By H R. Harris,
Special to the AFRO
The old chapel at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is now the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center.
On Aug. 15, it was bustling with young business owners seeking new venues to fuel their dreams in Southeast Washington.
The standing-room-only forum was held by the D.C. Community Development Corporation in collaboration with District 8 Councilmember Trayon White, giving aspiring entrepreneurs grants and loans for their respective new ventures. The funding being distributed to start up projects ranging from $5000 to $20,000. The key to the new program announced this week, is the business or its owner must be in Ward 8.
“We have been looking for three or four years to find a way to expand local business in our community,” White (D-Ward 8) as he welcomed the packed room of hopefuls to hear details of the program.
The launch and information session was a wonderful snapshot of how Ward 8 has transformed from the days that D.C. Councilmember and former Mayor Marion Barry represented the tight knit community East of the River.
The announcement of tangible support for business owners in Ward 8 is the culmination of the dream that Barry and other Ward 8 leaders fought for during their years in leadership.
During the forum, White’s staff and Kristi C. Whitfield, director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development, were peppered with questions as they explained the program and eligibility.
“I ran my business with friends, family, and credit cards,” Whitfield as she explained the need for the program. “This government is smart enough to know that to solve real problems, put the decision into the hands of entrepreneurs.”
In addition to providing seed capital for Ward 8 entrepreneurs, the effort will initiate the East of the River Career Pathways Accelerator program to mentor teens in high-growth industries such as construction, computer science, and entrepreneurship.
A room full of young business leaders, like Erica “Go” Green and Cherylneshia Alexander, came to the meeting with hopes for finding critical seed funding.
“There are too many barriers in this program, but I am not a quitter,” Alexander said, thinking of the advice she gives her students during each mentoring session.
“I will do whatever I can for these young ladies in the community; there are plenty of anti-violence programs for boys, but what about the girls.”
Jamal Grantham, who owns Great Clothing Line company, was encouraged by the amount of people who packed into the room for the session.
“My motto is to be great today, all day, every day. This kind of turnout is tremendous.”
Cherice Crawford, owner of Influencers Event Management and Business Development was excited about the event. As a Ward 8 Entrepreneur, Crawford’s goal is to bring change to the community from the ground up.
“We are beautifying homes on the outside and revitalizing homes on the inside,” Crawford said. “If you feel good about your space, then you will be a more productive person in society and be redirected out of violence and crime culture,” she continued.
Regenia Summers came hoping for an opportunity for her nonprofit. She teaches entrepreneurship, a production company, and a clothing line. After the session, Summers expressed hope that perhaps the “time” for Ward 8 entrepreneurs and creatives had finally come.
“This is so necessary; this is what we’ve needed for generations,” Summers said.
“I am encouraged by the entrepreneurial spirit I see in this room,” White said after the event ended. “We want people who are willing to own and chart their destiny.”
Brenda Jones, a veteran Ward 8 community leader, spoke with the AFRO as she left the event. “What I saw from this meeting is you have to keep hope alive,” she said. “Our young people are out here; they want their businesses and are entrepreneurs.”
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