Community Carrot, the new non-profit from David Sheon is having a ribbon cutting ceremony and will open its doors at 508 Kennedy St NW for their first class of "entrepreneurs in training" on Saturday, March 25th at 2pm. They'd love to have the community come out to support them.

The event is open to the public, so feel free to share.

Attending the celebration will be at least two Councilmembers, two DC Department Heads, an ambassador, and possibly other VIPs. (Hint, you're a VIP.)

Watch a WUSA9 Interview...

WUSA 9 interviewed Community Carrot program participants this week. **Watch the video...**

Here's their press release:

DC Community Carrot, Entrepreneurship Training Program for Opportunity Youth, to Open Doors April 1st

Non-profit program enrolling up to 20 young DC residents
Goal: 20 new business licenses by September 31
Ribbon cutting March 25th

(March 16, 2017 – Washington, D.C.) A new program created to teach D.C. Opportunity Youth (young people out of school and out of work) how to create and run successful businesses is opening April 1st at 508 Kennedy Street NW, Suite 209. A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for March 25th at 2pm, all are welcome.

After a series of shootings last Spring left the neighborhood reeling and looking for answers for how to help, the idea for DC Community Carrot was created.
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners (ANC) and civic leaders held community forums at which the neighborhood’s residents made clear that they don’t want more policing, they want more opportunity for young people.

“One neighbor commented that ‘those kids on the corner are really frustrated entrepreneurs,” said David Sheon, Founder and Executive Director of DC Community Carrot and Commissioner, ANC 4D-04 who helped organize last June’s community forum. “That’s when it all clicked and we realized there’s a tremendous need for entrepreneurship training in our community.”

African American adolescents are more interested in owning their own business than white adolescents, according to a study from the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. But they are less likely to have mentors, access entrepreneurship education, or the capital needed to start a business -- all factors that dramatically increase the likelihood for success.

"We welcome DC Community Carrot to Ward 4," said Councilmember Brandon Todd (Ward 4). "Young adults who want to own their own businesses need mentors, training, and investment, and I am so pleased that the program exists on Kennedy Street to offer this support."

Funding Sources Secured
After securing 501c3 status in October 2016, DC Community Carrot received a seed grant from the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) that brought a vote of confidence, leading to a larger grant from the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES). The grants will pay a training wage to 20 Opportunity Youth who either never finished high school or have completed high school but live with significant barriers that make work force entry difficult, such as living in poverty or in a high crime area. Furniture was donated by DSLBD and office space was secured at 508 Kennedy Street NW at below market rate to help the program succeed.

Board of Directors and Staff Offers Deep Knowledge Base for Addressing Needs
Pastor Gerald Elston, Brightwood Park United Methodist Church (722 Jefferson Street NW) serves as Chairman of the Board. Board members are all D.C. based unless noted, and include Leon Andrews, Director of Race, Equality, and Leadership, National League of Cities; Michael Wesley Aniton, former DC Assistant Attorney General; Brian Fair, Development Consultant, Norfolk, Va.; Aaron Frank, Principal Faculty, Singularity University, Mountain View, Calif.; Rachel Gartland, WeWork collaborative workspace for small businesses; Ryan Palmer, Chief External Relations Officer, Martha’s Table; and Nicole Porter, Director of Advocacy for the Sentencing Project.

David Sheon brings 25-years consulting experience to entrepreneurs world-wide in a wide range of fields, and is in his second term as ANC Commissioner serving the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, D.C. He has lived in Washington, D.C. since 1989. John Woodard serves pro bono as Director of Quality Assurance. Mr. Woodard has led entrepreneurship training programs in Thailand, Guam, and Northern Virginia. Evan Davies serves pro bono as Director of Development. Gary Lockhart serves as Mentor Coordinator.

About DC Community Carrot
DC Community Carrot is a 501c3 non-profit that provides pathways to the middle class for D.C.’s Opportunity Youth. Because the sticks of incarceration do not work, the organization provides the carrot needed to help young adults become successful business owners. Those interested in volunteering as mentors or to provide organizational support should email gary@dccommunitycarrot.org. Those wishing to make donations to the program should write to davids@dccommunitycarrot.org.