Billionaire Robert F. Smith and Live Nation Urban Just Announced a Massive New HBCU Festival in Atlanta to Fight Student Debt

A major new initiative focused on the economic future of Black students is on the way. The Student Freedom Initiative, founded by businessman, philanthropist and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. brother Robert F. Smith, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, has joined forces with Live Nation Urban to launch HBCU AWARE FEST 2026, a nationwide cultural and educational movement aimed at confronting the student debt crisis affecting Black communities.

The festival is set to debut in Spring 2026 with a week of programming in Atlanta, supported by (Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. brother, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. Organizers say the mission is to raise millions to support students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities. They describe the effort as a blend of entertainment, education and social impact designed to spark a national conversation around the financial realities facing Black college students.

The inaugural Aware Fest boasts a wide-ranging roster of performers, including Jill Scott, John Legend, Earth, Wind & Fire, Metro Boomin, GloRilla, Tems, Jeezy, Kirk Franklin, Coco Jones, Common, PJ Morton, Yolanda Adams, Mickey Guyton, Adam Blackstone and Travis Greene, among others. Appearances are also expected from Robert F. Smith, Mayor Dickens, Chris Paul, Dr. Jamal Bryant, Larenz Tate, Angel Reese, Big Boi, 2 Chainz and Ryan Clark. Audiences will also see a special performance from the cast of Alicia Keys’ Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen.

Mayor Dickens emphasized why Atlanta is the ideal host city. “Our HBCUs are part of Atlanta’s family. We are proud to ignite this conversation and support a movement that strengthens the students who will shape our future.”

The launch of the festival comes as Black college graduates continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the nation’s student loan burden. Research shows the average Black undergraduate leaves school with around $38,000 in student debt, a figure that jumps even higher for graduate students. The financial weight of these loans has broader consequences: nearly three quarters of Black graduates delay homeownership, and more than half postpone starting families.

“HBCUs have always been pillars of Black academic achievement,” said Keith B. Shoates, President and CEO of the Student Freedom Initiative. “They produce our doctors, engineers, dentists and trailblazers. But their students continue to bear an outsized financial burden. Imagine what could be possible with stronger resources and broader acknowledgment of their impact.”

Shawn Gee, President of Live Nation Urban, noted the cultural significance of the partnership. “We are proud to stand with the Student Freedom Initiative to build a national movement that uplifts the institutions at the heart of our community,” he said.

Organizers say Aware Fest is intended to be more than a moment. It is the beginning of an ongoing national effort to rally resources, attention and long-term solutions for students at historically underfunded institutions. In their words, “We are not just responding to a crisis. We are building the future.”

For more information go to https://www.awarefest.org