The cast of “A Different World” (1987-1993) has been touring historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country to encourage enrollment, raise scholarship funds, and promote financial literacy, and on Oct. 17, they took Bowie State University to launch their outreach efforts for this fall.
“The iconic cast of ‘A Different World’ is here, kicking off their HBCU College Tour and honoring the powerful legacy of HBCUs in shaping leaders,” the university wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, when the cast arrived.
Jasmine Guy, Kadeem Hardison, Cree Summer, Charnele Brown, Dawnn Lewis, Glynn Turman, and Darryl Bell participated in a live panel to share with students about their experiences on the show and beyond, and a celebrated HBCU culture at Maryland’s first historically Black university.
Bowie State celebrated the continued legacy of Hillman College, the fictional college where “A Different World” is set, which helped popularize actual HBCUs across the nation.
“The spirit of Hillman lives on, inspiring our next generation of Bulldogs,” the university wrote on X.
As Bowie State held homecoming festivities from Oct. 14-20, Thursday, Oct. 17, was declared as “Hillman Day,” featuring a celebration with a live DJ, games, prizes and more.
“I think so many people remain engaged with ‘A Different World’ because it’s one of the few places where they can find themselves still,” said Bell, who plays Ron Johnson on the show. “We’re talking about where HBCU students can say ‘Where is someone that is going through what I’m going through today and that you can relate to the problems that you’re experiencing on campus today?’ A Different World remains evergreen for that precise reason.”
Cast Members, HomeFree USA, Wells Fargo Host Home Buying Seminar
Bell and Hardison also hosted a homebuying seminar alongside HomeFree USA Executive Vice President and COO Milan Griffin, and Wells Fargo Vice President and Senior Business Consultant Donna Greene.
“It’s always exciting to have the energy and exuberance of the ‘A Different World Tour’ and coupling that with something the cast is known for — tackling real-world [and] current event issues, such as housing and closing the homeownership gap in America — created a space to have candid conversations around what it takes to become a homeowner,” said Wells Fargo’s Head of Home Lending African American Segment Ewunike Brady.
Hardison and Bell shared their own journey toward homeownership, offering an engaging and educational moment for audiences.
“It was eye opening to hear Kadeem and Darryl’s experiences with buying their first homes. What started as a homeownership discussion grew into broadening mindsets on the possibilities that can come through getting your start as a homeowner. And then further protecting your home and other assets to create generational wealth,” Brady explained. “The possibility of homeownership became palpable in that room.”
Noting that people often wonder when is the best time to buy a home, Brady suggested using resources like counseling services approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) such as those offered by HomeFree USA and Wells Fargo.
Wells Fargo is also sponsoring HomeFree USA’s upcoming Center for Financial Advancement “Money 4 Life” Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina from Oct. 22-24, to welcome over 500 HBCU students on the path to learn more about mortgage and finance careers, homeownership, and financial health.
Sponsoring the “A Different World” tour and upcoming conference supports Wells Fargo’s mission of empowering HBCU students through financial education.
“As we look at supporting and creating more avenues for generational wealth, being able to support and stand up for HBCUs is a perfect space to have that alignment and to engage as a company,” Brady told The Informer in April.
The Washington Informer has previously covered the “A Different World” tour here and here.