Felix Brandon Lloyd

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2007

Felix Brandon Lloyd

CentsCity

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Education & Youth Leadership

The Bold Idea:

While national attention around the importance of financial stability has increased, U.S. schools often do not include any curriculum around financial literacy. As a result, young adults are increasingly faced with the problems of personal debt and little financial know-how. In 2005 alone, for example, an average college student carried a credit card balance exceeding $2500.

CentsCity utilizes the growing popularity of internet-based virtual worlds and harvests this excitement to create learning opportunities for American youth. It will build a virtual city in which each student’s fictional persona will have an occupation, investments, buddies, and “quests” that teach math and financial skills. This online social network will empower youth with technology that can be used in and out of the classroom to build, share, and apply life-skills.

Biography:

Felix Brandon Lloyd received his BA from Syracuse University and an MFA from Washington University. He was a classroom teacher and served as Dean of Students at the SEED Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. During this time, he was named Washington, D.C.’s Teacher of the Year and featured in both Newsweek magazine and The Washington Post. For two years, Felix led Microsoft’s Washington to Washington Program in which students populated the virtual “Generation I-Land.”

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
In February of 2006, my father passed away unexpectedly after a car accident. During his lifetime, he was committed to leading social change by building the financial foundation of underserved communities. I only recently began to recognize the importance of financial intelligence and the power underlying my father’s convictions. At the time of his death, I more intensely understood my opportunity and obligation to provide a tool to households and classrooms that makes money make sense.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched social problems in the world?
I have been fortunate to have women in my life who have encouraged me to aspire to greater heights. My mother committed endless time, energy, and love to giving me opportunities she and her seven siblings did not have. Since meeting my wife six years ago, she has provided an example of committing one’s self to impacting positive change. We continue to work together to build CentsCity, employing our skills and resources in business, education, and technology toward building financial literacy.

New and Untested: What’s innovative about your new idea for social change?
CentsCity applies the engaging technology of online role-playing and social networking sites like the Sims and SecondLife to develop high school students' financial and math skills. In a virtual city, colored by landmarks such as Penny Park and Six Cents Cafe, every user has a fictional persona with an occupation, investments, buddies to chat with, and quests that teach math and financial skills. This virtual experience makes learning more dynamic and breaks beyond classroom walls. The young people served by CentsCity will become adults with the financial savvy to build their own and others’ assets.

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?
I believe that success is inspired by leaders who are both “tree shakers” and “jelly makers.” A social entrepreneur must have a vision of a world that is improved by the work (s)he does. But the big idea alone is not enough. (S)he must give great attention to detail, recognizing the critical steps that must be taken and the obstacles that must be overcome along an often evolving path. Success becomes most possible through diligence, faith, and a patience that simply won’t quit.

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?
For years, my mother drove a car that only had AM radio. We kept it tuned to an “Oldies But Goodies” station, which got me hooked on classic soul by the time I was six. When it comes to inspiration, I love Marvin Gayes’ Live at the London Palladium album and Curtis Mayfield’s single “We the People Who Are Darker than Blue.” My favorite musician of all time is Anita Baker, hands down. On the contemporary scene, I’ve recently been listening to Van Hunt and Robin Thicke.

What books do you recommend?
I put off picking up Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad for two years until too many of my friends had recommended I read it. Once I finished the book, my way of thinking about money and wealth changed considerably and has since inspired my personal and professional choices. I’d also recommend the novels Blindness by Jose Saramago and The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead as two of the most visionary works of fiction I have had the pleasure of reading. Valerie Boyd’s Wrapped in Rainbows is an excellent biography of author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston.

Which websites do you visit often?

• washingtonpost.com and washtimes.com (a native of Washington, D.C., I begin most online experiences by visiting the Washington Post and Washington Times websites
• seriousgamessource.com, education-world.com, and linkedin.com (since founding Cents City, I have also taken more interest in these sites)
• americalearns.net (an excellent resource from an organization, led by 2003 Echoing Green Fellow Gary Kosman, with whom I hope to partner)
• espn.com (of course, the football fanatic in me can’t let too much time pass before checking the latest headlines on ESPN)

What advice or quote do you keep close to your heart as a social change leader?
My high school girlfriend once shared with me a simple inspirational saying that she pulled from a calendar: “The person who moves mountains begins by carrying away small stones.” In starting CentsCity, I look at the tremendous challenge of improving financial literacy in a nation where personal debt continues to soar and take heart in the small strides that must be made toward achieving a giant impact. I am confident that young people who are engaged by CentsCity’s timely approach to teaching and learning will be better prepared to make financial decisions that afford them greater opportunities.