Partner Spotlights
NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race.
Learn more on our website at naacp.org
Washington Jazz Arts Institute
The Washington Jazz Arts Institute (WJAI) was founded in 1998 by Davey Yarborough and his wife Esther Williams to further his dream of teaching music in a nurturing, mentoring atmosphere. A natural outgrowth of Davey’s success at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in DC, this dream was born of a desire to inspire young people into careers in music.
Our mission and commitment is to the education, presentation and documentation of Jazz Music in and for the Washington, DC community. The Institute is devoted to the preservation of the past, the promotion of the present and preparation for the future of Jazz in DC.
The WJAI nurtures young musicians by supporting their efforts to create music and to enter into music related careers. Our outreach includes receiving donated instruments and putting them into the hands of aspiring musicians who need them.
Learn more on our website at wjai.org
Alvin Ailey School
The Ailey School has been training world-class dancers since Alvin Ailey first opened his school in Brooklyn, NY in 1969. Guided by Mr. Ailey’s mission that dance is for everybody, the School offers programs for aspiring dancers with 3 to 5 years prior dance training, as well as open classes for professionals and recreational classes for dance enthusiasts of all levels. Creative Movement classes for children ages 2 to 6 are also offered.
A proven path to success, The Ailey School has trained 75% of the current members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and our alumni have forged successful careers throughout the globe as performers, choreographers, artistic directors, and dance educators. Our junior company in residence, Ailey II, feature the next generation of dance stars, touring and performing throughout U.S., Europe and the Caribbean.
Learn more on our website at alvinailey.org
The VIVA School
The VIVA School of Dance, located in Washington, DC, is a small and selective pre-professional school that works to eliminate barriers of access to high-level dance training. With a goal to diversify and increase representation in the field of dance, the school prioritizes creating opportunities for students of color to develop as skilled and confident dance artists. All students attend on full merit scholarship.
At The VIVA School, students thrive in a rigorous and nurturing environment where they are encouraged to discover the length of their physical, mental, and emotional capacity, the height of their possibilities, and the depth of their power. Our students are the next generation of artistic leaders and globally-minded innovators. Their ideas and their brilliance will inspire, innovate, and engineer a new era of creativity and produce the representation we need in our society.
Learn more on our website at thevivaschool.org
Carla Hall’s Southern Kitchen
Carla Hall’s Southern Kitchen (CHSK) is a national restaurant concept that focuses on Nashville hot chicken alongside delicious soul food sides, and southern desserts. Carla is based in Washington, DC and became nationally known with her appearance on the “Top Chef” cable series cooking program. CHSK will bring an exciting food place celebrating DC’s Black culture and experience. She also plans to base her national video production from the restaurant.
Learn more on our website at carlahallsouthernkitchen.com
Dave Chappelle Comedy Venue
Washington’s native son Dave Chappelle is a brilliant American stand-up comedian and actor that was called the “comedic genius of America” by Esquire magazine in 2006. He has received three consecutive Grammy awards for Best Comedy Album, five Primetime Emmy Awards, along with numerous other accolades. For the Venture, he has agreed to create and operate a comedy club reflecting our vision of the Reeves Center redevelopment. Given Dave’s popularity across people of all races, gender, and walks of life, the venue should be a major attraction for local residents and tourists alike.
Habitat For Humanity of Washington, D.C.
Our mission is to reduce poverty housing and homelessness in the nation’s capital by building decent, affordable, energy-efficient homes for those in need.
We're building a D.C. where everyone has a safe, decent place to live. We build and sell affordable homes, provide low-cost home repairs, offer financial education, and advocate for policies that create more housing for struggling families in the nation’s capital. With the help of public, private, nonprofit, and foundation partners we help working families realize the dream of homeownership, breaking the cycle of poverty, and building strong communities. Because when families have a stable place to call home, they can stop getting by and start to thrive.
Learn more on our website at dchabitat.org
Susanne Slater
President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC
Susanne has over 25 years of experience in government, academia and the nonprofit sector. As an associate dean at the University of Maryland, she taught courses dealing with moderate and low-income housing policy.
Corinne McIntosh-Douglas
Board Member, Habitat for Humanity of Washington DC
Corinne is a Washington-DC area expert in finance and affordable housing, emerging markets real estate and green industries. She has engaged in economic development work, both international and domestic.
Douglass Community Land Trust
The Douglass Community Land Trust is a racial and economic equity organization created to help fend off the displacement of low-income DC residents who are primarily African-American and who have contributed to making DC the thriving community it has become. Fundamentally, Douglass CLT aims to make DC an equitable place where everyone can stay and thrive.
We plant the roots of affordability, security, and prosperity for current and future generations. We enable the inclusive and equitable development and preservation of permanently affordable housing, local small business, and other public assets through community ownership of land, today.
Learn more on our website at douglassclt.org
Ginger Rumph, Founding Executive Director of the Douglass Community Land Trust
Ginger works to help create a more inclusive and equitable District of Columbia through the DCLT mission of holding land in trust and leasing it for homeownership and rental housing as well as small, local business at reduced cost, safeguarding permanent affordability.
She has worked with a wide range of institutions and individuals to support affordable housing, workforce and business development, sustainable neighborhoods and engaged communities.
Sheldon Clark, President of the Douglass Community Land Trust
Sheldon Clark, AIA, NCARB, is the co-founder and Marketing Director of Define Design Group, a general services architecture firm based in Anacostia. He has extensively practiced in multi-family design and historic preservation as well as hospitality design for a number of firms.
In 2016, Sheldon decided to take the entrepreneurial spirit and knowledge he brought to growing other firms to co-found Define Design Group. Sheldon holds his architect licenses in the District of Columbia and Maryland and currently facilitates the third year Architectural Design studio at Howard University.
Christian Tabernacle Child Development Center
At CTCDC, we serve children...and families. We use the Creative Curriculum which is designed with milestones in mind and have teachers who give your child the important skills they need. We have two locations close to the metro that helps make your commute more convenient. Come take a tour and learn more about how we support your whole family, Engaging, Equipping and Empowering them to become Explosive models of Excellence.
Learn more on our website at thectcdc.org
Think Local First
Since the organization was formed in 2006, Think Local First has been dedicated to supporting local, independent businesses in our nation's capital.
Our mission is to support responsible local businesses and create the conditions in which they thrive, in order to make Washington, DC a more vibrant, inclusive and equitable place.
Learn more on our website at thinklocalfirstdc.org
Karen R. Baker
Co-Executive Director
Karen Baker is an Influential Marketing Strategist with experience in strategic planning, marketing, and brand development. As an accomplished Business Owner of 25 years, Karen works with C-Suite entrepreneurs and executives and their key stakeholders in the Arts, Entertainment, Higher Education, and Social Impact industries. She has been a Professor for 15 years at George Washington University and American Public University. For her exceptional leadership, she is a 4 time grantee of DCCAH Arts & Humanities and PCMA Best in Class 2018-2020.
Kim Dreux-Kelly
Co-Executive Director
Kim Dreux-Kelly is a seasoned business executive with expertise in organizational leadership, event management, and international protocol. She has guided the overall management and development of the George Washington University Event Management Certificate Program. As the Former Associate Director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies at GW, Dreux-Kelly directed the on-campus Event Management program, managed a $2.5 million operating budget, a staff of 30, and served as an advisor. She also oversaw the marketing and promotion of all GWU Professional Certificate Programs, regarded worldwide as the premier educational experience for event professionals.