Live Nation Urban, Student Freedom Initiative Partner for HBCU AWAREFEST: ‘The Largest HBCU Fundraiser Ever’
The inaugural HBCU AWAREFEST is set to make waves on March 26 at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, featuring an impressive lineup of performers, including Jill Scott, John Legend, Earth, Wind & Fire, Common, GloRilla, Tems, Metro Boomin, and Kirk Franklin. This festival, heralded as “the largest HBCU fundraiser ever,” is a collaborative effort between Live Nation Urban and the Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), aiming to address the pressing issue of student loan debt among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The event promises not only musical entertainment but also a platform for critical discussions on the financial challenges facing HBCU students, with notable guest speakers such as NBA star Chris Paul, NCAA champion Angel Reese, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and philanthropist Robert F. Smith.
The HBCU AWAREFEST is more than just a concert; it serves as a nationwide call to action against the student loan debt crisis that disproportionately affects HBCU students. Keith Shoates, president and CEO of SFI, expressed enthusiasm for the festival as a means to foster a coalition dedicated to alleviating this financial burden. The event will feature workshops and panel discussions focused on student loan debt, providing attendees with valuable insights and resources. Funds raised during the festival will support SFI’s Student Freedom Loan Agreement, which offers an affordable, income-contingent funding alternative to traditional Parent PLUS Loans. Shawn Gee, president of Live Nation Urban, emphasized the commitment to Black excellence in music and culture, highlighting the festival’s role in mobilizing artists, activists, and students to support HBCUs, which are vital to the cultural fabric of the nation.
As anticipation builds, presale tickets are currently available, with general sales starting on November 21 at 10 a.m. ET. The HBCU AWAREFEST not only aims to entertain but also to educate and empower, making it a significant event for those invested in the future of HBCUs and their students. For more information and to secure tickets, interested parties can visit the event’s official website. This festival represents a pivotal moment for HBCUs, blending music, activism, and community engagement in a powerful initiative to combat the racial wealth gap through education.
Jill Scott, John Legend and Earth, Wind & Fire are among the stars who will be performing at the inaugural HBCU AWAREFEST. Billed as “the largest HBCU fundraiser ever,” the festival — a new joint partnership between Live Nation Urban and Student Freedom Initiative — will be staged at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on March 26.
In addition to the aforementioned acts, the lineup includes Common, GloRilla, Tems, Metro Boomin, Kirk Franklin and others. Chris Paul, Angel Reese, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and entrepreneur-philanthropist Robert F. Smith are among the guest speakers who will be participating.
“At Student Freedom Initiative, we are incredibly excited about the coalition and movement that we are building to end the student loan debt crisis for our nation’s HBCU students,” said Keith Shoates, president and CEO of SFI, in a statement. “In addition to these amazing performers, we have enlisted AWAREFEST Ambassadors, showing the breadth of our ecosystem of mission-aligned partners. These individuals will help to spread the word and share the urgency of our mission to tackle the racial wealth gap through the lens of education.”
Shawn Gee, president of Live Nation Urban, commented, “Live Nation Urban is committed to Black excellence in music and culture, and today we are proud to stand with our partners at Student Freedom Initiative to build a national movement of allies, artists, activists and students to support the institutions that are the foundation of our culture.”
Serving as a nationwide call to action, HBCU AWAREFEST will also present workshops and panel discussions about the serious issue of student loan debt. Funds raised by Live Nation Urban and Student Freedom Initiative will benefit
SFI’s Student Freedom Loan Agreement
, described as “an affordable, income-contingent funding alternative to Parent PLUS Loans.”
Tickets for HBCU AWAREFEST are available for presale now, and then go on sale Nov. 21 (10 a.m. ET). For tickets and additional information, visit the
event’s website
.
