B2T Summit Ignites Bold Vision for Financial Empowerment Among HBCU Students
What began as a senior capstone project at Virginia Union University has grown into a transformative movement now gaining national attention. Rodney Manning Jr., a May 2025 graduate of Virginia Union University (VUU), launched FOCUS (Financially Optimistic College Men Uplifting Society)āwith a mission to equip young Black men with financial knowledge, leadership skills, and a commitment to community advancement. His journeyāand the growth of FOCUSāreached new heights during the 2025 Bridge 2 Technologies (B2T) Global Summit, held May 29ā30 in Manhattan, NY. Joined by Tyriek Crutchfield, a rising senior at Benedict College, Manning represented the FOCUS initiative at this prestigious