and
it seemed like forever getting a word back. And then
when I got the word back, they were like, you're
approved and you know, this is what and this is
how it goes and good luck. And I was like, wow,
thank you, you.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Know well, thank you, thank you for coming on my show.
Thank you for being honest about your journey and the
fact that you are giving five hundred scholarships Google scholarships.
Now you down at three hundred. Our goal is to
get it down to zero. Our goal is to make
your organization to be one of the top job finders
(24:15):
or career finders for Google. Want. I want that praise
only comes to effort. Praise only comes through relationships and mentoring.
And that's what I want to do to mentor you.
That's why I want to give you my time personally
to try to get the word out. But again, as
we close the show, tell everybody about your initiative that
(24:37):
you grow with Google and the jobs and how they
can go and get these free scholarships that are being
offered three to six months depending on the certification. The
floor ish yours all right?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
You know, community, come on out if you go to
grow give prosper dot org. Scroll to the bottom Google Scholarships.
Just click on. The barrier to entry is low. The
only thing we require from you is a commitment and
a desire to want to do better and to see
the program through to the end. So grow giveprosper dot
(25:13):
org click on the Google Career scholarships. They have scholarships
in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, and e commerce, IT support,
project management, and UX design and these scholarships are self
paced online typically take three to six months to complete.
(25:35):
No experience is necessary. You don't have to have any
experience just to get started. And one thing I didn't
mention is that you will get a portfolio. At the
end of your certification. You will have created a portfolio
that you can market to end demand businesses and you
can go from having no experience to have to have
(25:59):
created a portfolio that's gonna make you viable in the market.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Well, thank you, I tell you again. Any future goals
and community engagements you want to mention before we wrap
up the interview.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Okay, really quickly, As I mentioned, I'm always in Rothdale County,
Clayton County. I'm gonna be heading down to Jasper, I'm
really going to one of the housing authorities down there
to talk to those single parents. You know, I'm going
where I need to meet my community where they are.
So me and Pearl gonna hit the road and we're
gonna be heading down south to these communities that are
(26:36):
often untouched.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Well, let's put this way, you and Pearl, they can
reach you in Parol online through the internet. Just go
to your website grow give prosper dot org and you
can look for scroll down, as you say, google scholarships.
Go through the options, find out the one that fits you.
If you want to find out the value, the career
(26:58):
value of these jobs, just google salary and they'll show
you how in three to six months you can start competing.
That's all you want. That's all you want. It's competing
in an industry that you once thought was impossible to
crack because you didn't know how. You thought you had
to go to our four year institution and had to
(27:20):
go to an Ivy League type school to get career
changing opportunities. And then guess what financial literacy will mean
something to your dead again. Cats, thank you for coming
on Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Thank you mister Rishawd and bless your ministry.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
But this has been another edition of Money Making Conversations
Masterclass posted by me Rashaun McDonald. Thank you to our
guests on the show today and thank you listening to
the audience now. If you want to listen to any
episode I want to be a guest on the show,
visit Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money
Making Conversations. Join us next week and remember to always
(27:58):
leave with your gifts. Keep win.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Nate
Welcome to the show. I'm Rashaan MacDonald, the host of
Money Making Conversations Masterclass, where we encourage people to stop
reading other people's success stories and start planning their own.
Listen up as I interview entrepreneurs from around the country,
talk to celebrities and ask them how they are running
their companies, and speak with nonprofits who are making a
(00:25):
difference in their local communities. Now, sit back and listen
as we unlock the secrets to their success on Money
Making Conversations Masterclass. My guest has been instrumental and providing
resources that help individuals make inform financial decisions, optimize their resources,
and develop healthy financial habits. Under her leadership, Grow Give
(00:49):
Prosper as partnered with in partnered with initiatives like grow
with Google to offer certification scholarships aiming to enhance career
opportunities for under serve communities. Please work with the Money
Making Conversation massaclat Cassandra Lester. How you doing, Cassandra, I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Swell, Rashaan, how are you pretty good?
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Now? Let's get this. Give us the name of your
is it a nonprofit?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It is a nonprofit, Grow Give prosper.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
How did you come up with that name, you know.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
What, actually, because that's what I want to see my
community do. I want us to grow together so that
we can give to each other and then prosper as
a collective. So that's how I came up with that name.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Of how long you long have you had the foundation?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I have been in the financial education since about twenty
seventeen and I started the nonprofit of twenty twenty three.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Okay, cool, so you said financial education. Can you give
us a little of your background from a financial literacy
standpoint before we get into the interview.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Okay, sure. So it all started when I was a
human resource and off manager at a very prominent medical
facility here in the state of Georgia. And one thing
I noticed, from the people who had the PhDs to
the ones who had the GEDs, every time we sat
down to do that tax paperwork, it leveled the playing field.
(02:15):
So that's when I realized that financial education doesn't matter
who you are, what you look like. It's a matter
of accessibility.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
I want to tell you, so, I have a math degree, Cassandra,
I am scared to death to do my taxes. I
have never in my life the easy form nothing I've
always paid somebody to do my taxes. So when you
say level the playfield you're talking about Rishan McDonald, I
am a person. Go can you do my taxes please?
Because I'm confused. So let's talk about you and what
(02:47):
you're trying to do. When you say the word community,
what do you mean when you are whole you or
referencing When you say the word community.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
A community, I'm talking about the people that I encounter
in my daily life walking outside, going to the grocery store,
going to the restaurant, going to the library. You know,
in my traditional nine to five. These are people who
I consider a part of my community. And what I
realized is that, like I mentioned before, it didn't matter
(03:18):
what their background was. We all had the same struggle
and the difference was that nobody was talking about it.
So to me, community is just everybody who has the
same need that needs to get that outreach and to
get that education.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Now, if you're not, if you got like halfway listening
to the show, I want you to stop and focus
on the show because this is the reason, one of
the many reasons I brought her on the show for
this interview. Her partnership with Grow with Google. That's the
name of it. Grow with Google. Now, Google is what
we're about to concentrate on and what they're doing with
(04:00):
your foundation. Talk to us about what is Grow with Google.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Grow with Google is a tremendous outreach initiative that Google
has delivered to community partners like myself, where we are
delivering career certification scholarships to any and everyone who wants it,
(04:26):
specifically justice impacted, specifically economically impacted communities that may not
have access to that level of education due to financial restraints.
So Google is now saying that, hey, we want to
give you a chance to thrive to So we're going
(04:46):
to give you a chance to get a career certification
entry level into cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, e commerce,
IT support, project management, UX design, which is user design,
which is those apps and websites. So Google is now
(05:07):
leveling the playing field. They're saying, you don't have to
have an IVY League education in order to make an
earnable a livable wage.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Now that's be on livable wage. I'm gonna just let
everybody know that. Just go to the Internet, Google or
indeed and Google salaries of all the job titles that
she listed. You'll see that these are game changing opportunities
that this foundation that Cassandra Lester created, that it's partner
(05:36):
with Google. And I want to hang on this for
a minute because I don't want to blow past it,
because I want people to be able to reach out
to you. Do you have a website that they can visit?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Certainly if they go to grow with I'm sorry, Grow
give prosper dot org and scroll to the bottom. You're
gonna see the Google scholarship link and the barrier to
entry is very low. We don't want to make a different.
If you have a commitment to yourself and if you
want to increase your earning potential, all you have to
(06:07):
do in the state of Georgia, no matter where you're located,
is go to this website, Grow Give prosper dot org,
scroll to the bottom Google Certifications, read the information. If
it's what you want for yourself, then enroll and Coursera
is going to send you the link and you can
start learning today.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Now, let's do go over those job opportunities that are
available on your website.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Okay, so cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, and e commerce
and this I kind of want to just really touch
on them really quickly. Digital markets.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Please do slow it down because I want people to
understand that, you know. And let me also say this.
You say the word scholarship. Oh yeah. Is there a fee?
Speaker 2 (06:53):
No fee, There's no fee. The only fee is that
you have to commit to doing it because we have
to give a you know, data at the end of
the program, which, by the way, was scheduled to end
in December twenty twenty five, and Google has extended it
to December twenty twenty six. So since these courses take
three to six months to complete, you have a chance
(07:14):
to go in and roll and get several certifications between
now and December twenty twenty fifth.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Would you give you several or job opportunities to go
out there and get in the game, as we say,
get the game and not get left out. And this
is somebody who may be working a blue college, blue
collar job, somebody who may be just have a ged
somebody who may have a two year degree. This level
(07:41):
is the plan field for anybody that these scholarships that's
being offered through your foundation through Google. And you're saying, Richard,
there's no charge. It's based on if you sign up,
please compete it. Please don't just sign up to be
signed up for the first time in your life. Make
an effort to complete something that can change your life both.
(08:02):
You know, I'm sure I have a college degree on
my wall, or math degree, and I always tell people
you can't repoll that degree, which means you can't take that.
But well, once it's on that wall, you can't take
it back. And it's not like a car, it's like
a house. Once you've been certified a degree, that's yours
for life, and it also gives you a sense of
empowerment that you can change your life and the surroundings
(08:24):
around you. So you going to give us more detail
on each one of these job titles that we're doing
with I'm talking with Cassandra Lester. Give us your foundation
one more time and your website.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Okay, Growth Gift Prosper and the website is growthgiftprosper dot org.
And I'm going to dive into what Google certifications are
currently available. We have cybersecurity. You know, if you're the
kind of person who wants to be the you know, savior,
you want to be able to come in and you know,
throward all of these. I think we just heard a
(08:55):
couple of days ago about a cyber attack that happened,
you know, I think it was in the city of Atlanta.
So if you want to be the kind of person
who can recognize these attacks before they happen, cybersecurity is
a great field for you to get into data analytics.
If you want to tell businesses what's trending, where they
can find the money. Data analytics is for you. Digital
(09:16):
marketing and e commerce. We're all over the website. We're
all out here shopping online. Digital marketing and e commerce.
That's gonna tell you. You know previously where I said
you're going to show the businesses where the money where
you are the one that's making the money. You are
putting your product or products for other people online and
making it avail and making it available for them to
(09:37):
purchase it. Support so you can stack it support with cybersecurity.
You are providing daily maintenance to laptops, phones, computers. It
support project management. Now, when I mentioned that you can
get several certifications, these are certifications that you can stack.
(09:59):
So can you imagine stacking project management with a data
analytics certification? And then finally ux design. So when I
say that it may sound Greek to a lot of people,
but think about it. These apps, Instagram, all the websites
that you go to. UX design means user experience design.
(10:22):
You're designing the experience that the person who's on that
app is using. So I remember one time with my
baking app, I had an issue with getting my password.
Every time I would log out to get the password
and come back in, the app would close. Somebody saw
that and they fixed it. So that's what that user
experience design. Along that line, that's what you would be learning.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Now let's ask you this, Sandra Cassandra. First of all,
thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation Masterclass. How
have you been This sounds like a program or your
proumdation seems to be locked into Google and provide dream
like opportunities for people who can get these scholarships by
going onto your website. How are you promoting this or
(11:08):
how are you spreading the word?
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Mister rashand you know I'm country, mister rashand I am
boats on the ground. We are out here, grassroots. We
are going to every community center that's local. We are
going to the adult education classes. I am on social
media pushing this information out. I mean any and everybody
that will hear me. I'm trying to shout it from
(11:33):
the grooftops to let them know you don't want to
miss this.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
You don't want to.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Miss this opportunity to increase your earning potential. So I'm
literally out here getting in my car I call a Pearl,
Me and Pearl driving up and down these highways, trying
to get to every adult education class that we can
get to to tell these folks you need to sign.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Up, okay before we talking about the classes you're seeing.
So if someone in New York, someone in Chicago, someone
in Los Angeles, someone in use to their dollars, they
can register.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
They can. You have to be Continental US. And you know,
of course Google is gonna know if you're logging in
from outside the US. But Continental US and what I
tell you, they were generous, Like I gave myself a
pat on the back because I wrote that letter. Do
you hear me? They gave me over three hundred scholarships,
so I'm ready to deliver it to the community.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
Okay, cool, listen, So you have three other scholarships available, yes, nationwide, Yes,
all individuals can do that. No, charge Jesus scholarships correct
three to six months worth for online training, but opportunity
to change your life. Your life and you're doing the
boots on the ground. Now you don't money, make conversations
(12:45):
master class. Now we're about to We're going worldwide with you,
domestic US, Continental, USA, opportunities to register. Now, let's talk
about you, said Rashelle, You and Perl that's the name
of her vehicle going up and down road. When you
go in these classes, what has been the reaction or
have you been disappointed in the reaction.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Actually, I am being well received. The program is being
well received. The thing about it is that you are
changing I'm changing minds. People are, you know, thinking that
I'll never be able to get out of the situation.
I'm robbing Peter to pay Paul And when they realized
that you have an opportunity, and what I wanted to
(13:27):
do was be credible. So I did some vetting on
the back end and I asked people who are in
hiring positions in it. Would you hire somebody with a
GED and a Google certification. A couple of people told
me who graduated college with a master's degree, He said
they lost out on their first job because they didn't
(13:50):
have a certification to a person who did. So it's valid.
It's legitimate, and the people that I meet, they are overjoyed.
Some of them might be a little skeptical at first,
but once they realized that it's legitimate. I initially had
about five hundred scholarships, so we've had so many people
(14:11):
to enroll that now that number has went down.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
To three hundred. Come on, girl, gid you said a
Ronald Bloyd. That's two hundred potential people. You've changed lives.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Please don't go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
We'll be right back with more Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
Welcome back to the Money Making Conversations Masterclass hosted by
Rashan McDonald.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
But their opportunities like you are being able to mind,
you are being able to create that have been brought
into our community that is leveling the playing field, and
by earning this opportunity to get certified, that they can
get a job, a career, a career. Thank you very much.
(14:58):
Excuse me for saying that. Now, let's talk about a
little bit more about you, because I wanted to get
that out at the top of the conversation because I
want the people to hear exactly the opportunity that your
foundation brings to the table and is changing lives. The
importance of financial literacy, that's a financial literacy is a
(15:19):
huge buzzword in the community. What does financial literacy mean
to you?
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Financial literacy means to me that you understand the words,
You hear the conversation and it's not Greek to you.
You have tools that you can use to manage your
expenses on a daily basis, that you understand how this
applies to you. I heard a song from one of
(15:45):
our famous young female rappers who says that she doesn't
give an f about a credit score. I'm sure she's
changed her mind since then because she's realized. She's realized
that you better care about that credit score. That's going
to make the difference in your borrowing potential and how
much money you have to pay back. So financial literacy
(16:07):
means that we understand the conversation and we know what
it means and how it applies to our daily life.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
So what's a misconception, Like you said, you have a
rapper out there talking to the generation of people telling
them don't care about the credits cade what you and
I know that's a value. That's a value proposition. To
have your credits code anywhere above seven hundred, you get
in an eight hundred you and as they say, platinum,
platinum zone. There. Absolutely I'm talking to Cassandra Lester her
(16:36):
foundation Grow excuse me, Grow Give prosper as partner with
initiatives like Grow with Google to offer certifications, scholarships aim
to enhance career opportunities for underserved communities. So would you
say that's your that's your mission.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Absolutely, yes, it is. That's my mission. And a lot
of people know me. They kind of because I'll go
off on a tangent in a minute, you know, I'll
start talking about you know, protection, I'll start talking about
ways to increase your earning potential. Well, first of all,
I'm passionate. I don't go I do workshops twice a month,
(17:14):
and when I go into these workshops, I'm not just
doing a lecture. I'm really connecting with my audience and
I want them to feel why I'm so passionate behind it.
I do workshops twice a month, and when I go
into these workshops, I'm not just doing a lecture. I'm
really connecting with my audience and I want them to
feel why I'm so passionate behind it. So I'm not
(17:37):
just sitting up there reading a paper. I'm really talking
to my audience. I'm asking them questions, you know. And
the green doesn't hurt, but definitely left. And I left
out of one workshop and I was like, dang, I
feel like I was in the poolpit because I really
engage with my community partners when they invite me into
these sessions. I talk to these people like their life
(17:58):
depends on it.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Well, you know, I'm going to tell you something. I
want to come to one of your sessions. I want
to be with you one time because I am all
about changing people's lives. And this is not I'm not
charging you anything. This is money making Conversations masterclass. All
it's all about if I can use my brand like
I'm using my brand of this show to let everybody
(18:21):
know about these career changing opportunities with these Google scholarships,
and all they have to do is visit your website
to register. They have a time commitment three to six months,
because each certification or scholarship has a time period of
commitment you have to do to become qualified and earn
the scholarships that's what we're talking about, and I'm just
(18:43):
talking to everybody in general. This is not tied to
a degree person. This is not tied to a person
who feels there they can't qualify. If you have a ged,
if you ever, if you didn't finish draw college, drop out,
the high school graduate, anybody who's doing a job that
you're not happy with this interview is something. Or you
(19:03):
have a relative, it's your husband, your wife, your partner,
your son, your daughter, your cousin, your nephew. Tell them, look,
don't give up. If you want to change your life,
that's what your foundation is all about, and that's what
you're doing. You're trying to really get them into the
financial literacy conversation, correct, Cassandra, I am.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
I am, Because we lose so much money doing you know,
going to predatory lending options. So it's a vicious cycle
once you get in. But once you understand where you
went wrong or where you have been misled, then you
can understand where you need to make those corrections and
move forward toward a more positive outcome.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Well, you know the thing about it is that just
because you want to do good does not mean everybody
want you to do good a position you to do good.
It's Andrew. You know, I've been frustrated in my life
because I try to bring individuals like you on on
my show. I'm pretty sure you're cheerleader for change. Tell
(20:07):
us some of the roadblocks that you've had to hop over,
going around, or in fact run over to have an
interview like this on this show. Wow.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Some of the roadblocks just encountering people who minimize the
impact of obtaining financial literacy. And the very first workshop
I held, I asked them, why don't you want to
talk about this? And a couple of them, I don't
(20:37):
want you in my pocket. This is my business. You
know what you're talking about ain't gonna help me. And
then also just you know, the community as a whole,
certain demographics don't like to talk about money. They feel
like it's intrusive. And then also because I am a
small nonprofit, a lot of times I'm not taking seriously
(21:00):
by some of the bigger ones. I remember one time
I went to apply for a grant and I saw
one of my constituents apply for the same grant and
they got the grant and they told me, oh, sorry,
we don't do that. And I was like, but I
just saying you'll give her like ten thousand dollars, so
(21:20):
you know, but despite it all, and I'm gonna tell
you something. I quit every day and then I'll get
a phone calls like, mister Sandra, are you coming to
the center this weekend?
Speaker 1 (21:29):
Are you coming on Saturday?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Okay, I'll be back down there.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
I know the frustration, gleader. That's why I'm offering you.
I'm very serious about that. You you let me know,
and I'm gonna put it into my accounts and I'm
gonna come down because it don't take me long to preach,
and then it will will not take me long to
be able to tell these people this side all things.
In my degree in math manager, my minder was in
sociology and computer science, so I'm a computer juesusiene nerd
(21:55):
I were in college. I almost went and got my
degree in mis management information system. So I've always been
a person that's aware of data management and data security. Now,
with that being said, let's tell everybody. Google didn't come
to you.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
The relationship started because I'm out here for my people.
You know, you have a person that understands how important
this is. And even though some people may not quite
get it yet, that's not going to stop me from
trying to get stuff that's going to be good for them.
So I actually was using Google for a different capacity,
and then I was on a webinar and they were
(22:35):
just talking about some of the other products that were
offered and they, you know, it's certain requirements that had
to be met, and they were like, if you want
to offer these scholarships to your community to help your
community increase their earning potential. And I'm going to repeat
something that I said earlier, Justice impacted communities, low income communities.
(22:57):
Google is intentionally looking to see these communities to give
them an opportunity to level up if you will. So
once I heard that, I said, this is what we need,
you know, because you can't talk about managing finances if
you really don't have anything coming in. You know, it's possible,
(23:17):
but ultimately being able to earn a living is the
first pillar in financial literacy increasing your earning potential. So
when I heard that that wasn't an opportunity, I jumped
on it. I you know, like I was obsessed.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
I was.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
I wrote three, four or five different you know pitches,
and finally I settled on one. I submitted it and
it seemed like forever getting a word back. And then
when I got the word back, they were like, you're
approved and you know, this is what and this is
how it goes and good luck. And I was like, wow,
thank you, you.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Know well, thank you, thank you for coming on my show.
Thank you for being honest about your journey and the
fact that you are giving five hundred scholarships Google scholarships.
Now you down at three hundred. Our goal is to
get it down to zero. Our goal is to make
your organization to be one of the top job finders
(24:15):
or career finders for Google. Want. I want that praise
only comes to effort. Praise only comes through relationships and mentoring.
And that's what I want to do to mentor you.
That's why I want to give you my time personally
to try to get the word out. But again, as
we close the show, tell everybody about your initiative that
(24:37):
you grow with Google and the jobs and how they
can go and get these free scholarships that are being
offered three to six months depending on the certification. The
floor ish yours all right?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
You know, community, come on out if you go to
grow give prosper dot org. Scroll to the bottom Google Scholarships.
Just click on. The barrier to entry is low. The
only thing we require from you is a commitment and
a desire to want to do better and to see
the program through to the end. So grow giveprosper dot
(25:13):
org click on the Google Career scholarships. They have scholarships
in cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing, and e commerce, IT support,
project management, and UX design and these scholarships are self
paced online typically take three to six months to complete.
(25:35):
No experience is necessary. You don't have to have any
experience just to get started. And one thing I didn't
mention is that you will get a portfolio. At the
end of your certification. You will have created a portfolio
that you can market to end demand businesses and you
can go from having no experience to have to have
(25:59):
created a portfolio that's gonna make you viable in the market.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Well, thank you, I tell you again. Any future goals
and community engagements you want to mention before we wrap
up the interview.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Okay, really quickly, As I mentioned, I'm always in Rothdale County,
Clayton County. I'm gonna be heading down to Jasper, I'm
really going to one of the housing authorities down there
to talk to those single parents. You know, I'm going
where I need to meet my community where they are.
So me and Pearl gonna hit the road and we're
gonna be heading down south to these communities that are
(26:36):
often untouched.
Speaker 1 (26:38):
Well, let's put this way, you and Pearl, they can
reach you in Parol online through the internet. Just go
to your website grow give prosper dot org and you
can look for scroll down, as you say, google scholarships.
Go through the options, find out the one that fits you.
If you want to find out the value, the career
(26:58):
value of these jobs, just google salary and they'll show
you how in three to six months you can start competing.
That's all you want. That's all you want. It's competing
in an industry that you once thought was impossible to
crack because you didn't know how. You thought you had
to go to our four year institution and had to
(27:20):
go to an Ivy League type school to get career
changing opportunities. And then guess what financial literacy will mean
something to your dead again. Cats, thank you for coming
on Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
Speaker 2 (27:33):
Thank you mister Rishawd and bless your ministry.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
But this has been another edition of Money Making Conversations
Masterclass posted by me Rashaun McDonald. Thank you to our
guests on the show today and thank you listening to
the audience now. If you want to listen to any
episode I want to be a guest on the show,
visit Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money
Making Conversations. Join us next week and remember to always
(27:58):
leave with your gifts. Keep win.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
Nate
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