2024 ANNUAL REPORT
WEARETHEVILLAGE
LetterfromtheCEO AyoSandersonWilson
Message From ETV Founder & CEO
As we embark on a new year, Empower The Village (ETV) remains steadfast in our commitment to restoring Prosperity, Peace, and Power within the Black community. This mission is at the heart of everything we do — driving programs that create opportunities for economic empowerment and initiatives that promote community health and wellness.
Our vision is clear: To ensure that all Black Americans and historically marginalized communitiesrealizetheirfullpotentialbypartneringwith“TheVillage”todeliverdata-driven solutions.Thisprogresswehavemadetowardsachievingourmissionwouldnothavebeen possiblewithoutyourunwaveringsupportandbeliefinourvision.
Together,we’vefosteredgrowth,resilience,andempowermentinthecommunitiesweserve. OurdedicationtoupliftingtheProsperity,Peace,andPoweroftheBlackcommunityremains unshaken.Withboldconviction,wewillcontinuetotakepurposefulactionsthatEmpower OurVillage,andweaskyoutostandwithusinthisimportantwork.
Whilethechallengesaheadmayevokefear,doubt,anduncertainty,theyalsoinspireusto focusonsolutionsandstrategiesthatempowerustothrive—regardlessoftheseason. ThisiswhatETVstandsforatitscore:Fosteringresilienceandcreatingpathwaystovictoryfor ourcommunities.
In 2025, we are deepening our commitment to advancing the health, wealth, and empowermentofthoseweloveandsupport.Yourpartnershipisessentialtothisjourney, andwearedeeplygratefulforyourroleinTheVillage
Lookingforwardtoanimpactfulyearaheadinspiringandempoweringustocontrolour owndestinies!
Leadership
ETV Board of Directors 2024
ETV Advisory Council
ETV Staff
PaulaTuffin BoardChair
JackCox Treasurer
PerriRichman
DenelleWaynickJohnson ViceChair
AllysonHugley
DavidHubbard MauriceKuykendoll AnnieSneed-Godfrey
WandaSims MichelleneDavis
Mikeisha Anderson Jones
RandallMcMillan
JessicaColon
TammyeJones
KarlCharles-Pierre
Dara Sanderson
HarryO’Mealia
BonnieCarter
KimberlyMacKay
Dr.Christina Johnson
ETVYearInReview
January 2024
February2024
2ndAnnualEmpowermentExpo
VillageVenturesPitchCompetition
NorthStarCelebration
ETVVillageRoadShowatEverestCorp
May 2024
Small Business Week
Social Media Campaign
June 2024
4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration For the Love of Art Show
August 2024
3rd Annual Power Swing Classic
Golf Outing & Fundraiser
October2024
ETVlaunchestheGreaterNewark editionofitsVillageBlackPages inpartnershipwith MetropolitanBaptistChurch
November 2024
Donor & Volunteer
Appreciation Reception
ETV launches inaugural Village Community Circle for women
December 2024
Holiday Gift Guide Release
Year End Giving Campaign
March - April 2024
2024 Spring Giving Campaign
Annual Strategic Planning Retreat
May 2024
ETV launches inaugural Village Community Circle for men
July 2024
2nd Annual Power Walk for Mental Health
October2024
Operation:BallotBox2024
CouplesCommunicationsWorkshopin partnershipwithCalvaryBaptistChurch
December 2024
Village Empowerment Network Holiday Mixer
~27,000
ETV’s reach through its social media & newsletters
1650+
active participants, sponsors and beneficiaries of ETV’s empowering programs & events
~$600,000
Re-invested in 121 Black (~ 90%), Latinx (2%), and female (58%) program participants and businesses servicing ETV
~$190,000 paid out to Black artists participating ETV’s annual Juneteenth art show
98
community members registered for our Village Assist mental health Healing Circles and workshops
280+ exquisite works of Black art sold
ETV’S IMPACT THIS YEAR
ETV increased visibility and customer reach for 106 Black-owned businesses in 2024 via social media and newsletters This is a movement to recirculate dollars within the community and build generational wealth
There are currently 151 businesses enrolled in the Village Empowerment Network VEN has provided 166 business counseling sessions in 2024 to entrepreneurs along with access to free business & financial workshops, networking and on-demand training.
30,000+ businesses listed across 25 states connecting consumers to Black businesses to increase their revenue and overall wealth-building and job creation. In 2024, there was a 175% increase in VBP engagement since 2023.
ETV targeted a total of 19 battleground and swing states to increase Black voter education and mobilization resulting in wins supporting leaders and ballot measures that promote health and prosperity within the community.
ETVPrograms
ETV provides the Black community with access to quality, affordable mental health services. ETV connects the community to licensed Black psychiatrists, psychologists and other wellness professionals.
The Prosperity pillar is the centerpiece to ETV’s portfolio of signature programs accelerating economic empowerment through Black Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Employment and Education. Many of these national and regional initiatives work to unlock vast opportunities and create generational wealth!
Oureconomicempowermentmovementandmulti-platform awarenessinitiative–MAKEEVERYFRIDAY,BLACKFRIDAY!® –encouragesallAmericansinterestedinracialequityand economicjusticetotakeactiontoclosethewealthgap betweenBlackAmericansandotherAmericans.
TheVillageBlackPagesisacriticalresourcethatenables individualstoempowerandpatronize~30,000Black-owned enterprisestocreatejobsandbuildwealthacross25states, where90%oftheBlackUSpopulationlives,worksandowns businesses.
Features 30,000 Black-owned businesses across 25 states
In2024,therewasa175%increaseinVBPengagementsince2023.
18,000+peoplewereintroducedto106+Black-ownedsmallbusinessesfeatured aspartofETV‘sMEFBFcampaignviaemail&socialmediain2024
ThousandsofvisitstoETV’sVillageBlackPagesacross25statedirectoriesand specialcountyandcity-basededitions.
Empowerment Expo
VIEW THE 2024 EXPO VIDEO
ETVProsperityPillar
Prosperity
ETV published its 2024 Holiday Gift Guide, which featured 94 small Black-owned businesses to increase year-end sales.
ETV hosted Village Roadshows in partnership with Corporations to empower Black-owned businesses through pop-up marketplaces that expand their customer base, recirculate wealth within the community, and increase employee engagement and exposure to the products and services offered by diverse founders ETV’s Village Roadshows have featured 25 businesses exhibiting at three events.
VILLAGE ROADSHOWS ROADSHOWS
The Village Empowerment Network provides the expertise Black entrepreneurs, individuals, and families need to thrive. Black business owners receive one-on-one strategy, planning, and technical counseling, as well as training from experts to grow revenue, access funding, develop marketing plans, manage employees and expenses, protect assets, and expand their networks. Individuals and families receive financial planning and budgeting services.
ETV also offers access to online, ondemand and in-person trainings and workshops through its VEN Partners designed to ensure that entrepreneurs and individuals can learn and access the information they need at their own pace to build generational wealth.
There has been exponential growth and demand for ETV’s VEN program as a result of the incredible impact it is making for program participants.
VILLAGE ROADSHOW AT EVEREST GLOBAL, WARREN NJ
94 BUSINESSES FEATURED ACROSS NY/NJ/CT
CLICK TO LEARN MORE & HOST AN ETV VILLAGE ROADSHOW TODAY
CLICK TO VIEW ETV GIFT GUIDE
ETVProsperityPillar
North Star Celebration
Empower The Village’s Power Swing Classic offers a dynamic platform to promote the mission and vision of ETV while raising funds for our Economic Prosperity initiatives This event supports Black-owned businesses and their families and serves as a valuable networking opportunity It also highlights our Village Empowerment Network program and Prosperity Pillar programs, amplifying our efforts to drive economic growth and community empowerment. February 11, 2024
February 10, 2024
This ETV Awards gala honors seasoned, successful entrepreneurs as role models with our ETV North Star Award and recognizes committed community leaders with the Sankofa award, highlights growth phase entrepreneurs as Rising Stars, and presents awards to Village Ventures Business Pitch contest winners
ETV’s Annual Empowerment Expo “Honors History and Fuels the Future!” The Expo is an educational and uplifting event for the community that brings everyone together with dozens of local Black-owned businesses. Our Marketplace of 55 vendors was a platform to generate revenue, connect to new business leads, network with other like-minded entrepreneurs in the community. 300+ community members participated in the North Star Celebration and Empowerment Expo weekend that also featured mental health and financial wellness workshops led by expert panelists
ETVPeacePillar
ETV's Peace pillar programs have a regional footprint focused on improving the mental and physical health of the Black community. It addresses the lack of affordable access to quality mental healthcare and other health-related concerns plaguing the Black community.
In addition, ETV champions and executes arts and cultural programming that fosters pride, selfconfidence and self-esteem, promotes a growth mindset and educates the community.
ETV launched its Mental Health Initiative - the Village Assist Program.
Educate the community about how to the identify the signs of mental health distress and address them.
Provide the Black community and others with access to quality, affordable mental health services
C OMMUNITYCIRCL E VILLAGEASSIST
Connect the community to licensed, diverse psychiatrists, psychologists and other wellness professionals
ETV’sCommunityCirclesprovidementalwellnesssupportfacilitatedby licensed, culturally-competent clinicians, ensuring better outcomes for community members – Black women, men, youth, couples – and other underrepresented populations seeking to improve their emotional healthandwell-being.
In 2024, ETV’s Community Healing Circles included cohorts for women, menandcouples.
Dr. Cassandra Hutchins Women’s Healing Circle, Lead Facilitator
Tosin Akindele, LCSW Men’s Healing Circle, Lead Facilitator
ETVPeacePillar
POWER WALK ForMentalHealth
July13,2024
ETV’s Peace pillar has a regional footprint focused on improving the mental and physical wellbeing of the Black community It addresses the lack of affordable access to mental health services and the stigma associated with health concerns plaguing the Black community In an effort to promote mental and physical wellness while highlighting National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in July, ETV hosted its 2nd annual Power Walk at South Mountain Reservation in West Orange, New Jersey This event supports the new Village Assist Program, which provides the Black community with access to free and affordable mental health services, and connection to Black psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, social workers and other wellness professionals.
For The Love of Art
JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION
June14&15,2024
EVENT SPONSORS: Capital One, JP Morgan Chase & Co, Joanne Watkins Homes, GSBA, RWJ Barnabas Health
Empower The Village hosted its 4th Annual Juneteenth "For The Love of Art" Celebration at the Montclair Art Museum The exhibit featured 100+ pieces of exquisite art from over 40 local and nationally renowned Black artists in a celebration of emancipation & empowerment All attendees enjoyed viewing exquisite art, purchasing artwork in support of the artists, and ETV's mission while feasting on great food, drinks, and lively music that made for a spectacular event
253 EVENT PARTICIPANTS
PIECES OF ART
EVENT SPONSORS:
ETVPowerPillar
The Power pillar was designed to increase civic engagement, facilitate affordable access to education and career-readiness, and encourage community leaders to address challenges in the areas of economic empowerment, health, and education impacting the Black community.
OPERATION: BALLOT BOX
Engage,educate,andactivatetheBlack communityanditsalliestoachieveETV's health,wealth,andempowermentgoals
Cultivate&empowerleaderswhoadvance ourstrategicagenda
EnsurethatallBlackAmericanshavethe opportunitytorealizetheirfullpotential unimpededbythevestigesofracism, systemicabuse&discrimination
ETV researched, developed and distributed informational election materials at the county level for races in 8 key states, through churches, Divine Nine chapters, civic organizations and nity leaders to enable an d voter turnout in Black Communities.
m was designed to increase and the percentage of Black ed degrees, lessen the financial tion and prosperity, as well as for skills-based employment, reneurial endeavors.
more about the Village Strivers nd Application rch 31, 2024
ETV GOALS
Watch On The Road To Prosperity Video
Gabrielle Neely is now a Freshman major in Nursing at Delaware State University
2024 Scholarship Recipient
*Totalcalculationsaresubjecttofinalaudit.
CORPORATE FOUNDER'S CIRCLE
($10,000 - $100,000+)
CORPORATE AMBASSADOR
($5,000 - $9,999)
PLATINUM FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
Bonnie & Michael Carter
Denelle Waynick Johnson
Paula Tuffin & Reginald Hollinger
SILVER FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
Jack Cox
Janelle Curtis
Allyson Hugley
Dara Sanderson
Harry O’Mealia
Kimberly & Craig MacKay
Patricia Bell
Sandra Smith
BRONZE FOUNDER’S CIRCLE
Maurice Kuykendoll
Mikeisha Anderson Jones
Perri Richman
YOU ARE THE VILLAGE
Terrence Trayvick
Bill & Terri Borden
Vashti DuBois
David Hubbard
Sponsors & Supporters
Corporate Gold Founder's Circle
($50,000+)
Community Foundation of NJ
Corporate Silver Founder's Circle
($25,000+)
Healthcare Foundation of the Oranges
Corporate Bronze Founder's Circle
($10,000+)
Capital One
Columbia Bank
First Energy Foundation
Johnson & Johnson
Katten
Novartis
Truist
Corporate Ambassador ($5,000+)
1919 Investment Counsel, LLC
Ardelyx
BMI
Carver Federal Savings Bank
JP Morgan Chase & Co
Microsoft
Small Business Pro University
Platinum Founder's Circle (Individual)
($25,000+)
Bonnie & Michael Carter
Denelle Waynick Johnson
Paula Tuffin & Reginald Hollinger
Silver Founder's Circle (Individual)
($10,000+)
Jack Cox
Janelle Curtis
Patricia Bell
Sandra Smith
Bronze Founder's Circle (Individual)
($5,000+)
Allyson Hugley
Dara Sanderson
Harry O'Mealia
Kimberly & Craig MacKay
Maurice Kuykendoll
Mikeisha Anderson Jones
Perri Richman
Terrence Trayvick
Terri Borden
Vashti DuBois
William/David Hubbard
Village Council ($2,500+)
Angelica Allen - McMillan
Annie & Darryl Sneed-Godfrey
Ayo Sanderson Wilson
Beth Stewart
Christina Johnson
Delta Dental
Donna Boles
Dr. Judy Banks
Everest
Hector Mislavsky
Howard Reid
J Anderson & Associates
Jade Dean
Jessica Colon
Karl Charles-Pierre
K'Lyle Jones
Michellene Davis
Ramelle Massey
Randall McMillan
Real House, Inc.
Rev. Robert Rogers
Sandra Mulrain
Shawn Jennings
Wally Choice
Village Ambassador ($1,000+)
Christine James
Debra Sandler
Gerry Gibbs
Goldman Sachs
Henry Lee
Herman O West Foundation
Jennifer DaSilva
John Doherty
Jonathan Pueschel
Kendall Easley
Kendra WIlliams
Maria Moise-Johnson
Milton & Michelle Hollar-Gregory
Mirian Graddick-Weir
Monique McRipley Ollie
Nikki Sumpter
Overlook Foundation
Patricia Barksdale
Point B Realty
PSEG Foundation
Richard Webber
Rosalind Miller-Choice
Rose Braxton
Tammy Jones
Teresa Smallwood
Wanda Sims
William Jiggetts
Village Leader ($500+)
Aiysha Johnson
Andrea Turner
Arlene Bascom
Ava Johnson
Cheryl Williamson
Cooperman Barnabas Medical
Center/RWJ
Curille McKenna
Darryl Spence
Dean Burrell
Denise Ford Sawadogo
Donna Lawson
Dr Lisa Gittens-Williams
Edward Johnson
Epic Transformation LLC
Garden State Bar Association
Dr. Jeanine Downie & Michael
Heninburg
Joanne Watkins/JW Homes
Kim & Finn Wentworth
LaRhonda Boone
Lucy Pinto
Mark Wilson
Dr. Nana Tchabo
Nina Guercio
Philip Smallwood
Rowan University Board of Governors Sedgwick
Stan Prater
Steven Louder
Village Supporter ($100+)
Allison Williams
Dr Carla Cooke
Adunni Slackman Anderson
Aja Baxter
Alex King
Andrew Frazier
Anthony Gartmond
Antonia Bullard
Anupa Charles-Pierre
Ariadne Catoe
Ato Wright
Aundre Oldacre
Betty Robinson
Brwnbox
Carey Hines
Cheryl Easley
Cheryl Miller
Colleen Woods
Costco
Cristina Bonaldes
David Walker
DaVon Gorman
Denise Eggleston
Derrick Samuels
Dodji Gbedemah
Sponsors & Supporters
Village Supporter ($100+)
Donita Judge
Donnette Green
Dr Crystal Broussard
Dr Vina Issac
Elizabeth Vanderslice
Ferlanda Nixon
Fernando Roman
Frances Moseley
Frances Stewart
Franklyn Arthur
George Dredden
Glenn King
Heather Wolf
Ida Sanders
JAG Physical Therapy
Jaleel Fraser
Janice Wanjiku
Jason Martin
Jennifer Jones Austin
John Willis
Joseph Hadley
Julia Guerrier
Julie Bunt
Kelly Jackson
Kelly Whiting
Kesha Davis
Kim Saunders
Kimberly Sumpter
Kimya Jackson
Krystel Delauney
Laura Hertzog
Lewis Woods
Luther Dowell
Lynda Wright
Marvel Agency
Merdel Swaby
Michael Hines
Michele Meyer-Shipp
Milford Nixon
Myrna Cadet-Osse
Nadine Morris
North Star Donors - Football
Raffle
Obiajulu Chukwu
Octavia Taylor
Paige Charles
Pat Farrell
Patrick Todd
Pearce Delisle
Dr Rasheda Weaver
Regina Garlin
Reginald Williams
Richard Manso
Village Supporter ($100+)
Roger Boone
Roger Williams
Ronnella Walker
Samantha Smith-Evans
Samuel Allen
Samuel Russell
Scott Hamilton
Shane Bennett
Sharon Clarke
Sharon Turner
Shelia Tucker
SZL Chapter - Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity
Simeko Hartley
Stafford Woods
Starnissa Preston
Susan Johnson
Tahina Charles - Pierre
Tammye Jones
Tanya Poteat
Todd Day
Todd Easley
V Leonard A de Montagnac
Zea McKenzie
Zenola Harper
Village Patron ($50+)
Lucy Brice
Alexandria Barnes
Al-Nisa Thomas
Anne Nkete
Anthony Thompson
Antoinette Ellis-Williams
Aqueelah Crawford
Ariel Adams
Carolyn Murphy
Christian Fletcher
Christian Valdez
Christina Hector
Cindy Flowers
Claudia Hamlett
Cynthia Alston
Dan Trach
Deidra Viney
Della McCall
Demond Fernandez
Diane Badden
Diane Murray
Ebony Blissett
Edelmire Renelus
Eric Hamilton
Erodita Anderson
Gina Stevens
Village Patron ($50+)
Gioya McRae
Gizelle Jacobs
Husan Abdul-Ghani
Jacqulyne Inman
James Williams
Jamison Antoine
Jana Wilson
Janae Quinones
Janelle Frazier
Janet Smith
Janice Suit-Peart
Joanne Walcott
Joe Gilbert
Jose RIvera
Karen Jenkins
Katherine Brower
Kenneth Gwee
KerryAnne Henry
Khiana Rogers
Kiah Sandler
Kimberly Monroe
Laurena Edwards
Learie Fraser
Lisa Davis
Lori Jones
Lyris Malajian
Marguerite Smith
Marjori Herbert
Marla Higginbotham
Maurice Watkins
Melissa Hagan
Michele Lupton
Mildrene Volcy
Nakeicha Wilson
Naomi Still
Noreen Chambers
Parker Hutchins
Patricia BIng
Patricia House
Peter Forbes
Phil Mclean
Precious Williams
Rahum Williams
Raquel Aiello
Reginald Raphael
Richard Mulo
Rita Thompson
Robin Baker
Ruhi Bunglawala
Ruth Easley
Sabrina House
Sandra Joseph
Sarah Hollinger
YOU ARE THE VILLAGE ❤
Sponsors & Supporters
Village Patron ($50+)
SaVonne Anderson
Shaday Agard
Shareka Fitz
Sloan White
Source of Knowledge
Taneise Marshall
Tanesha Halstead
Tara Taylor
Theophile Blanchard
Tiffany Jones
Tiffany Woolfolk
Tina Allen
Toby Shorter
Torina Armstrong
Valerie Pierce
Wanda Croudy
Will Porter
Village Member (Below $50)
Aleah Mobley
Alfred Robinson
Alicia Benjamin-Stennett
Amina Cuascut
Angela Clack
Autumn Urling
Bashar
Beatrice James
Beth Warner
Beverly Allen
Bianca Reid
Brian Tuffin
Brunel Brice
Chandler Prevatt
Charmaine Witter
Chenelle Nixon
Christine Smith
Claudia Watkins
Clifford Godfrey
Corey Bailey
Daniel Inman
Darryl Scipio
David Lawrence
Deborah Collins
Deiredra Oliver
Village Member (Below $50)
Don Brown
Dora Taylor - Lowe
Doris Spivey
Ebony Parham
Elaine Matthews
Ella Rideau
Erica Johnson
Faizah Allen
Frances Lawson - Howard
Francine Medley
Ganiat Rufai
Gay Cole
Gladys Bond
Goldie Bryant
Gregory Surpris
Gwendolyn Prelow
Harold Allen
Hortensia Kelley
Howard Gardner
Jade Holmes
Jade Victor
James Lovett
Jaquetta Perry
Jean Johnson
Jean-Edouard Torchon
Jeannine Redd
Jeremy Montrose
Jermaine Dunham
Jermaine Price Jr
Judith Powell
Karen Carpenter
Karen Parker
Karen Williams
Karla Alvarez
Katherine Walsh
Kathleen Picone
Kathryn Zeno
Kemi Adegunwa
Kico Mataj
Kimberly Gambrell
Larry Pryor
Lasean Carrera
Liselle Montrose
Loucille Black Hollis
Lynn Brownlee
Village Member (Below $50)
Lynn Lofton
Madison Tatum
Marcia Ceaser
Marian Sykes Johnson
Marisol MacCheyne
Martryce Roach
Matthew Moreau
Megan Ilievski
Michelle Brice
Michelle Burwell
Michelle Dabney
Michelle Jackson
Nadia Brown
Natasha Joseph-Harbance
New Century Trading, LLC
Nicole Hart
Pamela Drayton
Pamilla Montrose
PayPal Giving Fund
Rhonda Moore-Younger
Richard Whitten
Robert Schwartz
Rubye Hickerson
Ryan Smith
Sharmonique Shade
Stanley Kwok
Stephanie Godfrey
Survivor Inspiring Sisters
Taiyonna Fitzgerald
Taliah Joyner
Tammy Lewis
Tangi Lewis
Tara Williams-Harrington
Tawanna Brown
Theresa Ray-Jones
Tim White
UK Online Giving Foundation
Will Juedy
William Allen
Yasmin Obie
Yogesh Jadhav
Zakiyyah Austin
Zena Aldabagh
SATURDAY ~ FEBRUARY 22, 2025 Park Avenue Club ~ Florham Park, NJ
MONDAY ~ SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 Maplewood Country Club ~ Maplewood, NJ CELEBRATING
SATURDAY ~ MAY 3, 2025 South Mountain Reservation ~ West Orange, NJ
FRIDAY - SUNDAY ~ JUNE 20-22, 2025 Montclair Art Museum ~ Montclair, NJ
90+% of Black Americans (43M+) live, work, and own businesses in only 25 States* FOCUSED