The 85 South Show with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean - JESSICA BROWN's COLLEGE GURL FOUNDATION | BLACK MARKET w/ Karlous Miller

Episode Date: November 16, 2023

Jessica L. Brown is a nationally recognized financial aid expert. As Founder of College Gurl, Jessica educates students  and families on how to make the best-informed decisions around financing a college education. || 85 SOUTH App: www.channeleightyfive.com || Twitter/IG: @85SouthShow || Our Website: www.85southshow.com || Custom Merch: www.85apparelco.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Join IHeart Radio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one-year anniversary of I-Hart Women's Sports. With powerful interviews and insider analysis, our shows have connected fans with the heart of women's sports. In just one year, the network has launched 15 shows and built a community united by passion. Podcasts that amplify the voices of women in sports.

Thank you for supporting IHart Women's Sports and our founding sponsors, Elf Beauty, Capital One, and Novartis. Just open the free IHeart app and search IHeard women's sports to listen now. I knew I wanted to obey and submit, but I didn't fully grasp

for the rest of my life what that meant. For My Heart Podcasts and Rococo Punch, this is The Turning, River Road. In the woods of Minnesota, a cult leader married himself to 10 girls and forced them into a secret life of abuse. But in 2014, the youngest escaped. Listen to the children.

Turning River Road on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Pretty Private with Ebeney, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. I'm Ebeney, and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network. Tune in on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace.

You discover the depths of your mother's illness. I'm Danny Shapiro. And these are just a few of the powerful stories I'll be mining on our upcoming 12th season of family secrets. We continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Our IHeart Radio Music Festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas. Vegas. September 19th and 20th.

On your feet. Streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen. Brian Adams. Ed Shearin. Fade. Glorilla. Jelly Roll.

John Fogarty. Lil Wayne. L.L. Colche. Mariah Carey. Maroon 5. Sammy Hagar. Tate McCray. The Austin.

Sprint. Tim McGraw. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com. Get your tickets today. AXS.com. Because you know, when you ring the bell, it just letting them know that the black market is open and then it's money on the floor. And since you know how to get that money, I got to ring this. You ring it again. I heard you are that lady. When it comes to getting that, one more for you, because you got a book. Two, two books. You got books teaching people how to go to college with a book.

All right, now let me do this, because you got a long intro. Okay. Because you got a lot of accomplishments. Okay. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the black market, presented and sponsored in part by Black People Worldwide and the 85 South Shore affiliates. And today I have a very special guest on the Black Market with us today. She's an author, an idealist, a revolutionary woman that has cracked the code of the Matrix

of how to get this paper. And you know, I'm always excited to be around some people who know how to do shit like this. So none other than Ms. Jessica Brown. Now look, you gotta, look, this is a whole lot of stuff. This lady does it all. She has a book. She is the president of the College Girl Foundation.

You've been on, you got the tour, College Girls First College Tour, that's the name of the book, you're educating families on how to make the best informed decisions, you know, around financing, a college education. They call you the Financial Aid Fairy Godmother. Yes. That's dope. Yeah.

So give the people a brief introduction to some of the other things that you do and let them know what we're dealing with today. All right. Well, I'm Jessica Brown. I'm also known as College Girl and the Financial Aid Fairy Godmother. I'm out here sprinkling all my magic on the world and brilliant black minds, making sure that they have an opportunity to see college as a goal or live out their professional endeavors. As an author, philanthropist, entrepreneur, educational news reporter, I have the opportunity to make sure I help people around the nation navigate the seas of how to get this paper.

Right. You know what I'm saying? To go to college and have financial freedom post-graduation. But with that and teaching people how to pay for college, I said, you know what, I can't teach people how to pay, and I'm not taking them. Right. So I started doing college tours. We wrap my face and all the really black kids faces on the bus and we rolled at different colleges across the country We go to HBCU homecoming events every month. I mentor them and I give them scholarships

I've granted over $75,000 in scholarships since 2018 I'll hear helping black children go to school Yeah, that's me I know I know granny and I'm proud of you Thank you So what was your inspiration? And how did you find yourself becoming, you know, the financial aid fairy godmother? Well, my inspiration was one, after college,

my mom was like, you need a job. You know, I wanted to be a journalist. Right. And I was like, all right, I had to get a job, pay my bills, so I started working in financial aid at different schools. And then just having friends, you know, of mine that weren't able to graduate from college. You know, I'm a proud graduate of Howard University.

And seeing, thank you. And seeing some of my friends go home for $500, $1,000, you know, back to the south side of Chicago, you know, not being able to make their educational endeavors come true and be able to go back to school and finish, you know, that was personal for me. You know, so if I could be a vessel and a bridge to help people understand how to do it so that they can get their education, why not? Having an education is the easiest way into the middle class. And, you know, as long as you have an education. Hold on, we got to let that breathe. Yeah, let it breathe. Just let that sit for a second.

Uh-huh. Keep on. And, you know, education, as long you have education, you can never be controlled. You know, every day is about learning. You know, even if you don't have a formal type of college education, you need to do something. Right. You know, and I'm that girl to make sure that you do whatever you want to do and become the next week you'll be there tomorrow. Okay, so where do we start with the books?

So this is my first book, How to Pay for College when you're broke. Yeah, because my mom let me know you broke. You know what I'm saying? So if you want to go to school. I got money. you yeah exactly you know so I had nothing so she was like you need to figure it out and I realized every year over a hundred million dollars in scholarship money goes unclaimed you know but the problem is we living in the wrong world we got to stop scrolling

and start doing the same research we doing to find wigs and shoes and whatever else is the same research you do to find money for college so I figured I put that in a book and then from there I wanted to touch elementary school kids so I came out with college girls first college tour which is a children's book it got an activity guy you know and it's all about um I love some activities you shouldn't say yeah I got activities in there word search you know a letter in there called dear future me to where I want young kids to begin to think about their futures and understand that their future is bright you know we focus so much on kids in middle school and high school but we forget to

get them when they're younger because that's the best way to mold them you know when they're in elementary school so yeah that's college girl that's dope Now, how to pay for college when you broke, how do you do that? It's easy. It's being one, it is easy, because whatever you want, you're going to go get, right? So, you know, the research is out there. So you want to make sure that you are doing your free application for federal student aid early, which is the FAFA, applying for scholarships.

You know, there's internships that come with scholarships. There's a lot of different academic programs if you keep your grades up that you'll be able to enter, you know, that'll allow you to not have to pay a full cost of, you know, college tuition. So there's a lot of different things out there. It's just we wait to the last minute to try to figure it out. Who put you up on the information? Me. Yeah, I saw that there was a hole, right? You got people that's out here just talking about, oh, how to just go to college admission-wise or scholarships. So it ain't that one person that's wrapping this all up together as a package. It's like starting a business. There's no real guide to everything you

need to do to start an LLC. You just got to figure it out as you go. So I figured that with college and that's what I did I got to I got to get this book for my son he gonna be going to school and in a few years and he needs to know that he gonna need to know this because he is probably gonna be right I mean I'm not gonna be but he is because I want him to start out on this world you know as a as a real black man you got to start off brook that's the only way you're gonna make it got some we have to raise our boys different if the black man being broke helps you develop done just the second phase of maturity yeah so I'm digging it though so what can we keep up

with you and catch up with you and get in touch with the program because you give away money every year you how do you pick your recipients um it all depends so one you know with me being the president of the College Girl Foundation I have my own kids that I mentor so automatically all those kids as long as they're college Brown, they get scholarships. Recently, I had an amazing partnership with Dark and Lovely, where we granted over 50 scholarships to females around the nation with the Building Beautiful Futures campaign. I don't mean to cut you off, but a lot of people who have programs and things that they're doing with the kids, it's like they always say that they need.

It's not necessarily the need resources, but networking also. So where can people reach you for these opportunities, you know, as other people. out there who don't have a platform as big as you. Right. Who may want to, you know what I mean? Start. I'm on Instagram at College Girl, G-U-R-L-J-B, collegegirl.com,

collegegirlfoundation.org, College Girl Foundation, also on Instagram. So you can find me anywhere. Okay. Keep going. Keep going. You can find my books, How to Pay for College when you broke.

College Girls' first college tour on Amazon. You can find me most likely on any national news network news network across the country teaching you how to pay for college when you're broke. Yeah. Where else can you find me? I'm on a tour bus with my kids. I know what else you could be found on. You've been on features on good morning. America, MSNBC, BET, Tamer Hall, Fox, Essence. So congratulations on all your success. Thank you. I feel like this is only the beginning for you because you're only something big and you're on this something great. And I hope to see everybody get some scholarship money.

I might go back to school. Come on, I'll help you get back in school. What's up? J-O-N, you went to school? Where you go? Okay. What did you graduate with? When you went?

See? Brow, it's some good info in here as I've been flipping through the pages, bro. I like the numbers that I'm seeing. And I need an athletic scholarship. And it's out there. Man, you put it all in here. Like, from Pell Grants to, like you said, FastFOO, even how to fill it out. Yeah.

Correctly. All the way. Mm. All the way. Because I remember I filled mine out one year. And then that was it. I told the truth. They sent me a letter back and said, not only do you need this money.

We can't believe that you made it this long without some. Yeah. And there's so much opportunities out there, right? Like, you know, a lot of the students, they only just go to financial aid when it's time for their refund. you know when they need to be going throughout the school year you know life is about building relationships right your network is your network so you can consistently go to financial aid you'll find out about more opportunities you know money gets recycled all the time you lose your scholarship you know

that's money back in the pot you know but if you ain't going up there and building those relationships you'll never know I'm just flipping through the book and I already know something they don't know what you know what you know purple they don't even know what Furper stands for all right what's purpose I'm not gonna tell them You're not going to have no incentive to read the book. Y'all got to buy the book. Y'all got to buy the book.

Learn the terms. Smart borrowing. Uh-huh. Yeah. Federal loans, subsidized or unsuppended. You really put it in. Yeah. The direct loan program.

And look, even, you even got it broke down to what you need to be making to even qualify. Thank you. Let me just out here doing great things, man. anybody like I noticed that we got a huge audience of people who may be around the college age especially you know people going back to school pick this book up and check it out man it's not one of those books where you got to go through every page it's just you can skip around and you can find exactly what you're looking for this is definitely like a dictionary of how to get that money and I appreciate you stopping through here showing me much love and don't let this be

the last time. No, I'm not. Because I feel like this is not all, I feel like there's so many other things that you know about money that I need to know. Now, we're going to team up. We need to do an 85 South college tour with college girl. Tell me about this. How does this look? How does this look? First off, first off, we do it the college girl way, right? We get a tour bus and we wrap it. Okay. You know what I'm saying? They're going to know this is our bus. It ain't our bus if you don't see us. Okay. Okay. You know, so we go get a group of either, get some high school kids together. You know what I'm saying? And we go on a college tour. We bring local kids. Maybe we could do it from Atlanta, bring them down south, bring them back, day trips, two night

trips. You know, and we really educate these kids about seeing the world gaining social skills, cultural skills, you know, how to become entrepreneurs, be around, surrounded, like-minded individuals like themselves, and really see college as a goal. And the fact of the matter is that in life, you're not too old enough to give time. You know what I'm saying? You never realize how much that time really means to these young kids. You know, recently one of my kids was murdered. I never thought that that would happen to me. You know what I'm saying?

But the reality is it's like we need to do more. As much as our schools are stripped of resources and things, like I was a Girl Scout growing up. Like, how many Girl Scout troops you know, that are still up? How many cookies did you say? What? I was in front of Walmart, you know what I'm saying? And I was the only black girl in the Girl Scout troop. You kidding?

So you made money. Yeah, I was learning how to sew camp, ride horses, all type of stuff. This is all type of stuff, right? That cookies are a billion dollar in- So you have to really, Your heart has to be messed up To tell a little girl, no thank you. No thank you.

You're not, your spirit. God ain't, don't leave you like you probably If you tell little girls You don't want to buy their cookies. But when's the last time you seen the Girl Scouts? You know what I'm saying? It's definitely. They all Girl Scouts are digital now, ain't?

Nah, like they're supposed to be troops out there that's still doing, you know, selling could be. I'll be honest, I ain't seen an actual real live girls in 15 years probably and that's what I'm saying but I've seen cookies right twice a year and they know they do it twice now yeah yeah online cookies are nuts you see what I'm saying yeah they do it online but you know it's so important that we bring these resources back so an 85 South College tour why nobody ever started a Girl Scout women like it's Girl Scouts but like what are the Women Scouts well I mean

you have sororities for you know different things I mean I'm a Delta you know I knew he was gonna bring that up. I'm a Delta, so, you know, we're the Reds. Oh, much love to the Reds. Yes, yes, got a lot of Reds. Okay. But, you know, I think that's one of the things that we could do, and I think that'll be dope.

Inspire these brilliant kids. Why not? Inspire these brilliant kids. Right, and if they see you doing it, they know it's possible. All we need is one. That's it. I think I reached my one. No, we got more to impact.

I might mess around and reach two or ten. Right. You're a legend in your city like your show, right? In my city. So let's go. Yeah, so I know I've reached at least one. Yeah. Well, anything is possible.

Ms. Jessica Brown, drop your social media and your contact one more time. At College Girl, G-U-R-J-B on Instagram, at College Girl Foundation on Instagram, collegegirl.com, collegegirlfoundation.org. And, yeah, thank you for the opportunity. I'm honored. Black market, Jessica Brown. Money in the building. I'm out.

Join IHart Radio and Sarah Spain in celebrating the one-year anniversary of IHart Women's Sports. With powerful interviews and insider analysis, our shows have connected fans with the heart of women's sports. In just one year, the network has launched 15 shows and built a community united by passion. Podcasts that amplify the voices of women in sports. Thank you for supporting IHart Women's Sports

and our founding sponsors, Elf Beauty, Capital One, and Novartis. Just open the free IHeart app and search IHard women's sports to listen now. I knew I wanted to obey and submit, but I didn't fully grasp for the rest of my life what that meant. For My Heart Podcasts and Rococo Punch, this is The Turning, River Road. In the woods of Minnesota, a cult leader married himself to 10 girls and forced them into a secret life of abuse. But in 2014, the youngest escaped. Listen to The Turning River Road on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to Pretty Private with Ebeney, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free.

I'm Ebeney, and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. Every Tuesday, make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network, Tune in on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Your entire identity has been fabricated. Your beloved brother goes missing without a trace. You discover the depths of your mother's illness. I'm Danny Shapiro.

And these are just a few of the powerful stories I'll be mining on our upcoming 12th season of family secrets. We continue to be moved and inspired by our guests and their courageously told stories. Listen to Family Secrets Season 12 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Our IHeart Radio Music Festival, presented by Capital One, is coming back to Las Vegas. Vegas. September 19th and 20th.

On your feet. Streaming live only on Hulu. Ladies and gentlemen. Brian Adams. Ed Sheeran. Fade. Cholrilla. Shelley Roll.

John Fogarty. Lil Wayne. L.L. Coulche. Mariah Carey. Maroon 5. Sammy Hagar. Tate McCray. The offspring.

Tim McRaw. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com. Get your tickets today. AXS.com. This is an IHeart podcast.