Happy Women's History Month!
Happy Women's History Month! This month on the MORTAR Instagram page, we're highlighting the fantastic Women and Woman-Owned Businesses that participated in our MORTAR and Queens Village cohort last year. Did you know that over 70% of both our STAFF and ALUMNI group are Black Women? So yeah, it's #InternationalWomensDay EVERY DAY over here!! Let's keep the momentum going and continue to shine a light on the incredible people that inspire and fortify the world.
MORTAR and The 2022 Flying Pig Marathon!
There are two ways you can join the fun. When you register for one of the Flying Pig events, receive a 15% discount on registration when you enter the MORTAR Discount Code: MORTARFP22website. If you’d like, you can request that your 15% discount be donated to help MORTAR continue to provide opportunities for equitable entrepreneurship. Better spectator than you are runner? Enter the Piggest Raffle Ever and select MORTAR from the drop-down menu and purchase a $5 raffle ticket. For each "pig" purchased, you have a chance to win on Flying Pig Marathon Weekend and the charity you select receives 100% of your donation!
Kudos to Kala Gibson, MORTAR Board Chair!
Fifth Third announced that Kala Gibson, executive vice president and chief corporate responsibility officer, has assumed additional oversight of sustainability and inclusion and diversity, and he will serve as the Chair of the Fifth Third Foundation Distribution Committee. Kudos, Kala! MORTAR is proud of you and your work. Read more about it here.
Congrats to MORTAR Board Member, Ashlee Young on new role!
"As the foundation and its partners continue to work together to advance health equity and improve health outcomes in Greater Cincinnati, Interact for Health has selected Ashlee Young for the newly created position of Vice President, Policy and Engagement." -Interact for Health. Read more here.
MORTAR GIVING TWOSDAY
On 2.22.22 we launched “Giving Twosday”, our new initiative designed to make sure that MORTAR program graduates from around the country have access to the capital that they need to move their businesses forward. Alums from MORTAR branded programs across the country can apply online to receive grants from The Iron Chest Fund. MORTAR will be selecting two businesses to receive a grant in the amount of $2K every month. Applications are now open. MORTAR Alums can Apply Now!
Donate to the Iron Chest Fund to partner with us to put start up capital directly into the hands of entrepreneurs!
P&G, KROGER and MORTAR combine forces again to offer incredible cohort to businesses! MORTAR is proud to announce it is continuing the collaboration with P&G and Kroger. After a successful cohort in 2021, P&G and Kroger are continuing to provide thought leaders and funding to MORTAR’s Entrepreneurship Academy. The difference between the typical MORTAR entrepreneurship academy and the P&G, Kroger and MORTAR Cohort is that participants receive facilitation from thought leaders at P&G and Kroger, as well as MORTAR facilitators, these leaders offer expertise on the ins and outs of business to business management and supply chain processes. Because of this, preference will be given to businesses that supply products or goods. Previous MORTAR Alumni are eligible to participate but being an alumni is not a requirement. The virtual cohort lasts 11 Weeks from 4-6pm and will begin in mid-May. Click here for application!
Power to Pursue Women's Summit with MORTAR Alum, Kyla Woods & More! P&G presents Power to Pursue May 20th - Cincinnati, OH - Tickets Limited! Order tickets here. P&G presents Power to Pursue, Founded by Rachel DesRochers in partnership with Kyla Woods, Whitney Ellison, and Stevi Carr. Power to Pursue is a one day women’s empowerment and entrepreneurial summit, welcoming entrepreneurs at all stages of the journey. Retreat with us to a day spent witnessing speakers, panelists and fireside chats that fill your soul. Leave with energetic magic, community and tools to support the dream you are in the process of manifesting.
A GOOD MASTERCLASS!
Donny Harper, owner of the GOOD company apparel is giving us the inside scoop on branding and marketing. Email ishop@goodapparel.com for his master class now. You don't want to miss this!
Junebug Jewelry Designs Awarded Two Grants! Junebug Jewelry Designs has been awarded two grants that will help fuel the growth of its Over-the-Rhine retail location and boost its trajectory as a leading online wearable art jewelry brand. The Reimagine Main Street Backing Black Business Cash Grantwill help Junebug scale its operations, increase inventory and broaden its customer base. The 2021 Carelle/Women’s Jewelry Association Member Grant, a prestigious award given exclusively to one jewelry designer each year, will fund technology advancements needed to expand Junebug’s online presence and eCommerce platform. Both awards were announced this week.
Vote for Ashley Barrow and Re-Assist!
MORTAR Alum, Ashley Barrow and her company RE-Assist are in the running to qualify in the Cincy Inno Madness Competition's Round 2 Brackets! The competition began with 32 local startups vying for the coveted title of 2022 Inno Madness champion.Inno Madness is a friendly, bracket-style challenge where Bizjournal readers vote to advance companies based on one question: Who would you invest in? A bit about RE-Assist - founded by mother son duo Ashley Barrow and Aaron Bess, is a referral management app that aims to better help individuals navigate transitions of care."With over 15 years experience of nursing in transitions of care, RE-Assist simplifies, standardizes and digitizes discharge and care planning by integrating the patient, vendor and account manager for an efficiency in better outcomes. Our goal is to decrease re-admissions to hospitals by 30%,
We do this by offering choice and streamlining the referral process." Vote here!
Kroger, LISC, and MORTAR Build It Together Program
Through the Build It Together program, The Kroger Co. Foundation, LISC, and MORTAR are supporting food-system businesses working for equitable food access. We provided grants to three MORTAR Alumni and Kai Stoudemire-Williams (founder of Hyperfarm) was one of them.
MORTAR is Awarded Grant from The Surdna Foundation! MORTAR has been awarded a grant from The Surdna Foundation in the amount of 200K over two years! The Surdna Foundation seeks to foster sustainable communities in the United States -- communities guidedby principles of social justice and distinguished by healthy environments, strong local economies, and thrivingcultures. MORTAR is honored that Surdna has chosen to MORTAR to receive the Surdna grant and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to power the MORTAR mission. Learn more about Surdna at www.surdna.org.
