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Women of Color in Community Development, or WCCD, was organized in 2008 by founders, Lisa Hall, Susan Jones, Lessie Powell Evans, and Oramenta Newsome to offer a forum where women of color in fields related to community and economic development could be highlighted and celebrated for their professional achievements. Since 2008, WCCD has grown from an informal network to a membership organization and has continued to strengthen its mission of supporting the personal, educational and professional development of women of color engaged in fields related to community and economic development. WCCD members enjoy this supportive professional network through regularly scheduled professional development events, panel discussions, mentoring, networking sessions and social gatherings, which further promote the personal and professional advancement of women of color in the field.


Join the Network

WCCD members enjoy a supportive professional network that promotes personal and professional advancement through regularly scheduled professional development events, panel discussions, mentoring, networking sessions and social gatherings.


Attend an Upcoming WCCD Event


Attend a professional development seminar, networking event or social gathering to cultivate and expand relationships with women who represent various sectors in the community development industry.



WCCD and Community Development Events


WCCD Sustaining Member Brunch

Sep 17, 2023 |
 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. | District Winery 

The Women of Color in Community Development cordially invites you to our 2023 Sustaining Member Brunch. The Brunch will be held on Sunday September 17th from Noon-3:00 pm at District Winery, the premier Washington, DC winery, and restaurant venue in the heart of Navy Yard overlooking the DC waterfront. Join your fellow WCCD Sustaining Members was we fellowship over chef prepared delicacies, sip on an assortment of wines and indulge on savory deserts.

Ruth T. Jones Nichols, Ph.D. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Engagement U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, will be our guest speaker for the event. Please note that this event is only open to active Sustaining Members. If you have not renewed your Sustaining Membership or wish to become a Sustaining Member, we encourage you to do so now.


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Why Would I Choose You? Using LinkedIn to Elevate Your Brand

October 10, 2023 | 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. EST | VIRTUAL

Why Would I Choose You? Using LinkedIn to Elevate Your Brand

with Dr. Elisse W. Barnes, JD, PhD - Your LinkedN Driving Instructor

Your personal brand is what sets you apart from others that do what you do. It makes you more visible, hirable, and likable than others with similar qualifications. According to career experts, if you’re in the running for a new job or business opportunity, you will be Googled and what Google finds is your online digital personal brand. This presentation focuses on how to create a consistent, professional, attractive, and authentic personal brand message on LinkedIn and the strategies to elevate your digital personal brand for your career and entrepreneurship.

Elisse Wright Barnes, JD, PhD, Your LinkedN Driving Instructor, is a LinkedIn trainer, communications strategist, and workforce educator teaching adults 45 and better to harness the power of LinkedIn for their job search, career transition, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit leadership. Dr. Barnes provides LinkedIn training in partnership with public library systems in Maryland and New York, workforce and business development organizations and graduate school and alumni programs throughout the United States. Dr. Barnes also facilitates and provides LinkedIn training for the Jewish Council for the Aging’s Career Gateway, a career development course for jobseekers aged 50 and better and partners with nonprofit organizations like The Nonprofit Village in Montgomery County (MD)and Nonprofit Westchester (NY) to teach nonprofit leaders to use LinkedIn for effective donor research and management as well as potential board member recruitment and engagement.

Dr. Barnes has provided LinkedIn training to both jobseekers and entrepreneurs at Montgomery College’s Business Training Center, AARP’s Back to Work 50+ club, the Jewish Council for the Aging’s CareerTech program, A Wider Circle’s Professional Development program, the Baltimore Jobhunters Support Group, the Maryland Women’s Business Center, eWomen Network, the New Jersey Career Network, 40Plus of DC, and Awesome Women Entrepreneurs; and to undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni at the Ohio State University, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, Clark Atlanta University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is a member of the MD Black Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery County Small Business Association, the International Association of Workforce Professionals, and the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.



WCCD Networking Happy Hour

Sep 19, 2023 |
 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Bronze Restaurant

oin us for the WCCD End of Summer Networking Happy Hour!

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Location: Bronze DC 1245 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Summer's end is approaching, and it's time to connect, relax, and celebrate the successes of our WCCD community. Bronze DC is a vibrant and stylish venue located in the heart of Washington, D.C.'s H Street NE neighborhood, known for its welcoming atmosphere and excellent service. Learn more.

Whether you're a WCCD member or interested in learning more about us, this is the perfect opportunity to network, share ideas, and enjoy great company. 


WCCD Financial Health Webinar

April 27, 2023 | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST | VIRTUAL

Organizing group trips among friends. Touching your toes. Planning for your financial future. Reading the small print at the eye doctor’s office. What do all of those examples have in common? They get more complicated and difficult as we get older and more established in our lives.

While we can’t help you touch your toes please join us for an in-depth discussion on financial wellness and planning with financial expert Elisabeth Dewailly. Over the course of an hour Elisabeth will lead a discussion on financial planning and key aspects to keep in mind as you grow your wealth through investing and/or savings.

Elisabeth Dewailly is a Financial Advisor and partner on an all women multi-generational team at Merrill Lynch. She holds the CFA, CFP®, CSRIC™, and CPFA charters and is a strong proponent of impact investing

This zoom event is free for active members of WCCD and $25.00 for non-members.




Salary Negotiation Master Class

January 31, 2023 | 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. EST | VIRTUAL

By now we’re all aware of the pay gap that exists between men and women. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, women of color make $0.63 for every dollar their white male counterpart makes. Yes, there are gender biases and opportunity gaps, but there is another reason women aren’t paid their value. Most women don’t ask. There are literally thousands of dollars budgeted by organizations for negotiations.

 Join us for our first event of the year, where Career & Leadership Strategist Melissa Fleury will teach you how to:

  • Identify and overcome the fear of negotiating money
  • Learn the BEST tools and resources to research salary
  • Master how to communicate and ask for more money
  • Learn how to overcome objections when negotiating your salary

This zoom event is free for active members of WCCD and $25.00 for non-members.


Annual Meeting & Holiday Mixer

December 6, 2022 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | IN PERSON, Enterprise Office: 10 G Street NE, Washington D.C. 20002, Suite 580

Let's celebrate together! Join the Women of Color in Community Development as we celebrate another successful year. Connect with your fellow WCCD sisters as we learn about WCCD’s accomplishments for 2022 and what is in store for 2023.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible as we kick off this season of holiday festivities together. Complimentary food and beverages will be provided.

This event is free for active members of WCCD, $25.00 for non-members.
















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WCCD is a membership organization and professional network of women of color in the community and economic development industry in the Washington metropolitan region.


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