Course Description
Financial Empowerment Lab NYC is a “hands-on” course for MBA and law students that focuses on financial health and empowerment in underserved NYC communities, including Harlem and Washington Heights. Teams of 3-4 students (with at least one business student and one law student in each) partner with local non-profits and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) on a semester-long project that culminates in a pre-specified deliverable. In the process, students will be exposed to clients of the organization, develop a personal understanding of the financial and legal challenges facing underserved populations, and work on a project that will help the organization better fulfill its mission. This course emphasizes practical learning, innovative problem-solving, and strategic collaboration, enabling students to apply their skills in a meaningful context that contributes to economic justice and positive social change.
Schedule
Fall 2025 (full-semester) class:
- Wednesdays, 9:00 am – 12:15 pm, on Manhattanville campus.
- Admission by application only. Enrollment capped at 48 students.
- Open to law students (JD, LLM) and business school students (MBA, EMBA). Note: EMBA students are welcome, but must be able to attend class on Wed mornings and commit to 5-6 hours of work during the week.
Deadlines:
Update July 11, 2025: MBA students: We have accepted an initial set of MBA students into the class, but we still have some remaining MBA slots. Law students: We have open slots held for Law students. You are welcome to apply before or during general the registration in July. We will update this note on an ongoing basis.
Please use the link below to apply.
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