With access to capital and opportunity for growth at an alarming low for black-owned businesses, the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce will shine a light on this small business crisis at the 4th Annual Candidates’ Night reception on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6-8:30 p.m. at the Springfield Hilton, 6550 Loisdale Road, Springfield.
The annual nonpartisan NVBCC Candidates’ Night Mixer gives candidates and elected officials the opportunity to meet business owners face-to-face, and allows members of the African American community the chance to express their concerns about the future of Northern Virginia. Already, a dozen candidates and elected officials have been confirmed.
“The majority of black-owned businesses have fewer than five employees and African American women are leading the way in starting new businesses,” notes NVBCC Chairwoman Gaea L. Honeycutt. “It’s with this in mind that we bring attention to the more than 40 percent disparity in access to capital for black-owned business and the lack of opportunity as so few corporate and government contracts are awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses on the whole.”
Candidates’ Night is sponsored by Isaac Lewis of Morgan Stanley. The event is lead by a host committee: Dontaé Bugg, The Law Office of Dontaé L. Bugg; Angelica Delboy, RE/MAX Gateway; Gaea L. Honeycutt, Brazen Maven (SM) Marketing Communications; Gerald Pademore, Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals; and Terron Sims, Northern Virginia Black Democrats.
NVBCC welcomes its community partners: Alexandria-Fairfax Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Nu Xi Zeta Chapter and the NOVA Coalition.
For more information about Candidates’ Night 2012, go to http://bit.ly/nvbcc2012election.
Confirmed Candidates and Elected Officials:
Kristin Cabral (D), candidate, 10th Congressional District*
Gerry Connolly (D), U.S. congressman, 11th District*
Justin Fairfax (D), candidate for attorney general, Virginia
Jason Howell (I), candidate, 8th Congressional District
Cathy Hudgins (D), Hunter Mill district supervisor, Fairfax County
Alfonso Lopez (D), delegate, 49th District
Dave Marsden (D), state senator, 37th District
Jim Moran (D), U.S. congressman, 8th District
Chris Perkins (R), candidate, 11th Congressional District
Mark Sickles, (D), delegate, 43rd District
Mark Warner (D), U.S. senator*
Vivian Watts (D), delegate, 39th
*sending staff, representative or surrogate
The Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that facilitates the growth of black-owned businesses in Northern Virginia and of those businesses that wish to partner with them. NVBCC is committed to the economic success, development and empowerment of its Member Partners and the wider community. Learn more about the chamber at http://www.novabcc.org.