National EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator™ 

We're looking for a diverse group of community problem-solvers whose gaze is fixed on fostering health equity in under-resourced communities.

Sign up for news about our 2022 programs

Congratulations to our 2021 national Business Accelerator grant recipients:

Our EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator is making a health impact through grant funding and training of diverse social entrepreneurs who address food insecurity, transportation, health care access, science-technology-engineering-mathematics training , youth education and more.

Learn more about the candidates and the EmPOWERED Business Accelerator training. Sign up to get notifications about our 2022 business accelerator projects.

2019 Business Accelerator Alumna Shares Her Experiences

Brittany Young, founder of B 360, in Baltimore, MD, talks about her experience as a 2019 Business Accelerator candidate.

Watch the 2021 Application Workshop for information on creating your best submission. Learn more about the business accelerator

Since we launched four years ago we have:

Made a health impact through organizations that address food insecurity, transportation, access to healthcare, STEM, youth education and more.

Gardener in front of his community garden

Provided MBA-style business training to 93 social entrepreneurs and 73 organizations 

Gardener in front of his community garden

Provided almost
$816,000 in
grant funding.

Alumni Impact

These stories feature the critical impact the Business Accelerator Alumni in local communities nationwide.

Brittany Young (second from right) at a dirt bike showcase in Baltimore. (Photo courtesy of Javon Roye)

She turns dirt bikers into science stars 
2019 Alumni
Brittany Young - B-360

CEO empowers Black men to manage blood pressure, engage with health care system through barbershops

Unique market ensures St. Louis gets its 'medicine' – healthy food
2019 Alumni Jeremy Goss - The Link
Corrie Health

Heart attack survivors can thank her dad for new recovery tools
2018 Alumni Dr. Francoise Marvel - Corrie Health

Watch EmPOWERED to Serve in Action

Videos that reflect the powerful impact EmPOWERED to Serve has in the community.

Stories that transform the world in which we live.

  • Community Transformation Roundtable | Renowned business leaders, community leaders, philanthropists and volunteers engage in a lively, meaningful discussion about transforming communities and removing health barriers through faith, finance and business.
     

    Nov 12, 2020

  • Health Justice Roundtable | Scholars from our EmPOWERED to Serve and HBCU Scholars program engage in a  lively, meaningful conversation about breaking down barriers to health, structural racism and how to make the world better.

    Nov 11, 2020

  • Transforming communities through faith finance and business | Join the continued conversation on community transformation, prioritizing investments in under-resourced communities.

    Nov 17, 2020

  • Second Empowered and Well Virtual Town Hall | Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, Dr. Jennifer Ellis, Pastor Sonjia Dickerson and Pastor Hosea Collins convened to continue the conversation about the impact of COVID-19 on our communities and what we can do to advocate for healthier, more equitable policies.

    Jul 1, 2020

  • Inaugural Virtual Faith Community Town Hall meeting with Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, the AHA’s chief medical officer for prevention, and Pastor Sonjia B. Dickerson of Dayspring Family Church in Dallas.

    Apr 20, 2020

Statement of Relationship

YWCA SBDC is collaborative partner of the American Heart Association’s EmPOWERED to Serve.

Statement of Relationship
Learn more about the Economic Empowerment Services of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).