Did you even know April is Financial Literacy Month? The United States Senate deemed April Financial Literacy Month in 2003 and a resolution was passed in 2004 making it official. During the month of April, schools, businesses and non-profits are meant to provide education and tools to increase people’s financial literacy – because while we’re all taught calculus and how to dissect a frog in high school, we’re not taught how to manage debt or invest. But Stacks House, a fun pop-up in Los Angeles, is making financial literacy cool and Instagram worthy!
By: Jennifer Birn
The founders of She Stacks, award-winning personal finance expert, bestselling author and “So Money” podcast host Farnoosh Torabi and experiential marketers Kindra Meyer and Patience Ramsey, decided to take on the challenge of promoting financial education via Stacks House, ‘A pop-up with the purpose of promoting financial literacy.’ It accomplishes this through themed (made for Instagram) rooms that each have a beacon where people can test their financial knowledge. Each room within Stacks House is designed around key financial goals such as earning more, saving, eliminating debt and investing wisely. In each guests enjoy over-the-top, participatory experiences that marry useful information with messages of empowerment.
Meyer said, “We want to show women that wealth-building doesn’t have to be boring. With She Stacks, we’re making financial literacy simple, sexy and social.”
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The first sponsor to sign on was Day Owl, a wine company that created The Gold Bar at Stacks House which features a life size nest – so you can jump in and sense what your nest egg can feel like, gold wings on the wall, and coasters and napkins rife with quotes from wise women. Day Owl co-founder Katie O’Neill said, “Day Owl is proud to partner with Stacks House and its three strong female founders. We believe in both their passion and mission to boost women’s financial literacy and confidence while gaining new wisdoms in an important area of life. We’re here to celebrate them – and every woman – by raising a glass of rosé.”
The idea is for guests to sit and discuss what they learned, over a glass of delectable rose – once they’ve weaved through the rooms that precede it.
To get guests all first visit the Debt Boxing Gym, where they can box out debt frustrations; Charles Schwab’s “Retirement Rodeo,” where the courageous will take a ride on a mechanical piggy bank meant to represent the ups and downs of the stock market; Zelle’s Money Moves rooms, representing how easy it is to split costs with friends, family and roommates whether traveling or celebrating together ; a gift shop of all female-owned brands curated by Bulletin – and ultimately, land in Day Owl’s Gold Bar.
Stacks House is a touring, ticketed pop up museum that opened the doors on their first location downtown Los Angeles (in the former home of the Museum of Ice Cream) mid-April. It will remain open until at least May 19 and then take the show on the road, with plans to pop up in cities such as Minneapolis, Austin, Detroit, Chicago and more before ultimately concluding in New York City, home of the She Stacks founders.
Actress Rose McGowan recently visited and said, “I learned so much in such a fun way. It wasn’t intimidating, it wasn’t scary…You can tell the people behind SheStacks really want the best for women and that’s just so beautiful. It surpassed my expectations.”
She added, “A major take away for me was what to do with my money and how to get back into the market,” explaining, “I took some stuff out and now it has to go back in. And also autonomy and learning how to do stuff for myself and not counting on accountants or other people to do it for me. And not being scared of it…Money is something that terrifies a lot of people. I know I am quite terrified of it. And most of us don’t get a financial education. My parents were artists, I didn’t know anything. So, I hire other people to do it for me but I know I can do this myself if I believe in myself and I know that I can.”
Stacks House is located at 2018 E. 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021and open Wednesday through Sunday 12pm – 10pm.
For More information check out:https://www.stackshouse.com/