At SEMIYAS, we believe financial education is more than numbers. Our approach honors culture, community, and lived experience in the design and delivery of financial education programs across a range of audiences and learning environments.
We create opportunities where people can connect their financial journeys to their identities, histories, and hopes for the future. Our work is about building knowledge that empowers, heals, and transforms families’ health and wealth.
What is SEMIYAS?
SEMIYAS represents the culmination of my research, educational, and community engagement efforts in creating and advancing culturally responsive financial education. We start from the belief that money is not just about dollars and cents, but about stories, families, and communities. Too often, financial education is presented in ways that ignore culture, overlook inequality, and place the burden of “success” solely on individuals. SEMIYAS takes a different path.
Grounded in evidence-based insights, lived experiences, and community wisdom, SEMIYAS bridges financial knowledge with cultural identity and collective empowerment. We design workshops, curricula, and community partnerships that help people connect financial skills to their lived realities—whether that’s navigating family obligations, honoring cultural values, or challenging systemic barriers.
At its heart, SEMIYAS is about growth and transformation. It’s about creating space for dialogue, reflection, and action so that financial education becomes not just a tool for survival, but a pathway toward well-being, mobility, and justice.
Programs and Collaborations
Yo No Sabo Dinero
Born out of a desire to remove barriers to participation for online audiences, Yo No Sabo was a summer webinar series that brought culturally-financial education directly to users via Zoom and IG Live. Topics covered included Budget Making, Saving vs Investing, and Understanding Credit Cards
🌱 New sessions coming soon. Stay tuned!
MNFEI x LIS
In collaboration with two Twin Cities based non-profits, SEMIYAS led the design and implementation of a brand new financial education program for immigrant and refugee learners. This program, designed collaboratively with community input, covered fundamental topics in personal finance to help equip learners with the knowledge and confidence to navigate financial, legal, and social institutions in the United States.
Engagements
(Update June 2026)
Engagement and collaboration requests are currently on pause. I’ve defended my dissertation and I’m transitioning into an exciting new role… more details coming soon!
In the meantime, feel free to reach out at semiyas.services@gmail.com to stay connected.