HBCU AWAREFEST: A Nationwide Effort to Tackle Student Loan Debt

Black college graduates average nearly $53,000 in loans for their education. This creates a critical need to increase access to education without overwhelming students with debt. As 2020, the Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) has focused on providing students at HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) with greater financial freedom after graduation through loan and grant programs funded by donors and the community. Now, SFI is launching its biggest fundraising effort yet.

The association has partnered with Live Nation Urban (LNU) for HBCU AWAREFEST, a nationwide call to action. Through workshops, panel discussions, and live music, AWAREFEST aims to ignite conversations, spark action, and raise funds to tackle student loan debt for HBCU students.

Positioning itself as the largest fundraising effort ever undertaken to benefit HBCUs, this partnership and event will support SFI’s student Freedom Agreement, a program designed to offer a more sustainable path to debt repayment.