DC Health Link in partnership with the Washington Business Journal, The Washington Informer, DC Chamber of Commerce, Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, and the POWERUP DC Small Business Brain Trust partners are hosting POWERUPDC 2020, a virtual small business forum.

The format of the virtual session is designed to provide small businesses, women-owned businesses, non-profits and young entrepreneurs with information, tools, tips, and opportunities to be resilient as they re-imagine and innovate ways of doing business in a new era.

Opportunities to support the revitalization and stability of small businesses through the ongoing pandemic will also be shared along with updates on DC Health Link's response, including working with D.C. small businesses to ensure their employees get covered and stay covered.

The speaker lineup includes:

John Falcicchio, interim deputy mayor, Planning and Economic Development (DMPED)

Karima Woods, acting commissioner, DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB)

Kristi Whitfield, director, DC Department of Small and Local Business Development

Antonio Doss, director, U.S. Small Business Administration, Washington Metropolitan Area District Office

Liz Sara, chair, National Women's Business Council

Margo Dorfman, CEO, US Women's Chamber of Commerce

Rosie Allen-Herring, CEO and President, United Way National Capital Area

Andrea H. Evans, Intellectual Property Attorney, Andrea Hence Evans, LLC

Necola Y. Shaw, M.C.A., AASBC, Business Consultant, District of Columbia Small Business Development Center

A youth entrepreneurs panel designed to provide young people with tips and resources to turn a business concept into a reality will feature Nya and Zuri Byers — ages 11 and 6 respectively — who started Hunnybunny Boutique, an all-natural bath and beauty products company, and Gabrielle Jordan, 20, who is the owner and founder of Jewelz of Jordan, a luxury jewelry business she started when she was 9 years old.

Local businesses owners who will share their inspiring COVID-19 resiliency stories include Stacie Lee Banks, president/co-owner, Lee's Flowers and Card Shop; Paola Moya, CEO and founder, Moya Design Partners; Patrick Flynn, founder, Patrick's Pet Care; Denise Rolark Barnes, publisher, Washington Informer Newspaper; and Vida Ali, president, Ben's Chili Bowl Foundation.

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