Sixty students from predominantly Black schools in Brooklyn and the Bronx will receive a $1,000 investment to start a business that serves their community and their future

Ownership Is The Future, a groundbreaking entrepreneurship and wealth-building program for Black high school students, is proud to announce the 2024 Ownership Ideas Festival during Black History Month. The four-part showcase will take place across high schools in Brooklyn, NY at Brooklyn Community High School for Excellence and Equity, the School for Human Rights, and Design Works, and the Bronx, NY at Comp Sci High.  Victory Collegiate and the High School for Global Citizens will hold their Ownership Ideas Festival in March and April.

Sixty students from the participating schools will have the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas and receive funding to launch businesses that will impact their community and generations to come. Since 2021, students have participated in three class sessions per week where they receive mentorship and guidance from Ownership is the Future instructors, mentors and coaches to plan and realize their visions. As part of the festival, the students will pitch their ideas to potential investors and unveil websites for their entrepreneurial endeavors.

Watch the 2023 Ownership Ideas Festival recap video.

A recent study showed that white households in New York have a median net worth that is 15 times higher than that of Black households. According to the report, a white high school graduate in New York will have three times the net worth than Black college graduates in the state. Wealth provides a head start for the next generation, but without efforts to address historic and ongoing systemic barriers, racial disparities will perpetuate, threatening to widen the racial wealth gap. 

Ownership Is The Future aims to empower Black students and address the racial wealth gap in New York by providing Black youth with tools and resources to create businesses that align with their purpose and passion. By connecting their ideas to positive impact in their communities, students forge a path towards a future of generational wealth and success. Ownership is the Future brings together a community of investors, mentors, school administrators, teachers, parents, and allies to foster entrepreneurship and guide young innovators from Black communities. 

"I'm incredibly excited for this year’s Ownership Ideas Festival,” said Nicole Campbell, founder of Ownership is the Future. “Our students have really invested themselves in creating ventures that speak to who they are and how they see the world. We invite community members, investors, parents, and fellow students to join us in being a part of this incredible journey and to see the impact our students will have for generations to come."

The 2024 Ownership Ideas Festivals full schedule is below:

• February 8, Comp Sci High, 2p.m. to 4 p.m.

• February 9, Brooklyn Community High School for Excellence and Equity, 1p.m. to 3p.m. 

• February 28, Design Works, 3p.m. to 5p.m.

• March 7, the School for Human Rights, 10a.m. to Noon

The Ownership Ideas Festival promises to be a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the entrepreneurial spirit within the Black community. These events will not only provide a platform for students to present their ideas but also foster connections between students and potential investors, mentors, and community members who can support them in realizing their vision. 

For more information about Ownership Is The Future and the Ownership Ideas Festival, please visit www.ownershipisthefuture.org.

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About Ownership Is The Future

Ownership Is The Future is an entrepreneurship, wealth-building, and post-secondary pathway program designed for Black high school students. The program aims to empower students to create business ventures that connect their purpose and passion, ultimately leading to generational wealth and community empowerment. Through mentorship, investment, and support, Ownership Is The Future provides students with the tools and resources necessary to build wealth and impact their communities.