What do financial education, social justice and civic engagment have in common?
Four amazing student ambassadors have joined Canopy’s team this summer. These students come from a variety of backgrounds and areas of Spokane. Over the course of the summer, they have the opportunity to learn about financial education as well as community impact. Learn how Ambassador Jack is advocating for change in his communtiy.
What is your story? Where are you from? What in your life has made you who you are today?
My name is Jack Kashork. I am 17 years old and I have one sister, Catelin. A born and raised Spokanite, I attend Ferris High School and Spokane Falls Community College pursuing an AA through Running Start. My mom is a cytogeneticist by trade and my dad works as a mortgage broker. I started working at an animal genetics firm at 15, worked through an acquisition to a public company at 16, and I am currently unemployed. I am spending my time reading and working on building a chapter of Washington High School Democrats.
What are you passionate about?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been passionate about social issues. Today, these include financial education, social justice, and civic engagement. I often find that these three things intersect in many ways. In my free time, I enjoy many things from hanging out with my three dogs, to reading, baking, and traveling with family!
What are some ways that you hope to impact your community?
I hope that through my work with WAHSDA, I can increase youth civic engagement as well as general knowledge and participation in the political process. Youth have always voted at lower rates than adults, and I hope to see the rate of youth voters in Spokane increase. Additionally, I volunteer regularly with Women and Children’s Free Restaurant and contribute as a part of their teen board. In line with their mission, I hope to see the nutrition gap among women and children shrink.
As a young person in Spokane, what are some of your dreams for the city?
There are many things that I dream of changing for Spokane. Having knowledge of the housing crisis in Spokane, I would like to see adequate housing capacity and affordable rent across the board. Around that topic, the unhoused population in Spokane is quite high. I would like for our city and county leadership to devote more resources and brain power to effectively providing resources to get people off the streets and into productive positions.
Where do you see gaps in the resources offered in our community?
Of course, in any community, there will be gaps in resources. In Spokane I think that we have great resources for financial education. Although formal education change will come at the state level, credit unions and local banks have outreach programs to educate our youth. I feel that the most glaring gap of resources in Spokane is towards nutrition. In multiple locations around Spokane, we have severe food deserts, and across Spokane, the cost of living among other factors cause nutritional gaps for a significant number of people.
What is one of your current role models? Why are they your role model?
I have to say that a current role model is Sonia Sotomayor. The supreme court justice of nearly 14 years grew up in Brooklyn projects. Her life was fraught with challenges and disadvantages through which she ascended social, career, and political ladders. Today she sits on the highest court in the land, standing as a bulwark, fighting against a conservative supermajority. There are so many things I admire about her character and professional career, but most of all, I appreciate her candor. As shared in her memoir, a peer once told her, “I love you, Sonia, because you argue like a man.” a tribute to her significant ability to stand up for the equality of women.
What are your current career aspirations?
I am not exactly sure of my career aspirations, in fact, I have considered many options. I am passionate about public service and advancing social causes. I feel a strong pull towards a career as a lawyer, possibly acting as a judge, activist, or even a public defender.
Why is financial education important to you?
I have been very lucky in my life to be surrounded by people literate in finances and skilled in business administration. Moving through public schools and nonprofits, I have met countless people who have fallen down in society because of their illiteracy in financial knowledge. I feel strongly that a strong command of personal finances and a working knowledge of overall economic concepts is an incredibly empowering tool that can set one up for a lifetime of financial successes. Additionally, the building of that knowledge and literacy begins with education starting in middle or even elementary school.