In a bold effort to tackle one of the most pressing economic challenges facing Black America, the Student Freedom Initiative (SFI)—founded by billionaire businessman Robert F. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners—has partnered with Live Nation Urban to launch HBCU AWARE FEST 2026. This first-of-its-kind cultural and educational movement will debut in Spring 2026 with a weeklong activation in Atlanta, led by Mayor Andre Dickens. The goal: raise $100 million to support students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. The Weight of Student Debt on Black Futures Black undergraduate students carry an average of $38,000 in student loan debt, a
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