Mississippi Council on Economic Education to Host Free Financial Literacy Rock N’ Roll Concert for high school students

Selena Swartzfager

Mississippi Council on Economic Education to Host Free Financial Literacy Rock N’ Roll Concert for high school students

Jackson, MS – August 26, 2024 – Weaving a high-energy, live rock performance with lessons in finance, the band Gooding returns to Mississippi October 28, 2024 to share with students how financial literacy and confidence can help them make their dreams come true.


The Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) — a nonprofit in Mississippi that aims to advance K-12 education in economic and personal finance literacy across the state — along with Cadence Bank and Tougaloo College are making this event possible.


Selena Swartzfager, president of the MCEE, says the band’s music and message is positive for young people. “I was initially doubtful that a rock n’ roll concert would be a good setting for a lesson on personal finance. Then, I saw Gooding in action when they performed for Jackson Public School students at the Jackson Convention Complex last year. Once the music was over the teaching began, you could have heard a pin drop in that room. The students were so attentive and the message from a cool rock star hits different than the one from a teacher or banker. This concert isn’t the whole personal finance education message but an incredibly exciting part of the pie,” said Selena Swartzfager.


After the concert, lead singer and guitarist Steven Gooding 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.


“Some people think rock and roll and financial literacy don’t have much to do with each other, but they actually do,” Gooding said. “It wasn’t until I saw what we do as a business that it began allowing us the freedom to do what we wanted. We’re on our own music label now, so we play what we want to play and tour how we want to tour. We wouldn’t be able to do it if we weren’t investing in ourselves.”


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, a nonprofit organization that teaches children the importance of financial literacy.


Concert Highlights:

  • Date: Monday, October 28, 2024
  • Time: 10 am – 11:30 am
  • Location: Tougaloo College, Jackson, MS, Gymnasium
  • Cost: Free to attend but registration required as space is limited. 


Educators interested bringing high school students can register using the following link: https://form.jotform.com/MSEconEd/gooding-concert.


About the Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE): The Mississippi Council on Economic Education is committed to providing Mississippi educators with the resources and training necessary to effectively teach economics and personal finance. MCEE’s mission is to ensure that all Mississippi students graduate with a strong foundation in economic and personal finance literacy, equipping them for success in life.


Contact: Mississippi Council on Economic Education
Phone: (601) 974-1325
Email: mscee@millsaps.edu
Website: www.mscee.org

Mississippi Council on Economic Education President Selena Swartzfager Receives National Technology Award

By Selena Swartzfager • March 24, 2025
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Mississippi Council on Economic Education Announces Upcoming Economics Challenge and Personal Finance Challenge

By Selena Swartzfager • March 3, 2025
JACKSON, MS – March 3, 2025 - The Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) is excited to announce the upcoming Economics Challenge and Personal Finance Challenge, set to take place on April 8 and April 10 respectively at Mississippi Public Broadcasting. These competitions will bring together top-performing student teams from across the state to showcase their knowledge in economics and personal finance. Students from across Mississippi have the opportunity to demonstrate their financial literacy and economic understanding through these engaging and competitive challenges. The highest-performing teams from regional competitions will advance to the state challenges in April, where they will compete for the chance to represent Mississippi at the national level. Teachers and students interested in participating can find more information and register at www.mscee.org. MCEE is grateful to State Farm for their generous support as the lead sponsor for both the Economics Challenge and the Personal Finance Challenge. State Farm’s commitment to financial education extends beyond these competitions, as they are also sponsoring two Family Financial Fun Nights—one in Jackson and one in Biloxi this fall. Through a total contribution of $30,000, State Farm is helping to promote financial literacy and economic education for students and families throughout Mississippi. “We are incredibly thankful to State Farm for their continued investment in the financial education of Mississippi’s students and families,” said Selena Swartzfager, President of MCEE. “Their support allows us to provide valuable learning experiences that empower students with the skills they need to succeed in life. We get excited about competition in sports and we should have the same passion about competition in academics. “ First and second place teams at the State Challenges received college scholarships. These teams will also compete in a televised quiz bowl to be shown on Mississippi Public Broadcasting later this year. For more information about the Economics Challenge, the Personal Finance Challenge, and upcoming Family Financial Fun Nights, please visit www.mscee.org. About Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) MCEE is dedicated to increasing economic and financial literacy in Mississippi by providing resources and training to K-12 educators, empowering students to create a more prosperous future for themselves and Mississippi. Our purpose is to enhance the quality of instruction in economics, entrepreneurship, and personal finance to Mississippi’s K-12 students in ways that are academically sound and nonpartisan. We train educators to be proficient in teaching students a demonstrated understanding of economic and financial literacy in order to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives. ### Selena Swartzfager, President Mississippi Council on Economic Education 1701 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39210 601-937-1424 MSCEE@millsaps.edu  www.mscee.org https://www.instagram.com/mseconeducation/ https://www.facebook.com/mseconeducation/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/mseconeducation/

Christy Holyfield Elected FY25 Chair of the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education

By Selena Swartzfager • December 9, 2024
Jackson, MS — December 9, 2024 — The Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) is pleased to announce the election of Christy Holyfield as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2025. With a distinguished career in the banking industry and a commitment to community development, Christy brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the organization. With 17 years of experience in the banking industry, Christy Holyfield serves as Regional Support Officer for Citizens National Bank’s Central Mississippi Region. In this position, she assists with strategic planning and provides operational oversight regarding the Bank’s three locations in the Jackson Metro area which include Madison, Ridgeland and Flowood with plans to expand into Gluckstadt soon. Christy also serves on a select committee of the Bank which is designed to ensure that employee morale remains high, and the Bank’s corporate culture continues to be very positive throughout its 27 branch locations. In addition, she plays an integral role in eh planning of company-wide annual meetings and bank-hosted events, as well as monthly employee meetings, which provide ongoing sales training for the Bank’s retail employees. Throughout her career at the Bank, she has been recognized numerous times through the Bank’s High Performance Award program. Christy is a key contributor to the region’s community development initiatives and manages her region’s relationships with many local community partners, including various non-profit organizations where she often volunteers her time. A graduate of Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Christy and her husband, Lance, are proud parents of two sons, and the family attends Pinelake Church in Brandon. “I am honored to serve as Chair of the Board for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education,” said Christy Holyfield. “I look forward to working with my fellow board members to enhance economic education across our state and empower the next generation with the knowledge they need to succeed.”  For more information on economic education resources and programs in Mississippi, please visit the Mississippi Council on Economic Education’s website at www.mscee.org . About the Mississippi Council on Economic Education The Mississippi Council on Economic Education is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving economic literacy among K-12 students through innovative educational programs and resources. MCEE partners with schools, educators, and communities to promote understanding of economic concepts and empower students to make informed financial decisions. Contact: Mississippi Council on Economic Education Phone: (601) 937-1424 Email: mscee@millsaps.edu Website: www.mscee.org
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