Financial Literacy with Families: Opportunity and Hope

Abstract

In this article, the author explores the link between citizens' quantitative literacy abilities and their financial prosperity. The author applies a robust social justice research vision and a Freirean approach to describe personal flourishing within the context of numerical, mathematical, and financial literacy (NMFL) education. Four families participated in a weekly evening community program that was designed to inform them about NMFLs. Analysis of the interview data showed that participants described a sense of personal flourishing, gained confidence and skills, and felt financially empowered enough to teach and transfer that knowledge to their children. The author proposes a conceptual framework linking personal flourishing with NMFLs, and suggests the framework be used to investigate and describe quantitative literacy and financial literacy in future empowering pedagogies research.