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From 9/11 Tragedy to Sudden Wealth + Leadership: A Teen Survivor’s Story
Ep. 6 “The wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous.” In Part 2 of this moving conversation, Dr. Miles Travis Boyd Jr. reflects on life after losing his mother in the September 11 attacks—navigating grief, systemic injustice, and sudden wealth he wasn’t prepared to manage. At just 16 years old, he discovered he had access to over $1.4 million, but no one had ever taught him about budgeting, saving, or credit.
Dr. Boyd’s testimony is both a cautionary tale and a beacon of hope—showing that even when the money fades, God’s purpose remains.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
💰 Why money without financial literacy can quickly vanish
🧾 The hidden costs of wealth and the lessons he learned the hard way
🙌 How faith, humility, and work helped him rebuild after hitting rock bottom
🌱 Why teaching financial literacy in our communities is a form of justice and empowerment
👤 About the Guest:
Dr. Miles Travis Boyd Jr. is the senior pastor of Sharon Baptist Church in the South Bronx, New York City. A survivor of personal tragedy, he lost his mother in the September 11th attacks at just 12 years old. Today, he leads with a vision of faith, justice, and healing—building community programs, authoring a book about his journey, and serving as a voice of resilience and hope for his congregation and beyond.
🔗 Resources & Links:
www.sbcbronx.com
Watch this interview: The Stir 716 Podcast - YouTube
The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is a federal program created to provide financial support to individuals injured or killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, including responders and survivors who later developed health conditions from exposure at Ground Zero. Originally established in 2001, the fund was strengthened by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which created the World Trade Center Health Program to provide medical monitoring and treatment. The fund was permanently reauthorized in 2019 through the Never Forget the Heroes Act, ensuring full funding for approved claims through 2092.
Dr. Boyd reflects on the implicit inequality in compensation, revealing systemic biases where his settlement amounted to $999,999.99, suspiciously shy of the full million dollars and markedly less than others received. “The government gave us not a penny over to make it a million dollars.”
Chapters:
0:00 – Mistaken Identity Sparks a Family Search
2:05 – A Child’s Hope Shines Through Loss
4:36 – Healing Trauma, Accepting the Past
8:21 – A Son’s Journey to Self-Discovery
10:08 – Rising Above Prejudice and Pain
12:24 – 9/11 Victim Compensation: Life-Changing Impact
13:31 – Fighting Systemic Racism in Legal Battles
16:47 – Family Sacrifices Amid Market Ups & Downs
20:54 – Hard Lessons in Money and Humility
28:04 – Faith, Resilience & Community Strength
34:59 – Honoring 9/11 with The Stir 716
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
View all episodes
By The Stir 716Ep. 6 “The wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous.” In Part 2 of this moving conversation, Dr. Miles Travis Boyd Jr. reflects on life after losing his mother in the September 11 attacks—navigating grief, systemic injustice, and sudden wealth he wasn’t prepared to manage. At just 16 years old, he discovered he had access to over $1.4 million, but no one had ever taught him about budgeting, saving, or credit.
Dr. Boyd’s testimony is both a cautionary tale and a beacon of hope—showing that even when the money fades, God’s purpose remains.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
💰 Why money without financial literacy can quickly vanish
🧾 The hidden costs of wealth and the lessons he learned the hard way
🙌 How faith, humility, and work helped him rebuild after hitting rock bottom
🌱 Why teaching financial literacy in our communities is a form of justice and empowerment
👤 About the Guest:
Dr. Miles Travis Boyd Jr. is the senior pastor of Sharon Baptist Church in the South Bronx, New York City. A survivor of personal tragedy, he lost his mother in the September 11th attacks at just 12 years old. Today, he leads with a vision of faith, justice, and healing—building community programs, authoring a book about his journey, and serving as a voice of resilience and hope for his congregation and beyond.
🔗 Resources & Links:
www.sbcbronx.com
Watch this interview: The Stir 716 Podcast - YouTube
The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) is a federal program created to provide financial support to individuals injured or killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, including responders and survivors who later developed health conditions from exposure at Ground Zero. Originally established in 2001, the fund was strengthened by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which created the World Trade Center Health Program to provide medical monitoring and treatment. The fund was permanently reauthorized in 2019 through the Never Forget the Heroes Act, ensuring full funding for approved claims through 2092.
Dr. Boyd reflects on the implicit inequality in compensation, revealing systemic biases where his settlement amounted to $999,999.99, suspiciously shy of the full million dollars and markedly less than others received. “The government gave us not a penny over to make it a million dollars.”
Chapters:
0:00 – Mistaken Identity Sparks a Family Search
2:05 – A Child’s Hope Shines Through Loss
4:36 – Healing Trauma, Accepting the Past
8:21 – A Son’s Journey to Self-Discovery
10:08 – Rising Above Prejudice and Pain
12:24 – 9/11 Victim Compensation: Life-Changing Impact
13:31 – Fighting Systemic Racism in Legal Battles
16:47 – Family Sacrifices Amid Market Ups & Downs
20:54 – Hard Lessons in Money and Humility
28:04 – Faith, Resilience & Community Strength
34:59 – Honoring 9/11 with The Stir 716
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices