The Link Between Financial Literacy, Environmental Justice, and Closing The Racial Wealth Gap:

A Conversation with Jamaur Law

We recently spoke with Jamaur Law, the Founder and Executive Director of the Jamaur Law Foundation, an organization dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through a holistic approach to financial literacy. Read more about his story and what inspired him to start his organization below. 

Q: Who are you?

A: I am the Founder and Executive Director of the Jamaur Law Foundation, a proud husband and father of five. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, attending sporting events, traveling, fishing, and otherwise furthering my education. I relocated from Pennsylvania to Maryland in 2014 when I began working in the finance department at a public relations firm in Washington, DC. After three years, I transitioned into education, teaching in PG County for two years and have spent the last eight years teaching in DC. I created the Jamaur Law Foundation in 2018 and for seven years now, I’ve taught financial literacy to middle school students and adults. 

Q: Tell us more about your organization and what inspired you to start it.

A: We are a community organization that provides opportunities and financial literacy programming to close the racial wealth gap in our communities. We promote sustainable practices that ensure long-term economic stability in addition to social and environmental justice. We believe empowering BIPOC communities with tools to achieve financial literacy can close the racial wealth gap and promote economic, social, and environmental justice. As I started to recognize the importance of my role in shaping students’ futures, I was inspired to launch my financial literacy program. I struggled with credit card debt in the past, and my mistakes inspired me to teach young people about the importance of finances while they’re still young so they’re able to carry those lessons into adulthood. I wanted to be a vessel here on Earth and a bridge to connect with others at the grassroots level.

Q: What inspired you to make the connection between financial literacy and environmental justice?

A: The inspiration came from Dr. John Golden, who is a professor at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. I have known him since I sat in his classroom 12 years ago. We sat down and talked about connecting the importance of financial literacy to environmental justice and how the two connect in many ways. It was an eye opener to see it from a different lens. We came to the conclusion that individuals with high financial literacy are likely more attuned to the long-term economic costs of environmental degradation, which could motivate them to make more sustainable choices.

Q: Do you see any relation between financial literacy and mental health?

A: I read an article by Forbes titled “The Silent Strain: How Debt Takes a Toll on Mental Health”, which helped me understand how deeply debt can impact a person’s mental state. When addressing different demographics, it's important to consider where people are mentally and to start there. Some individuals may not yet be mentally ready for change, especially when it comes to transforming their financial lifestyle.

Q: What are three tips you have for someone looking to improve their financial literacy?

A: The three top tips I like to give are: Discipline yourself when it comes to spending, changing your habits and mindset, and save 40% of every check for a rainy day.

Q: What’s something that gives you hope?

A: The feedback I receive from people who have attended our workshops or engaged with our content on social media motivates me to continue this journey. It also plays a key role in gaining support from companies that help us push our mission forward.

Q: What’s a self-care practice you currently use or wish you did more of?

A: In the spirit of June being Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, I encourage people to disconnect from negative influences that have held them back over the years. This could include a person, people, materialistic items, and social media. These things can give us false hope and lead us to try to live like others. Personally, I disconnect from my phone around 8 PM until the morning. I also have all my apps timed out so that I don't receive notifications throughout the day, preventing distractions. I find driving in silence, a still setting, helps me prepare mentally for my day. Engaging in physical activity, such as taking a walk or a jog, is another way to help maintain your mental well-being.

Q: Anything else you’d like to share? How can people stay connected with you?

A: Please contact us via email at info@jamaurlawfoundation.org or visit our social media platforms and website at www.jamaurlawfoundation.org. Our pages can also be found on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok by searching "Jamaur Law Foundation." For those interested, we also provide community service opportunities for high school students and adults. 

Jamaur was featured on KRF’s newly launched Community Spotlight where we’ll be highlighting individuals, businesses, organizations, and events in the area. If you’d like to shine the spotlight on an individual/organization or have an event you’d like to see featured in our community corner please reach out to Stephanie at contact@kroussawfoundation.org with the subject “Community Spotlight Nomination.”

Visit our Instagram to meet other inspiring community members we’ve celebrated!