Wealth-Building for First-Gen & Underserved Communities
Why I Started Financial Space
Hi! I’m Cynthia Diaz, a first-generation Latina who knows firsthand what it’s like to grow up outside the financial system. Education changed my life; it lifted me out of poverty and showed me possibilities I never imagined.
For over a decade, I worked in higher education and college access programs, including six years as a TRIO Director. I supported thousands of low-income, first-generation students, and I saw the same gap over and over: no one was teaching them how money works, how to budget, invest, build credit, or create wealth.
As I began learning about personal finance myself, I realized it wasn’t just about numbers; it was about mindset, representation, and safety. That’s what led me to deepen my expertise and become a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), as well as a Certified Trauma of Money Practitioner. These trainings didn’t change my mission, they gave me more tools to serve my community in a way that honors their lived experiences and breaks down real-world barriers.
I created Financial Space to offer culturally responsive financial coaching and financial literacy workshops designed for first-generation students and underserved communities, a space where learning about money feels safe, relevant, and empowering.
Who We Serve
Financial Space is for:
Educators and program administrators seeking high-impact, grant-aligned workshops for their students or staff
First-generation individuals seeking financial empowerment
If you’ve ever felt behind in money matters, unsure where to start, or invisible in financial conversations, you’re in the right place.Here, you’ll find the tools, support, and confidence to manage your money, build credit, and create lasting wealth.
What Makes Us Different
The financial system hasn’t always been inclusive of women and underrepresented communities. We’re here to change that.
Our approach combines:
Inclusive financial education – Workshops that honor your lived experience and acknowledge systemic barriers.
Practical skills you can use today – From budgeting as a student to investing basics for beginners, we teach tools you can apply immediately.
Emotional safety – No jargon, no judgment. Just a safe space to talk about money and grow at your own pace.
Diverse instruction team – Our instructors are carefully selected for their lived experience, cultural relevance, and ability to connect with students.
Students don’t just learn facts; they leave believing in their capacity to manage their personal finances and build wealth.
Our Impact
Students often tell us our workshops feel like the first time someone truly understood how they grew up, and how it affects their money mindset.
One student shared:
“This wasn’t just about finances, it was about breaking cycles. I finally feel confident and capable when it comes to managing money.”
Through our Financial Literacy Academy, we’ve helped students:
Open savings and credit accounts
Build budgets that are relevant to their lives
Open investment accounts, sometimes for the first time ever
Teach their families what they’ve learned, creating a ripple effect of wealth creation for underresourced communities
We use trauma-informed financial education methods to ensure learning feels safe, relevant, and empowering.