Financial Empowerment Lab NYC

Financial Empowerment Lab NYC is a “hands-on” course at Columbia University for business and law students developed and taught by Stephen Zeldes (Business School professor), Ed Morrison (Law School professor), and Daniela Tisch (Lecturer in Law, Columbia Law School, and member of the Richman Center Executive Advisory Board). The course first launched in Spring 2025, ran again in Fall 2025, and will next be offered in Spring 2027. The course focuses on financial health and empowerment in underserved NYC communities, including Harlem and Washington Heights. Teams of 3-5 students (with at least one business student and one law student in each) partner with local nonprofits 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. Enrollment in this class is by application only. For Spring 2027, the class meets Wednesdays, 9:00 am–12:15 pm, and applications are due Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 2:00 pm (applications received after the deadline will be considered only if seats remain). For further information, please see https://business.columbia.edu/szeldes/taught/b8234-financial-empowerment-lab-nyc