Building Wisdom, Not Debt: A Real Conversation About Money

MC Lyte, Media Mogul, Actress, Philanthropist and Cultural Icon, Dr. Lynn Richardson, Financial Expert & Entertainment Executive

This powerful opening plenary is the ultimate intersection between entertainment, Black culture, and financial empowerment. This session brings parents and students together for a straight-no-chaser conversation about money, legacy, and the choices that shape financial freedom and personal harmony. MC Lyte and Dr. Lynn Richardson break down how families can stop passing down stress, silence, and debt, and start developing the strategies they’ve mastered on building successful financial and business enterprises. Attendees will leave with practical tools, clear next steps, and the mindset shift needed to build stability now and wealth later, so the legacy becomes wisdom, not debt.

From Vision to Ownership: Building Pathways of Entrepreneurship and Legacy Presented by McDonald's

Featuring local McDonald’s restaurant owners and entrepreneurs:

Mark Mines, Lauren Mitchell, Donte Cleaves, Danesha Smith; moderated by Isaiah Evans of Morehouse College

Join us for a dynamic conversation on entrepreneurship and legacy-building featuring local McDonald’s restaurant owners and a student moderator. This panel explores how leaders turn vision into ownership, the mindset it takes to build something lasting, and the role that college and HBCU culture have played in shaping their paths. Together, they’ll discuss what it means to create a legacy with real community impact, and how the next generation can chart its own course.

Health is Wealth: Protecting Your Power, Your Joy, & Your Future presented by Gilead

Moderator - TS Madison, Media Mogul, Actress, Philanthropist and Cultural Icon

Saucy Santana, Artist, Byron Perkins, D1 Football Player, Advocate, Cultural Leader, Ashley Cobb, Sexual Health Expert & Author

This panel offers an affirming, culturally relevant space for HBCU students to explore how sexual health, HIV prevention, and self-advocacy connect to everyday success in and beyond college. Featuring trusted voices from culture and community, the discussion addresses real pressures students navigate, including relationships, mental wellness, financial stress, and competing demands on time and resources. Participants will leave with practical, stigma-free takeaways that position prevention as preparation, strengthen confidence to advocate for their health, and reinforce how proactive choices can support academic focus, stability, and long-term goals.

HBCUS: The Path to Black Excellence

Moderator - Portia Bruner, Emmy-winning journalist

Dr. Kevin James, President, Morris Brown College, Kirsten Allen, Founder & President, KNA Strategies Inc Communications, Thabiti Stephens, CSO, Steve Harvey Global

HBCU presidents and noted alumni discuss the ongoing role of HBCUs in creating Black wealth, innovation, and community, and why HBCUs are the right choice for our young people.

Black Mental Health Matters: Breaking Stigma and Building Accessible Support

Moderator - Corey Arvinger

Frances Cloud, Director of Counseling Services, Spelman, Shanti Das, Founder & CEO, Silence the Shame, Inc., Ivana Jackson, Director Fund II Foundation, David Coleman,  Founder of The Black Mind / Senior Policy Analyst at the NEA

This critical conversation centers mental health as a foundational pillar of student success, academic persistence, and long-term well-being for Black students and families. Panelists will unpack the cultural stigmas, generational narratives, and systemic barriers that often prevent Black students from seeking mental health support, particularly within higher education spaces. The discussion moves beyond awareness and into action, offering practical guidance on how students and families can identify affordable, accessible mental health resources both on and off campus. Panelists explore what mental health support actually looks like at HBCUs today, including counseling services, peer support models, faith-based and culturally responsive care, teletherapy options, and community-based providers.

The Creator CEO: Turning Social Media Influence Into a Real Business

Moderator - Anisa Breneé, Media Personality

Shanita Miller, Founder, Black Girls Guide to ATL, Tony Brown, Founder, Breakr, Mary Seats, Brand Architect, Nathalie Smith, CEO of GREENHOUSE, Two Lewis, Ceo of Take Two Entertainment, Owner's District Managment Agency, & On Track Georgia

Top influencers and digital strategists explain how content creators are becoming modern CEOs. This session explores building a personal brand, negotiating partnerships, monetizing platforms, protecting intellectual property, and scaling social media into a profitable business.

From the Yard to the Industry: Building Careers in Sneaker Culture

Moderator - Nyasha Ho-Young, Sr. Regional Recruiter, Foot Locker

Ivan Bradley, Buyer, Men’s FL LCKR/Brand Strat, Foot Locker, Cam Kirk, Owner of Cam Kirk Studios & Collective Gallery, Kordale “K.O.” Toomer, Co-Founder of ATATF, Fredrick Salyers, Early Career Programs Manager, National Basketball Association

From the yard to the global stage, sneaker culture moves the world, and Foot Locker is built right in the middle of it. Join us as we break down real career routes, entrepreneurial gems, and how to position yourself to win in today’s culture‑driven sneakers and apparel industry.

Tech & AI: How Artificial Intelligence Is Shaping Our Future

Moderator - Ash Cash, Social Influencer & Entrepreneur

Amanda Spann, App Educator, Jasmine Crowe-Houston, Founder of Goodr, Justin Burns, Creator of @miestro_hq

Industry leaders discuss the societal impact of AI, career opportunities, and ethical considerations for HBCU students.

Securing Our Future: How Students Afford College in Post–Affirmative America Era

Moderator - Keith B. Shoates, President and CEO, Student Freedom Initiative

Jonathan Jordan, Dir. of Financial Aid, Morehouse, Madysen Forney, 2024 Magna Cum Laude grad of CAU, Sonia Lewis, Founder of The Student Loan Doctor, Jeannie Tarkenton, Founder and CEO of Funding U

Presented by the Student Freedom Initiative with corporate and nonprofit partners, this session equips families with practical tools to navigate college costs in today’s shifting landscape. Experts break down scholarships, grants, last-dollar funding programs, student loan alternatives, financial aid strategies, and new community-based resources designed to support HBCU students.

Passion to Paycheck: Building Wealth By Doing What You Love

Moderator - Paige Shari, Host / Personality

Angela Watts, Founder, Atlanta Fashion Week, Jason Lobdell, Fitness Entrepreneur and Gym Owner, Miss Lawrence, Actor/Advocate

Industry leaders sharing how they transformed personal passions into profitable careers.

Name, Image & Likeness (NIL): Building Your Brand as a Student-Athlete

Moderator - Christina Granville, Athlete & Model

Duke Pettijohn, Former Athlete & Author, Travis L. Williams, CEO & Founder of HBCU All-Stars LLC, Kobi Wu, Founder & CEO of Cache AI and VisuWall, Jahi Rawlings, CEO of Finish First LLC, Dr. Tara Turner, Founder/Executive Director of HBCU ELITE

Former athletes and sports professionals cover NIL basics, income opportunities, and brand management for HBCU students.

A Different World Tour - Homeownership Panel presented by Wells Fargo

Join Wells Fargo for the A Different World Tour Homeownership Panel, a dynamic, moderated conversation exploring homeownership, financial empowerment, and building a strong future. Powered by Wells Fargo and featuring special guest appearances, this session offers real talk, practical insights, and inspiration for students and community members who want to better understand pathways to homeownership and long‑term financial stability