Annual HBCU Springcoming gives thousands of dollars to students going to historically black colleges, universities
For some, historically black colleges and universities provide an experience many say they can't get anywhere else. HBCU Springcoming, allows alumni to relive the college fun all over again.
Behind its mission, though, is making sure students in the Magic City keep an HBCU in mind when applying to a school.
HBCUs are steeped in tradition, black culture is steeping in tradition,鈥� George Peters II, Co-Founder of HBCU Springcoming, said.
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When HBCU Springcoming comes to Birmingham it's a reunion like no other for those who went to a historically black college and/or university.
"This is Birmingham's HBCU's Springcoming. So, it matters who attends, who performs, who gets photographed who's a part of this tradition that we speak so highly of,鈥� Peters said.
For the last couple of years in the spring, the event has drawn thousands from across the south. Founders, Peters and Lauren Grove started HBCU Springcoming 10 years ago in New York City.
The pair expanded the week-long event to Birmingham in 2021.
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"Our job is not to force, not to strongly suggest, but to be a representation of all that comes from pride that comes with going to an HBCU. So it's incumbent upon us as an alum to make sure that we're exposing Birmingham students to an opportunity that is right there under their noses,鈥� Peters said.
Peters says during their stay they stop at Birmingham city schools to talk with high school students.
They've learned some didn't know anything about HBCUs, and they didn't consider attending one as an option, but that's now changing.
鈥淭hat makes us feel great to be able to provide that introduction because it's been said by our elders and ancestors you can't know what you don't see. And if you're not exposed to the opportunity, you don't believe that it's available to you,鈥� Peters said.
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That even applies to the unexpected fees for incoming freshmen. In the first year, the group gave out $25,000 in scholarship money to Birmingham Promise students who were enrolled at an HBCU.
Last year sponsors helped it grow to almost $40,000, helping to cover the cost of books, moving expenses, and even clothing.
Birmingham Promise offers scholarships to these students 鈥� but HBCU Springcoming helps close the gap for these particular students currently enrolled at Alabama A&M, Morehouse College, FAMU and Hampton University.
鈥淔rom that metric using that as a way to determine what our trajectory is particularly in the city you know the sky's the limit,鈥� Peters said.
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The sky's the limit when it comes to the economic impact it brings too. Cornell Wesley with the city's economic opportunity office helped bring the annual event here.
鈥淲e're excited about the continued growth about HBCU Springcoming and the economic impact that it's had in the past two years,鈥� Wesley said.
He says in the past holding the event the same week as major events like March Madness brought in $3 million for the city on those days.
"If we're going to talk about and we're going to curate an experience around it what better for that to happen than in the heart of in the south and also in the state where the largest representation of HBCUs can be found,鈥� Wesley said.
Representation that can't be found anywhere else in the country.
鈥淏etween myself and co-founder Lauren I think we've invested in the city in really special way for generations and generations who will help keep this tradition and HBCUs alive,鈥� Peters said.