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@wacifdmv

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Investing in underserved entrepreneurs in the D.C.-area to build a more equitable society. Since 1987
@anacostiaarts @owidmv @capregionwbc @thehive2.0

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Day 4! Gotta get this one out before it gets lost in the backlog! 😅✨

A few snaps of the happenings, some NEW connections made, familiar faces, and conversations that might just turn into something!!

Been moving around all week! taking it all in, talking allll thangs @theartisttuneup, exchanging woes and grows, and seeing what other folks have been working on. And somewhere in the mix, finding a few more reasons to keep pushing myself!.

One moreee day tuh go!

#DCSTW2026 #DCStartupWeek

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💬 #DCSTW26 Partner Day brought candid conversations to Chief Clubhouse!

We heard from Jasmine Jones, Founder & CEO of Myya, a company offering insurance-billable post-mastectomy bras, breast forms and virtual fittings, alongside Ann Marie Guzzi, Founder of Dalmatian Ops, about how female founders are navigating fundraising and rewriting the playbook.

Thank you both for sharing your experiences with our startup community!

#FemaleFounders #StartupFunding #DMVStartups

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Join WACIF’s Office of Women’s Initiatives for In Their Element: Honor Tour, featuring Lilit Ghazaryan, founder of @saintsvalley Boutique!

Hosted by OWI Program Director Marisela Rodela, this special event will bring together local entrepreneurs for an inspiring fireside chat, networking, holiday shopping, exclusive promotions, and one-on-one styling consultations. Plus, enjoy live music by flutist Kelly Gainer!

Come connect, shop, and celebrate the stories behind women-owned businesses in our community.

Special thanks to our sponsor, @chevychaselifestyle Magazine!

#linkinbio to register!

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almost 8 years of entrepreneurship, and the beat keeps evolving. ❤️ @ed_emcees

proud to graduate from the WACIF Ascend program! building a creative educational enterprise in DC has taught me that longevity requires both vision and ecosystems.

shoutout to our cohort - I’m proud of us! I was so happy being the only man in the group hahaha y’all are the best!

thanks WACIF @wacifdmv for believing in our mission, sharpening our growth strategy, and holding space for small businesses to thrive. 🙏🏿

#WACIFAscend #DMVCreatives #EightYearsinBusiness #EdEmcees

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A new chapter for the Anacostia Arts Center is taking shape!

The DSLBD team recently got an inside look at the exciting redevelopment of the Anacostia Arts Center, led by the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF).

Rooted in community, creativity, and economic opportunity, the reimagined space will serve as a hub for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and local makers to grow and thrive.

From pop-up retail opportunities and storefronts to technical assistance and dedicated spaces for entrepreneurs to operate, this revitalization is about more than restoring a building. It’s about investing in the people and businesses that make our communities vibrant.

We’re excited to see @wacifdmv continue its commitment to community-centered development and creating pathways for small business success in east of the river.

Learn more about what’s coming: anacostiaartscenter.com/reimagined

#smallbizdc #ward8

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Struggling to pitch your business? Learn how SEED SPOT’s @seedspot FREE DC Launch Camp can help.

Join the info session tomorrow, October 16, at noon ET to ask questions and see if the program fits your business.

▶️ Watch our full YouTube conversation with Linda Norquist of @seedspot for the details.

RSVP + watch the episode: Link in bio.

For entrepreneurs in Prince George’s County and across the DMV.

#TheSpotlightDMV #SEEDSPOT #DCLaunchCamp #DMVEntrepreneurs #PrinceGeorgesCounty

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Every great movement is built on powerful stories of resilience, innovation, and unwavering vision. We are honoring the leaders who are writing the next chapter of transformative excellence across our community.

Swipe through the full carousel to meet this year’s Art of Black Business Honorees:

Innovator of the Year — Pioneering bold new ideas, breaking boundaries, and setting new standards of industry excellence.

Advocate of the Year — Championing equity, uplifting surrounding voices, and building sustainable pathways for economic growth.

Legacy Award — Honoring enduring leadership, foundational excellence, and a lifelong commitment to community empowerment.

Social Impact Award — Driving purpose-led change and creating meaningful, measurable improvements across our neighborhoods.

Partnership of the Year — Exemplifying the power of strategic collaboration, shared vision, and combined success.

Ascension Award — Recognizing extraordinary momentum, rapid expansion, and an inspiring future trajectory.

Be a part of their story. Join us on Thursday, October 22, 2026 to celebrate these trailblazers. Reserve your ticket or table today to secure your seat in the room!

To purchase tickets please visit the link in the bio or visit gwbcc.org and select the tab "Art of Black Business".

Drop your congratulations in the comments below!

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Artist Tune-Up @theartisttuneup is officially live — come check it out in person.

Fletch Studios × Art is Positive Empowerment (@cdotfletch + @djart.is ) are bringing Artist Tune-Up into the room for a Taco Tuesday Mixer at Thurst Lounge.

Tuesday, October 20, 7–9 PM

Come see the platform, tell us what you think, connect with other creatives, and talk about what you have coming up for fall and winter 2026.

More conversation than presentation.

Free RSVP:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artist-tuneup-taco-tuesday-mixer-tickets-2002685940559

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🍂 Fall into a little glow, giggles, and good-for-the-soul fun!🤩 ✨

Join Mane Rhodes Soap & Wellness at THEARC on Saturday, October 3, during Taste of the Harvest. Kids 12 and under can mix, make, and enjoy a hands-on sugar scrub workshop celebrating creativity, self-care, and joyful mental wellness.

**Healing is contagious—tag, you’re it!** 💜🔥💪🏾

#TasteOfTheHarvest #THEARC #Ward8 #ManeRhodes #SelfCareForKids EastOfTheRiver HealingIsContagious

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Who takes care of the people who spend their whole day taking care of everyone else?

That's who our first Soul Therapy Wellness Mixer was designed for.

And it's exactly what resilience looks like for a lot of us: showing up for everyone else, and still finding a way to show up for yourself too.

Dr. Paula Anderson, LCPC, NCC, a wellness practitioner and business owner here in the DMV, put it best: it was nice to attend an event that poured into the people who pour into everyone else.

In this video from our June mixer, she talks about the tips she walked away with, the energy in the room, and the dynamic Fireside Chat with @pkmire.

And you’ll get a chance to experience what she did in a few weeks because on October 15th, we're back in DC for the next Soul Therapy Wellness Mixer at @busboysandpoets

Our next mixer is designed around the theme Resilience Is the Strategy: What It Costs, What It Builds, and Who You Become Along the Way.

Expect a soothing sound bath with my co-hosts, @mompeatlang of Rooting by Nina, leadership insight from @coachangelavharris, and a Fireside Chat I'm moderating with @ceoshannanherbert (CEO, Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc. (WACIF) and @rahamawright (Founder, @yeleenbeauty) on what it takes to create resilience with intention.

If you're a leader, HR professional, entrepreneur, or wellness practitioner who spends most of your time holding space for other people, this is a room designed to hold space for you.

🎟️ Tickets are limited and moving. 🙌🏾
Link to register also in bio 👉🏾 soultherapymedia.com/mixer

What was the last wellness experience you had that gave you just the reset you needed?

#soultherapywellnessmixer #resilience #mentalhealth #wellnessinthedmv

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Your workspace should work for your business, too.

At The HIVE, entrepreneurs get more than a desk. Members have access to workshops, coaching, and training to help grow their businesses, plus priority access to WACIF resources and other funding pathways- all without leaving the building.

Located inside the Anacostia Arts Center, The HIVE also offers opportunities to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, professional office and meeting space, and a dedicated business mailing address.

With the February 2027 reopening of the Anacostia Arts Center getting closer, now is the time to find your place in the community.

Applications are open now, and spots are filling fast. Apply to join The HIVE via #LinkInBio.

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