We were lucky to catch up with Dallis Meeks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dallis, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I came up with the idea to start a nonprofit early in my college career. I’ve always wanted to give back to my community, using my major in finance to do so, but I wasn’t sure how at first. Initially, I wanted to become a Wealth Advisor, thinking it would allow me to help my community in a tangible way. My friend and classmate, Taylor Martin, shared the same passion for uplifting underserved communities.

As we progressed through our finance courses, we realized that, as some of the few women—and even fewer minorities—in these classes, we were constantly playing catch-up. Many of our peers already had a deeper understanding of financial concepts, having grown up with exposure to stocks, bonds, and investing. That wasn’t the case for me. I didn’t grow up in a family that discussed those things; I learned everything about finance through my education.

Falling in love with finance made me realize how critical it is for people in my community to understand these concepts, yet many never have the opportunity to learn them. The thought of my family, friends, and others like us missing out on crucial financial knowledge weighed heavily on me. That’s when Taylor and I began researching financial literacy, specifically within underrepresented communities, and delved deeper into the racial wealth gap.

Ultimately, we decided to create a nonprofit to teach financial literacy to youth in underserved communities. We came up with the name “Wealth Between Us”—a play on words symbolizing both the idea of discussing wealth “between us” (as in a conversation) and the literal wealth that we aim to build within our communities. We thought it was the perfect fit. We also created the slogan “Investing in Change,” which captures the heart of our mission.

We recognized the importance of equipping young people, especially those on the verge of adulthood, with the tools they need to make informed financial decisions. High school graduates often face a world of financial responsibilities without the necessary knowledge to navigate it.

To make the lessons more engaging, we decided to incorporate pop culture, history, and music into our curriculum, ensuring the material resonates with the students. This approach not only made the learning process relatable but also made it more fun for us as instructors. We knew this was the right path because we weren’t just filling a gap; we were empowering the next generation to secure a stronger financial future.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Dallis Meeks, one of the co-founders of Wealth Between Us, a nonprofit organization, and an FP&A Analyst (Financial Planning & Analysis). I graduated with a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where I found my passion for finance and serving my community. While I was there, I joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the National Association of Black Accountants, and volunteered with Junior Achievement. These experiences really helped me realize how much I wanted to give back to my community.

That’s what inspired me and my co-founder to create Wealth Between Us. We focus on teaching financial literacy to underserved youth, helping them gain the knowledge and skills they need to make smart financial decisions as they enter adulthood. I’m super proud of the impact we’ve made so far. Watching students get engaged, ask questions, and really understand the concepts we’re teaching is such a rewarding experience. It reminds me every day why this work matters.

What sets Wealth Between Us apart is how we make learning feel relatable. We create a space where students can be themselves, feel comfortable, and connect what they’re learning to real-life situations. We want to make sure they’re prepared for the financial challenges ahead and have the tools they need to be successful.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my co-founder, Taylor Martin, during my sophomore year of college when I joined the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). Both of us were interested in joining the e-board at the time.

About a year later, we ended up pledging the same sorority and ultimately became line sisters, which really deepened our bond. We were in a lot of the same finance classes and quickly noticed that while we were learning these concepts for the first time, many of our peers were building on knowledge they already had. This made us realize the gap in financial literacy that existed in our communities and fueled our passion to do something about it.

After we graduated, we spent countless hours researching, creating decks, and putting together our plan to bring this nonprofit to life.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Our resilience was really tested early on when we started Wealth Between Us. We were just two finance girlies who wanted to make a difference but didn’t fully know the ins and outs of starting a nonprofit. We spent a lot of time researching, but honestly, the biggest lesson came from just getting out there and doing it. We exhausted all of our resources and leaned on people in our network for guidance. In the end, we had to figure out a lot on our own. We became experiential learners by necessity.

Another big challenge came right before our first after-school sessions in March 2020. Just two or three days before we were set to begin, COVID-19 hit, and everything got put on hold. We had to pivot quickly and launch online, which thankfully worked out in the end. We ended up hosting virtual sessions and connected with several organizations and schools—not just in San Antonio, but across Texas, and even with a school in Arkansas that heard about us through word of mouth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wealthbetweenus.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wealthbetweenus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallismeeks