In celebration of Black History Month, select students from Maple Heights High School and Teacher Academy instructor Rick Wakefield recently attended a student forum titled History of Black Wall Street - Community Unity at Cuyahoga County Community College (Tri-C). The forum was part of the Thurgood Marshall Oratorical Debate Education Project and was sponsored by Delta Alpha Lambda Foundation, the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Maple Heights students joined peers from around Cuyahoga County to learn about the history of the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, dubbed Black Wall Street, and the lessons that can be taken from its existence and destruction. Maple Heights seniors Brandi’Anna Freeman and Cheyenne Mickler bravely volunteered to be on stage and participated in a student panel discussion on financial prosperity and economic empowerment in the Black community. Students were also blessed with presentations on making college a reality, financial literacy, and the many opportunities that Tri-C offers students to help them pursue careers and achieve financial wellness. The importance of education, home ownership, entrepreneurship, and the 50/30/20 rule were focuses of the day’s presentations. Students left this experience with greater understanding of the history of Black Wall Street and of what they can do to lessen the wealth gap in America.