Wall Street Connection (501c3) is closing the wealth gap in New Orleans by equipping students with real financial knowledge and resources. Access to financial education in New Orleans is critical. African-American families in New Orleans experience poverty rates 6.1% higher than the national average—and only 34% have a retirement account compared to 60% of White-American families.

We’re tackling this issue head-on. The Young Financial Leaders Expo empowers students (grades 8-12) with:

But we go beyond education—participants earn real money to invest through their first Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), turning financial literacy into real-world action. You can revisit the 2024 Young Financial Leaders Expo success in media coverage here.

For 2025, we’re more than doubling our impact—from 4 schools last year to 11 schools registered this year. A full list of schools registered to participate is available here. With your support, we can expand access to financial education, empowering the next generation to build wealth and break cycles of economic disparity.

Your donation directly funds life-changing opportunities for students, providing them with:

Your support removes barriers and creates pathways for students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to these critical financial education tools.

How You Can Help

Every contribution, big or small, makes an impact. Whether you donate today or share this campaign, you’re helping to empower the next generation of financial leaders in New Orleans and beyond.