Building Wealth Today For Tomorrow - Financial Empowerment

Chicago largest FREE Financial Education & Empowerment Summit!

Saturday October 4, 2025
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CT

UIC Forum - 1213 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL

Past Speakers

Earvin "Magic" Johnson

Daymond John

Mathew Knowles

Keke Palmer

Larenz Tate

Bill Rancic

Main Stage Schedule Highlights

Description: Kick off the event with a warm welcome from Chicago’s Treasurer.

Description: Celebrate the achievements of our 2024 scholarship recipients.

Description: Learn about the impactful initiatives and support from Wells Fargo.

Description: Join actor Larenz Tate for an insightful discussion on building and sustaining wealth across generations.

Description: Discover the role and benefits of CDFIs in community development.

Presented By: US Bank

Description: Gain insights from Mathew Knowles on what it takes to be a high achiever.

Description: A comprehensive session on financial literacy and management.

Description: Learn from Keke Palmer on how to take control of your personal and professional story.

Presented By: Old National Bank

Description: Discover how to access essential resources and support for your small business from Old National Bank.

Seminar Highlights

Home Repair and Restoration: Unlocking Funding and Resources
Credit 101 with TransUnion
Crime Victims Compensation in Chicago
Investing is for Everyone with Chase
“Introducción a Instituciones Bancarias” with Chase (Español)

Demystifying Homeownership with Self Help Credit Union
Real Estate Community Development Panel
Smart Banking: Developing Banking Relationships with Chase
Small Business with Joseph Business School
BMO Harris Bank (Español)

“Introducción a Instituciones Bancarias” with Chase (Español)

Young Adults BWTT Summit Schedule

Description: A panel discussion focused on setting goals and developing leadership skills.

Description: An interactive session on creating effective business plans.

Description: Learn how to grow and monetize your digital presence.

Description: Participate in the main stage discussion with Keke Palmer.

2024 Exhibitors

ABOC

Chicago Housing Trust

Chicago Police Department Recruitment Unit

Chicago Mahogany Tours

Allies for Community Business

Chicago Housing Authority

Chicago Urban League

Cara Collective

Citi

Illinois State Comptroller

Civilian Office of Police Accountability – COPA

Center for Changing Lives

Credit Union One

SomerCor

Association House of Chicago

Chicago Department of Aviation

City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services

Truman College

ComEd Beneficial Electrification/Walker Miller Energy Services

Brighton Park Neighborhood Council

Empowerment Resources International

US Army National Guard

Illinois Tollway

C3 Impact Fund

Illinois State Treasurer’s Office

Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago

Pursuit

tD2R, LLC

The OCC

Nationwide Retirement Solutions

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs’

Office of the City Clerk – CityKey

Unique Family Services Nfp

312 Baseball Lab Foundation

Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook
County-Iris Y. Martinez

The Resurrection Project

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Bettering Lives with Bellows, LLC

IHDA

Chicago Votes

Illinois Secretary of State

Chatham Business Association

Joliet Job Corps Center

The Joseph Business School

Department of Business Affaris and
Consumer Protection

Rate

what is

bwtt?

Our annual “Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow Financial Empowerment Summit” (BWTT) is the largest financial education program of its kind in Chicago. Experts and leaders from businesses, community organizations, city, state and federal agencies lead workshops and discussions that provide the resources and knowledge you need to build long-term wealth and a more secure future.

Road to Wealth

It’s time for you to start building wealth

IN PERSON WORKSHOPS AND BREAKOUT SESSION GEARED TOWARDS FINANICIAL EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION

WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED THIS YEAR

WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE:

LEARN HOW TO

BWTT 2024 RECAP

Road To Wealth

What People Are Saying!

“Thank you for having this event. I appreciate it because we need it. We need things like this to actually come into because at first everything is virtual, and it's good to see people and touch people and talk to people besides talk to automated machines and things that way, so it feels good.”

DIANA WASHINGTON

on why we need an in-person event:

“...I learned about the importance of mentorship and trying to find a sponsor who can speak on your behalf if you're trying to start a business or move up in the career field and how important that is for networking.”

CHRISTOPHER

on what he learned:

“They are offering what I need. I need career coaching. I need resume writing. I've been applying for jobs for over six months now. So, I definitely need it. I feel like I've been kind of disappointed because I’ve been applying for so many jobs, I've been getting interviews, but no job offers yet, so this is why I'm here. And I think definitely think it's going to help me.”

OMRANA

on why she came:

“I never expected this because I went to Columbia University career fair, I went to so many career fairs, but this one: I'm amazed...I would definitely request everyone who is looking for any opportunities to come and visit this program because this could not only open doors, but this could also give them a lot of information about the future possible.”

NADIA

on the career fair:

“You really made a lot of people’s day because you had an awesome panel here to answer all different questions. I said that everything you was asking him up there, I was saying, wow, I wonder where did she got those questions from because it’s exactly what I wanted to know!”

SANDRA

on the panels:

“This event is empowering to say the very least. Lots of information. Lots of energy. Lots of opportunities just floating around in one room. You know, I think the city really needs events like this to give people hope for better wealth, better health, better opportunities...the city is full of so many talented and capable people...so I'm glad that she created this opportunity for people to come talk to people in order to better themselves for a better future...[At this event], you can learn something, no matter what it is that you're trying to do. If you're trying to find a job, if you need some information on insurance, there's a lot of banks here that are talking about home loans and finances and debt...These people here are experts. Everybody's very nice and everybody is here to help us further the cause and better one another.”

LASHAY MASTIN

on the variety of resources:

“Oh, this is an awesome event. I mean, it opens up great opportunities for those who are in need of job, those who are looking to expand themselves. I mean, we need more events like this in the city of Chicago...people are looking for jobs and they can't find jobs. They don't know where to go. They don't know how to network. They don't know how to contact. But this event tops all of that. It connects us to the right people. It opens up doors. It gives us leads... I thought that I was going to have to be the person that, you know, knocks on the door, but it seemed like the door was open here and they kind of pulled me into the door, which was totally exciting.”

ALVIN RICHARDS

on the career fair:

There’s a lot of good financial information here, a lot of people who know the answers to things that, you know, you have these nagging questions about financial issues and, you know, meeting people from the banks that you work with, everything's online nowadays, but it's nice to have an actual person to talk to about things...There are experts in this room that you can ask those difficult questions.”

CEPHAS

on the available resources:

“Who wouldn’t want to hear Magic Johnson speak? You know, any advice he could give...will be helpful, especially on a big business level, which is really the hardest thing to find out advice about. Things like boardroom politics, you know, all kinds of things that has really no books written about it. And you have to be in the experience and get smashed in those settings to learn how to, you know, survive in it, or you can just come to an event like event like this and meet people who have been through it.”

CEPHAS

on Magic Johnson: