Alabama State University Office of Career Services hosted the 2025 Money for Life Regional Leadership Summit on Sept. 24 inside the John Garrick Hardy Center Ballroom. The event ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and brought together students, administrators and financial industry leaders to focus on financial literacy, credit management, homeownership and career readiness.

The summit, organized through the Center for Financial Advancement (CFA) and its parent organization, Home Free USA, included participants from Fisk University, Talladega College, Stillman College, Fort Valley State University and Alabama State University. Corporate partners Rocket Mortgage, Experian and Mr. Cooper attended, along with sponsors such as Wells Fargo, Truist Bank, Bank of America, Freddie Mac and Rocket Money.

“This program has been very instrumental in making sure our students are competitive when they leave Alabama State University,” said Sabrina Simmons, D.M., assistant vice president for student affairs and enrollment management and student development and engagement. She noted that the university became a CFA partner in 2022 and, since then, has provided students with training in financial literacy, homeownership and professional certifications. Students complete modules for pay, attend webinars and compete nationally in the CFA pitch competition, which the university students won in 2022, earning $40,000 in prize funds.

“We are excited to host our sister institutions and provide students the opportunity to learn skills that will carry them beyond the classroom,” Simmons said.

Executive Vice President of Home Free USA and creator of the CFA, Gwendolyn Garnett, said financial literacy must be treated as a survival skill.

“If you do not know how to manage your money, you will be a broke entrepreneur. A lot of students say they want to be entrepreneurs, but without these tools, they will struggle. Learn early so you can set yourself up for success,” Garnett said.

LaWanna Williams, university director for the CFA at Home Free USA, said her work ensures that financial literacy reaches historically Black colleges and universities.

“I forge partnerships with institutions, meeting with presidents, provosts and faculty to ensure our programs take root and thrive,” Williams said. “Unless students are given real tools in their toolkit, financial literacy remains just rhetoric. The CFA ensures they put that knowledge into action.”

Transitioning from that institutional perspective, Truist Bank senior vice president Wendell Charles emphasized the importance of financial inclusion.

“I make sure that we have a platform that caters to all segments of the community. African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, we want to make sure that we are serving every demographic,” Charles said. He praised Home Free USA founder Marcia Griffin as a “powerful influencer” who built the CFA network from the ground up. Charles added that organizations must invest in students because “the talent is here” and “these young men and women are ready to engage.”

Nicholas Whiteside, student director for the CFA, emphasized the program’s roots and his role in advancing its mission. “I work with students on curriculum, engagement and building our online program,” Whiteside said. A graduate of Fisk University, he joined the CFA when it launched there in 2018 and has remained involved for the past four years. He explained that the program began to challenge stereotypes about historically Black colleges and university students (HBCU) and homeownership. “This started because people claimed HBCU students were not interested in building wealth.”

Workshops at the summit covered themes such as “Budget and Save Like a Pro,” “Level Up Your Brand,” “Your Pitch and Career Prep” and “Credit, Investment, and Homeownership.” Students also participated in networking sessions designed to connect them with corporate representatives.

Students from multiple campuses reflected on their experiences. Rachel Waters, a Stillman College freshman majoring in business administration with a concentration in accounting, said she gained practical lessons early in her college career. “Knowing how to manage your money and allocate funds is something we all can benefit from. I would definitely recommend this program to other students,” Waters said.

O’Neal Merchant, a Stillman College senior and CFA ambassador majoring in business administration with a concentration in cybersecurity, said the program shaped his involvement on campus. “CFA was the beginning for me. It gave me the drive to get involved on campus. Now, I am on Royal Court, and I would not have done that without CFA,” Merchant said.

Solomon Rayton, a Fort Valley State University junior majoring in computer science, said he valued the practical advice. “So far, I have learned more about budgeting. For me personally, I like to know what my money is doing, and this helped me sharpen that plan,” Rayton said.

Fisk University sophomore Vision Panta, a computer science major, said the summit gave him both knowledge and connections. “Money rules the world, and here they are teaching us how to manage our money and secure a better future. The networking and resources make this program really beneficial,” Panta said.

Gary London, Ed.D., assistant professor of business administration at Talladega College, noted that his students won $10,000 in last year’s CFA pitch competition, a result that energized the campus and the program’s impact.

With strong turnout and engaged participation, the Money for Life Summit showed the power of HBCU partnerships and corporate collaboration. “We are proving that our communities do want wealth building, and we are equipping students with the tools to achieve it,” Whiteside said.