Last month, Carter Hulsey kicked off the Fall 2021 Financial Literacy Tour in Iowa! Students at Bellevue High School were able to enjoy Carter's performance in person, something the Nashville singer-songwriter has been looking forward to. While life in quarantine brought many challenges for a lot of people, it also cemented the importance of financial literacy. See what Carter had to say about this, his summer, fall tour and more!
Tell me a little bit about how you spent your summer.
This summer held a fair amount of time traveling with family to Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. I also spent a lot of June and July writing and recording music that will slowly be released August through December.
What are you most looking forward to this tour, and why?
I am most looking forward to traveling to all these communities across the country and being able to deliver FTF’s message in person, directly to the students. Virtual has been a wonderful tool that I am thankful for, but nothing compares to the feeling of face-to-face interaction.
Why is financial literacy more important now than ever?
I believe a lot of people experienced moments of hopelessness during quarantine. Whether those moments were brief or seemed to stick around for a while, I think it’s important to acknowledge them and do our part as people to be there for one another. FTF allows me the opportunity to share with young people the importance of fin lit and how it can provide a sense of security. A kind of safety net. Money is a significant piece of the whole picture that gives us hope. Letting our youth know that finance is not scary nor too cumbersome a subject to tackle is crucial.
Tell me a little bit about how you as an artist had to adapt alongside FTF over the last year and a half.
Throughout the pandemic, FTF never stopped delivering its message. The vehicle in which it made it to the schools just changed a bit. Being able to livestream throughout all of quarantine was a challenge we were more than willing to meet head on. I'm grateful to be part of an organization that is willing to adapt, to rise to the occasion. We never gave up on the message or our ability to share it with the students.
How are you and the organization stronger now than before the pandemic?
Adversity, if you let it, can always bring people closer. At Funding the Future, I am surrounded by people that want to see others succeed, that believe in the big picture and the community as a whole. That will always drive us towards the mission, sharing the message of fin lit with young people everywhere.