Rahfeal G.

RahGor Motivations
Hillside, New Jersey

“A lot of people have told me that I couldn’t make it because of my circumstances. But I have a favorite saying: ‘Your location isn’t your destination.’”

Rahfeal was this year’s recipient of the OppenheimerFunds Award for Social Entrepreneurship. This special award is generously sponsored by OppenheimerFunds to recognize a NFTE graduate who is committed to giving back to the community through his or her business. Consideration for the award is given to NFTE students 22 years and older who have an established business that addresses a specific social issue or need or who has clearly integrated efforts to make an impact on the community.

Rahfeal is no stranger to entrepreneurship – at age 15 he turned his love of music and entertainment into Infinite Productions, a company that produced concerts and other events. Although many of his early projects didn’t make any money, Rahfeal learned something new each time one failed. During his sophomore year at Montclair State University, he took a NFTE class and learned the business and marketing skills he needed to succeed. “NFTE gives you a solid plan, a roadmap to learn where your market is,” he says, “and the discipline to always keep learning.” Rahfeal launched RahGor Motivations, a company dedicated to empowering youth, and he has presented at venues such as Julliard, the Black Power Tour, and the Hard Rock Café. Rahfeal uses lyrics from hip-hop songs to present lessons in motivation drawn from his own life. He has received many awards for his dedication to helping students, including the Paul Robeson Leadership Award and the NAACP Image Award for Entrepreneurship.