DFREE sets FinFe$T 2026 at Kean University to pair AI access with financial freedom

DFREE® Global Foundation will hold its free FinFe$T 2026 festival Nov. 13–14 at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, with Prudential and RWJBarnabas Health as lead partners. The event will focus on helping families, students, entrepreneurs and workers navigate AI, money management and wealth building as the economy changes.

Why it matters: - DFREE® is positioning FinFe$T 2026 as a way to help communities benefit from AI instead of being left behind by it. - The festival is aimed at practical financial empowerment, career readiness and small-business growth at a time when AI is changing work and wealth creation. - Free access matters because the event is designed for families, students, entrepreneurs and workers who may not otherwise have access to AI and financial education.

What happened: - The DFREE® Global Foundation announced that FinFe$T 2026 will take place Nov. 13–14 at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. - The free two-day festival will run under the theme “AI 4 U$: Access = Success.” - Prudential and RWJBarnabas Health are the lead partners for the 2026 event. - Dee C. Marshall, CEO and Managing Partner at Ai Training Plus, will co-host the festival. - FinFe$T 2026 is the seventh annual edition of the event.

The details: - FinFe$T 2026 will combine financial empowerment, technology education, career development, entrepreneurship, health and wellness, and access to AI tools and resources. - Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr., founder of the DFREE® Movement and DFREE® Global Foundation, created FinFe$T as a hub for education, opportunity and financial empowerment. - The event will celebrate the DFREE® Movement’s more than 20-year effort to help individuals, families and communities pursue financial freedom. - Prudential and RWJBarnabas Health will contribute expertise and resources tied to financial security, economic opportunity, physical health, behavioral health and wellness. - KreditVerse, Kean University and NJAI Hub are also core partners supporting youth development, education, innovation and future readiness. - Marshall also founded The People Side of AI, a people-first initiative focused on AI’s human impact across Africa, East Asia, Europe, North America and the Pacific Region. - Featured speakers will include Marshall and Reverend Dr. Justin R. Lester, whose use of technology to stay connected with his congregation drew attention from The New York Times and CNN. - Programming will address questions about whether AI can improve financial decisions, which jobs may change, how small businesses can use AI, how families can avoid scams and privacy risks, and how young people can prepare for the AI economy. - Sessions will also examine how financial, physical and behavioral wellness can work together to strengthen families. - Friday, Nov. 13, will focus on youth, faith and leadership under the theme “Access Starts Early.” - Friday programming will include youth financial literacy and AI-access workshops, career readiness, credit and entrepreneurship education, behavioral health resources, a Faith Symposium and a gathering of DFREE® Movement leaders and supporters. - KreditVerse will play a central role in the youth experience. - Saturday, Nov. 14, will broaden the focus to money management, AI, careers, entrepreneurship, wealth building and family wellness. - The event is free and open to the public. - Registration is available here, and the event app can be downloaded through Whova.

Between the lines: - The event reflects a growing push to treat AI literacy as part of financial literacy, not a separate topic. - By pairing AI with health, faith and family wellness, DFREE® is framing financial freedom as a whole-life issue rather than just a money issue. - The emphasis on youth suggests the organization sees early access to AI and financial education as key to narrowing future opportunity gaps. - Dr. Soaries’ comments position the festival as an extension of a long-term partnership model, especially with Prudential.

What's next: - DFREE® will host the festival in November and use the two-day format to deliver workshops, panels and resource access. - Attendees are expected to use the event to connect with experts, learn practical AI applications and explore financial and career opportunities. - The organization will likely continue building on FinFe$T as a signature platform for financial empowerment and AI access.

The bottom line: - DFREE® is betting that the fastest way to make AI more inclusive is to connect it directly to financial freedom, youth development and trusted community resources.