liKuiD

liKuiD is a play on the finance term liquidity, which means how quickly you can get your hands on your cash whenever you need it. It might be your emergency savings account or the cash lying with you that you can access in case of any unforeseen happening or any financial setback. Liquidity also plays an important role as it affords you the "access" and "opportunity" to seize opportunities.

Program OVERVIEW

The liKuiD School Bank Program was established as a business and financial education partnership between Syclus, select New York City (NYC) charter high schools and community organizations across the NYC community, at no cost to the student. At its core, liKuiD inspires and empowers high school students from challenged urban neighborhoods by equipping them with real-world tools and knowledge to gain a deeper understanding of banking, personal finance, cryptocurrency, and the capital markets, as well as preparation for college and future careers.

The vibrant learning system incorporates hip-hop culture and uses the latest in simulation and gaming technologies to blend investing basics with basic money management skills, so students can make smart money decisions and build generational wealth. Core to the innovative liKuiD experience is a project-based investment competition whose goal is to equip students with an understanding of how the global stock market works, and the confidence to participate in it, all in a fun and exciting style and in an environment they are comfortable. What's more, liKuiD amplifies student voice and choice as they compile and craft their own trading strategies and learning stories. The winners are selected on the strength, creativity and articulation of their strategies and competition experiences, not on the growth of their portfolios.

More Program Information:

Blended learning style and hip-hop pedagogy, delivered in person by expert facilitator(s)
Students are challenged to manage a successful investment portfolio utilizing real cash
Students work individually, and perform research to investigate and gather news and data on potential investments
Students have an opportunity to compete against peers
Prior knowledge of finance or the stock market is not required
It's free and open to select high school students in grades 9-12

curriculum

liKuiD utilizes a culturally relevant financial & capital markets curriculum that maps to national state educational standards, meets the College and Career Readiness anchors, and reinforces STEAM concepts and practices.

The first-of-its-kind curriculum incorporates culturally relevant tools and content, virtual experiences, educational technology (EdTech), and web-based gaming. The learning model is also designed to provide a wide range of hands-on development of real-world knowledge and skills, consisting of interactive lessons, discussions and activities in the following areas:

Investments
Personal Financial Management
Youth Banking
Capital Markets and Investment Banking
Entrepreneurship
Marketing (Personal Branding) x Advertising

Program Features

Holistic Student Experience Designed With a Secondary Focus on Entrepreneurship, Work and Career Readiness, and Personal Brand-Building
Community-Based Approach
Speaker Series; Volunteerism

Proprietary Interactive Glossary of Financial Terms
Two (2) Competition Deliverables: Mid-Term Review and Final Report
Financial Certification System
Demo Day & Awards Ceremony

why join the program?

Following participation in the program, students will be able to:

Understand the importance of building their personal brand, the role their financial identity plays in it, and its ultimate impact on the stock market and global economy
Experience endless opportunities due to confidence in ability to smartly invest, save, and manage their money well at a young age
Recognize the benefits and challenges of investing in crypto and the stock market as part of a broader, long-term investment strategy to build wealth
Explain how markets work, understand the fundamental concepts of stocks, and how to analyze and pick stocks to make sound investment decisions
Apply critical investing basics, such as risk and return, diversification, company and industry analysis
Explore how a company’s performance on the stock market can be influenced by current events and their generation's power and cultural influence
Trust and enjoy mainstream financial services, and understand its role and relevance in their everyday lives

Impact

liKuiD behaves as a vehicle to arrest the inequities of education in today’s society. Specifically, the innovative program drives the following outcomes:

Eradicates poverty and bridges the racial wealth gap
Instills confidence and improves academic performance and financial behavior
Proven increases in student attendance, engagement, class participation, and high school completion rates
Fosters social inclusion
Sends students into the world with better life skills, such as critical thinking, leadership, and peer collaboration

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