Aspire Community Capital

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

The room was filled.
The words were wise.
And the conversations mattered.

At the 2026 ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium, entrepreneurs, business leaders, technologists, public-sector voices, and community partners came together to talk about the realities shaping small business today.

AI. Access. Opportunity. Strategy. Growth.

The day created space to learn, ask better questions, make meaningful connections, and think more intentionally about what comes next.

We are grateful for everyone who shared their expertise, their experiences, and their perspective.

A full room is powerful.

A room full of people committed to helping businesses move forward is even better.
And we’re only getting started with the photos.

Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing more moments from the symposium. If you see yourself, tag yourself. If you recognize someone, tag them too. We’d love to know who was in the room and keep the connections going beyond the event.

10/06/2026

When the business environment changes, staying informed becomes part of staying competitive.

Tomorrow, we’ll be joining the ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium for a conversation on how shifts in technology and policy can affect access to capital, contracts, procurement opportunities, and growth.

Our CEO will be part of the panel Access in a Changing Environment: Policy, Opportunity & Inclusive Business, alongside Toya D. Everett and Julius Edwards, moderated by Tya Bolton.

We’re looking forward to a practical conversation about what’s changing, what opportunities remain, and how businesses can stay prepared as the landscape evolves.

📍 October 6 | 8:00 AM
If you’re building in a changing market, this is a conversation worth being part of.
Visit ASPIRE Community Capital for registration details.

10/05/2026

Meet Lissette Velez, one of the featured voices joining us for the 2026 ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium.

Lissette is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Velez Strategies, a bilingual, woman-led advisory firm focused on building systems, programs, and partnerships that expand economic opportunity for small businesses and communities.

With more than 15 years of experience, she works with public agencies, nonprofits, corporations, general contractors, and business-support organizations to strengthen small-business ecosystems and help Hispanic and minority-owned businesses prepare for stronger opportunities.

Before founding Velez Strategies, Lissette served as Executive Director of the Hispanic Contractors Association of the Carolinas, where she led contractor development, procurement readiness, and business-support initiatives across the region.

Her perspective matters as entrepreneurs continue navigating how to access stronger opportunities, build the right relationships, and position their businesses for growth.

Join us on Tuesday, October 6 for a morning of practical conversations around AI, access, and the future of small business.

📍 The Ruth by Beau Monde
📅 October 6, 2026
Register now: https://bit.ly/26econsym

What helps small businesses move from being aware of opportunities to being truly prepared to compete for them?

10/05/2026

Meet Sonya Worrell, one of the featured voices joining us for the 2026 ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium.

Sonya is an AI strategist, educator, technologist, and community leader working at the intersection of technology, security, education, and access.

As Founder of HTCS and co-founder of Be Prepared America, she helps organizations strengthen their technology readiness while also expanding AI literacy and digital skills in communities that are often left out of emerging technology conversations.

Sonya also serves as an Instructor of Practice in Computer Science at Johnson C. Smith University, where her work includes artificial intelligence, networking, systems fundamentals, ethical technology use, and digital literacy.

Her perspective matters as small businesses continue navigating how to use AI responsibly, protect their information, and make sure new technology creates broader access to opportunity.

Join us on Tuesday, October 6 for a morning of practical conversations around AI, access, and the future of small business.

📍 The Ruth by Beau Monde
📅 October 6, 2026
Register now: https://bit.ly/26econsym

What do business owners need to understand about AI before they begin using it more deeply in their organizations?

10/05/2026

Meet Toya D. Everett, one of the featured voices joining us for the 2026 ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium.

Toya brings more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, enterprise strategy, operational leadership, and community impact.

As Vice President of Strategy & Business Alignment for D.A. Everett Construction Group, she helps translate vision into strategy, structure, partnerships, and scalable ex*****on across the organization.
Her career has also included global leadership at CBRE, where she worked with Fortune 100 organizations, led cross-functional initiatives, and helped drive major operational results.

Toya has also been deeply engaged in creating greater access to opportunity through economic development, community leadership, and programs supporting small and diverse businesses.
That perspective matters as entrepreneurs continue thinking about how to position their businesses for growth in a changing environment.

Join us on Tuesday, October 6 for a morning of practical conversations around AI, access, and the future of small business.

📍 The Ruth by Beau Monde
📅 October 6, 2026
Register now: https://bit.ly/26econsym

What helps a business move from having a strong vision to actually executing it well?

10/05/2026

Meet Julius Edwards, one of the featured voices joining us for the 2026 ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium.

Julius serves as an Outreach & Engagement Coordinator with the City of Charlotte, supporting Charlotte Business Inclusion and the Contracting & Procurement Department.

His work focuses on helping small businesses connect to certification, contracting opportunities, technical assistance, City departments, and the resources they need to become more competitive in the government marketplace.

With more than two decades of experience across nonprofit leadership, government, community engagement, communications, and business development, Julius brings a relationship-driven perspective to supplier engagement and business growth.

His perspective matters as entrepreneurs continue thinking about how to position their businesses for greater access to contracts, procurement opportunities, and long-term growth.

Join us on Tuesday, October 6 for a morning of practical conversations around AI, access, and the future of small business.

📍 The Ruth by Beau Monde
📅 October 6, 2026
Register now: https://bit.ly/26econsym

What do small businesses need to better understand about positioning themselves to compete for contracts?

10/03/2026

Meet Zahn Patin, one of the featured voices joining us for the 2026 ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium.

Zahn is a female founder, technologist, and inclusion-focused leader whose work has centered on creating greater access to knowledge, opportunity, and pathways for success.

Throughout her career, she has brought together technology, education, entrepreneurship, and community impact, with a focus on helping people better understand the systems, tools, and information that can shape their opportunities.

Her perspective brings an important dimension to this year’s conversation around AI, access, and the future of small business.

As technology continues to change how businesses operate and compete, the conversation around who has access to that technology, who understands how to use it, and who gets to participate in the opportunities it creates becomes increasingly important.

Join us on Tuesday, October 6 for the 2026 ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium.
📍 The Ruth by Beau Monde
📅 October 6, 2026
Register now: https://bit.ly/26econsym

As technology continues to advance, what do you think businesses need to make sure opportunity advances with it?

09/25/2026

AI is changing how businesses operate. Access to capital, contracts, technology, and opportunity continues to evolve. For entrepreneurs, the question is becoming increasingly practical:

How do you prepare your business for what comes next?

That conversation is at the center of the 2026 ASPIRE Community Capital Economic Symposium, presented in collaboration with Charlotte Economic Development Week.

Join us for a morning focused on practical insight, meaningful conversation, and connections designed to help business owners better understand the environment they are building in.

📅 Tuesday, October 6, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
📍 The Ruth by Beau Monde

Register now: https://bit.ly/26econsym

If you are building a business in Charlotte, this is a conversation worth being in.