For the fourth year in a row, the Peach State welcomed “Invest Fest” to ATL. Earn Your Leisure (EYL) co-founders, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, brought the in-person experience combining investing, entrepreneurship, pop culture, and entertainment, at the Georgia World Congress Center, August 23-25, 2024. Invest Fest is a one-of-kind event with live performances, interactive events, and a vendor marketplace. Each year celebrities are invited to discuss how they, and their business acumen, have evolved. Featured panelists at previous Invest Fests included: Tyler Perry-actor and filmmaker, Robert P. Smith-financial pioneer and author, and more.
Throughout the 72-hour experience, guest made their way around the vendor marketplace, which was created to support hundreds of black-owned businesses. Products and service from haircare, fitness, clothing, to artificial intelligence were on display. When asked about her business, Kae Renee Naturals (https://kaereneenaturals.com), and the opportunity to sell her products at Invest Fest, Sydney Atherly said, “it means a lot, knowing I’m not the only one who put in a bunch of hard work, and effort, and energy into being here. It definitely feels like a community, we are all on the same path, we are all striving.”
EYL also hosted the 2024 “Nipsey Hussle Business Grant Pitch Competition”, to support future leaders. The Competition honors the life of Nipsey Hussle (born Airmiess Joseph Asghedom; August 15, 1985 – March 31, 2019), a Grammy Award winning rapper and entrepreneur. Hundreds of Invest Fest attendees pitched their ideas for a chance to win the $100,000 business grant. The panel of judges had the difficult task of narrowing it down to the final four. Monique Stewart, owner and operator of Divine Luminance – (healthy juices for the body), earned the prize. On the win, Stewart said “all you have to do is have passion and good drive and force to make a difference.”
On the final day all eyes were fixed on the headline speaker, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. The award winning rapper and television producer is an entrepreneur with more than a few coins and commas in his account. Throughout his centerstage conversation, “50” was transparent about the discouragement he received from film industry executives. This was not a deterrent for Mr. Jackson, who persevered to realize his ambitions.
The insight did not stop with “50”. The audience also heard from Steve Harvey-comedian and philanthropist, Stephen A. Smith-sports television personality and journalist, Daymond G. John-businessman and investor and several other enterprising individuals. They shared their journeys and inspired hope among the enthusiastic entrepreneurs. Regarding what it means to be hungry for more, Stephen A. stated, “don’t apologize for wanting more if you’re willing to put in the work.”
The 2024 Annual Legacy Awards event highlighted local trailblazers who have made significant contributions in the areas of service and leadership.
Earn Your Leisure has started working on the next Invest Fest. For more information, vendor, and sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://earnyourleisure.com. An inspiring group of youth from the Theodore Young Community Center had the opportunity to go to Invest Fest 2024. The assistance from the four chaperones Monique Gadson, David Slater, Dashonda Turner, and Raevyn Thigpen made the trip possible in the end.
Ashley D. Robinson is an aspiring journalist, Student Member of the National Association of Black Journalists (https://nabjonline.org), and Senior at Alexander Hamilton High School Senior, in Elmsford, NY, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleydaniellerobinson.