Board Spotlight: Meet Penny Campbell
August 2, 2023ASPIRE Chronicles: August 24th
August 25, 2023The ASPIRE Chronicles is a biweekly series bringing you the latest updates from ASPIRE Community Capital’s team as we share our impact and engagement in Charlotte’s small business community.
Check out what the ASPIRE team has been up to the last few weeks!
The ASPIRE team kicks off the opening of the Beyond Open Grant (which remains open for the month of August) at the Press Release event.
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- The ASPIRE Team at the Beyond Open Press Release! (Left to Right: Aaliyah Young, Christopher Capel, Wesley Head, Ron Fisher, Manuel Campbell.)
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- ASPIRE’s Aaliyah Young with Almudena Monino and Kristy Teskey.
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- Manuel Campbell with Charlotte Business Alliance Foundation, with Tya Bolton and Nate Hogan
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- Manuel Campbell with Chef Jo of G.R.I.T.S. CLT and James Lee at the Beyond Open Press Release
Cohort 6 of ASPIRE’s Business Accelerator Services Gathers at Cuzzo’s Cuisine!
BAS Cohort 6 joins instructor William Featherstone at Cuzzo’s Cuisine
Cohort 6 of the BAS, including Monica Dunlap, Rashida Robinson, and Zelina Erwin, joined BAS instructor William Featherstone for a gathering at Cuzzo’s Cuisine. The Business Accelerator Services is ASPIRE’s One-on-one coaching program for graduates of the CBA. Once a participant graduates from the CBA, they are enrolled in our Business Accelerator Service (BAS) program. In the BAS, participants receive one-on-one coaching and additional resources to support the continued development of their business. Learn more about our programs here!
The ASPIRE team attended the 2023 Urban League Gala and met up with some great connections!
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- Manuel with Robin Hamilton, Executive Director of Urban League and Tanya Dial, Vice President Regional Manager of the Self-Help Credit Union
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- Manuel and Michael Marsicano, Former President and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas
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- Manuel with Phillip E. Otienoburu, Senior Vice President of Community Development of Center City Partners
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- Manuel with Tchernavia Montgomery, Executive Director of Care Ring
The ASPIRE team had a great meeting with Peter Blair from The Lee Institute at the ASPIRE offices.
The ASPIRE team had a great meeting with Peter Blair, who joined the Duke Mansion and the Lee Institute as President and CEO in April, 2022. The Lee Institute’s mission is to serve and strengthen organizations and individuals who share a commitment to building great communities. Learn more about the Lee Institute on their website, here.
Aaliyah Young and Manuel Campbell joined the Mad Miles Run Club for one of their weekly running groups.
Mad Miles Run Club, started by founder Cornell W. Jones, was created to offer runners a safe place to learn, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and catch goals! Learn more about Mad Miles and when you can join their next run here!
Manuel Campbell attends Queen City Metro and Wells Fargo’s Black Owned Marketplace, celebrating this month’s Black Business Month.
August is Black Business Month, and QC Metro kicked off the month by partnering with CLT Black Owned to create their own Black-Owned Marketplace, powered by Wells Fargo, earlier this month.
The ASPIRE crew discussing impact with Leading on Opportunity: Opportunity Compass Workshop.
Leading on Opportunity, an entity of the Foundation For The Carolinas, is here to support Charlotte on its generations-long journey to improve economic mobility for all. Using strategy, policy and data, we help partners across Charlotte-Mecklenburg solve complex social challenges that no single person or organization can tackle on their own. The Opportunity Compass is a data visualization tool for measuring Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s collective progress towards improving economic mobility. The Opportunity Compass measures 33 key indicators across five areas of improvement. These drivers of opportunity were identified by combining the findings of the Opportunity Task Force Report with the voices of the local community.
Manuel Campbell and Natalie Williams join WBTV 3 for a special feature.
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- Manuel Campbell and Natalie Williams
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- Natalie Williams
ASPIRE CEO and Manuel Campbell and Director of Operations Natalie Williams visited the WBTV3 Studio.
Manuel Campbell at the Co.Starter Graduation, ceremony with Managing Director for Innovate Charlotte & Innovation & Entrepreneurship City of Charlotte with Juan Garzón
Manuel Campbell with Juan Garzón
Manuel Campbell joined Juan Garzón, an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder and Managing Director at Innovate Charlotte, at the Co.Starter graduation ceremony. Innovate Charlotte (InCLT) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to enhance, elevate, and accelerate entrepreneurial success in the greater Charlotte region. Our focus is on cultivating an intentionally inclusive and high impact ecosystem that stimulates innovation, economic growth and societal change. Learn more about InCLT on their website here.
Manuel Campbell joins Dari Calamari for discussions about her Art Installation at the ASPIRE Office!
ASPIRE is so delighted to connect with and commission Charlotte-based artist, Dari Calamari, to produce a number of new pieces to fill the new ASPIRE office! She is an artist who works in a wide range of media: murals, paintings, drawings, fibers, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics. Learn more about her on her website here.
ASPIRE Community Capital specializes in business training and access to capital resources that empower underestimated entrepreneurs. Our strategic wrap-around services include: Business Readiness Program, Community Business Academy, Business Accelerator Services and Access to Capital. Join us today in CHANGING THE WORLD one business at a time.