The Black Bone Project – Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

NETWORK TOGETHER. GROW TOGETHER.

When

Saturday July 26, 2025 8:00AM - 6:00PM

Where

Sycamore & Oak | 1110 Oak Dr
Se Washington DC 20032

Click Here To Download Event Agenda

The Third Annual BlackBone Summit and Exchange will take place on July 26th from 8AM - 6PM at the Sycamore & Oak retail village on the campus of St. Elizabeths East in the Congress Heights neighborhood of Ward 8 in Southeast.

Why Be Apart Of A Network on the Rise

BlackBone targets the most urgent needs identified by organizational leaders and small business owners by bridging the gap between instruction and practical application. At the Summit & Exchange, you'll experience empowering organizational and business leaders who will provide you with the tools you will need to scale and be competitive in your organization and industry. You'll receive vital information on how to access an array of career, capital, and procurement opportunities. Whether you operate a B2C enterprise, a B2B company, a leader of your company, or government agency, you'll discover how you can achieve higher levels of success at the District's gathering of emerging and established Black women leaders and businesses: The BlackBone Network Summit & Exchange. Join us on Saturday, July 26, 2025!

MEET OUR INVITED SPEAKERS

Dr. Tamara Wilds Lawson

Dr. Tamara Wilds Lawson is the President
and CEO of the Washington Area
Women’s Foundation, a community supported foundation that invests in the power of women and girls through grant making and advocacy.

Ticki Favoroth

Ticki Favaroth is a faith-driven CEO and founder with a deep commitment to legacy, purpose, and transformation. With decades of cross-sector leadership experience, she brings a value-centered, results-driven approach to empowering organizations and people

Hon.Thennie Freeman

Thennie Freeman, Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, leads the #1 ranked park system in the country for five consecutive years, overseeing 900 acres of parkland, 80 recreation centers, and 36 aquatic facilities.

Jill Johnson

Jill Johnson is the co-founder and CEO of
the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), based in Newark, NJ. Founded in 2002, IFEL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to eradicate the systemic barriers that prevent people from historically excluded populations from having access to the knowledge,
networks, and capital required for entrepreneurial success and wealth creation.

Hon. Rosemary Suggs-Evans

As Director for the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), Rosemary Suggs-Evans is a passionate advocate for the small business community and stays true to the agency’s mission to support the development, economic growth and retention of District-based businesses, and promote economic development throughout the District’s commercial corridors.

Stephanie Bolton James

Stephanie Bolton James has over ten years of experience leading and growing one of Prince George’s County’s largest women’s professional groups, Women of Prince George’s. Stephanie, as a decedent of Black Wall Street born in Tulsa Oklahoma is passionate about entrepreneurs and women in business.

Radiance Adiance

Radiance Basden, a Wellness Expert, Hall of Fame Runner, and the founder of Rooted in Radiance in Washington, DC. Her approach to wellness combines breathwork, mindfulness, meditation, and yoga to help individuals and teams relieve stress, improve well-being, and reach their highest potential.

Faswilla Sampson

Faswilla Sampson is the managing partner of Leadership Management International (LMI) LLC and believes that leadership should be fun – not a source of stress and overwhelm. With over 15 years of experience helping leaders solve their biggest challenges around people, productivity, and performance, she’s made it her mission to help professionals simplify and get unstuck in both their work and personal lives.

Dr. Roni Ellington

Dr. Roni Ellington is a prominent leader, trailblazer and transformational coach. With over thirty years of experience as an educator, and over 20 years of experience as a transformational coach, she is dedicated to fostering positive change in the educational landscape, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). As a Professor of Mathematics Education at Morgan State University, she utilizes innovative teaching methods and culturally responsive practices to empower future STEM educators and enhance student success.

Nicolette JC Harris

Nicolette Harris is a native Washingtonian who has over 20 years in the financial and banking industry. She brings a wealth of experience from mortgage, retail banking, including a B2B District Leader, and a Regional Operations Leader. Currently she is
PNC’s Vice President, Market Community
Development Officer for the Greater Washington Market. Nicolette’s current role focuses on affordable housing, community engagement through financial literacy for all, the Community Reinvestment Act compliance, and philanthropy.

Nadine Duplessy Kearns

Nadine Duplessy Kearns is Vice President Program Officer responsible for leading JP Morgan Chase Global Philanthropy’s engagement in the Greater Washington Region (DC, MD, and VA).

She has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and philanthropy, international development and board and community leadership.

Asia (Your Radio Luv Asia from Majic)

Virginia Beach, Virginia native Asia Chandler grew up listening to Virginia radio and was inspired to pursue a career in broadcasting at a very young age. She spent many hours talking and singing into her hairbrush, and then at the tender age of 9, she received the best gift ever. It was a toy from Radio Shack, that allowed her to talk over AM stations, and that was it. As she grew up, her passion for radio grew even more intense and she chose to study Communications and Journalism in college.