ASPIRE Chronicles: January 17th
January 17, 2024ASPIRE Chronicles: February 15th
February 15, 2024The 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!
ASPIRE’s CEO Manuel Campbell featured in QC Metro’s The Great 28
As they do each February, QCity Metro celebrates Black History Month by acknowledging 28 Charlotte residents who have made our city a better place to live, work and play. This year’s edition of The Great 28 includes entrepreneurs, business executives, volunteers, community leaders and more. In a city brimming with so much Black excellence, narrowing the list to just 28 people is no easy task.
Read the article here:
https://qcitymetro.com/2024/02/01/the-great-28-black-charlotteans-who-are-shaping-our-city-2/
Manuel joins Larita Barber and Rusty Mills
ASPIRE had the pleasure to join two incredible community leaders this month: LaRita Barber and Albert “Rusty” Mills.
LaRita Barber is the Chief Advancement Officer of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont Region. LaRita Barber has been involved in community endeavors in the Charlotte area since 1987. In her current role as Chief Advancement Officer, she is responsible for identifying and cultivating relationships and strategies that establish and sustain Goodwill’s relevance and brand in the community and advance the organization’s mission.
Albert “Rusty” Mills serves as Deputy Director for LISC Charlotte. As deputy director for LISC Charlotte, Albert “Rusty” Mills heads the organization’s funding and approval of affordable housing development, a role he has held since the organization’s launch in 2019. His chief duty is to manage the $50 million + Charlotte Housing Opportunity Investment Fund (CHOIF), a role where he supervises the collection, review and selection of proposals submitted by developers as well as distribution of awarded contracts.
ASPIRE joins CBA Instructor Kendra Johnson for Carolina Village Community Care Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
ASPIRE was delighted to support our incredible CBA Instructor Kendra Johnson at the ribbon cutting for Carolina Village Community Care, for which she was the co-founder. The celebration took place at the Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce. Carolina Village Community Care is a home care agency for women. They believe women deserve support, and their team is passionate about creating space for women to care for themselves by doing less during major life transitions. Congratulations Kendra!!
Learn More about Carolina Village Community Care here.
Learn More about Kendra Johnson here.
ASPIRE has a great connection meeting with Mark Talbot of Freedom Communities
ASPIRE had a great connection meeting with Mark Talbot, the Director of Economic Impact for Freedom Communities in Charlotte last month at the ASPIRE Headquarters. He uses his knowledge and experience to help Freedom Communities invest and participate in Impact Investing ventures that disrupt the existing poverty systems.
Freedom Communities takes a holistic and family-centered approach to community transformation. They look at a community through the lens of the entire ecosystem; taking the history, people and needs of the entire community into account.
Learn More about Freedom Communities here.
ASPIRE joins CLT is Creative in welcoming the next CEI Cohort!
ASPIRE joins CLT is Creative in welcoming their latest CEI (Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative) Program. We are so proud to welcome the latest group of amazing creatives who will come together to form the latest cohort of our Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative. As part of that group, they will take part in more than 10 entrepreneurial training and storytelling classes designed to help them build/evolve their creative businesses. And, they’ll support each other every step of the way. ASPIRE participates in supporting the CEI each cohort by offering our training in small business ownership and by adding game simulations to their curriculum.
Learn More about the CEI program 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.