Concordia, Envolve and Assembly Member Michael Blake Come Together for Day of Engagement in the Bronx

- Nonprofit organizations collaborate in support of local entrepreneurs

- Envolve Award winners announced

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Envolve Entrepreneurship (www.envolveglobal.org), the global support organization for start-up businesses, and Concordia, which promotes cross-sector partnerships, are collaborating with New York State Assembly Member Michael Blake (D-The Bronx, NY) to host a Day of Engagement event that features entrepreneurs on September 25, 2019, following the 2019 Concordia Annual Summit. The event will take place from 9:30am to 12:00pm at the Lit. Bar, a female-founded independent bookstore in the Bronx.

Concordia's Day of Engagement is a benefit open to its membership base designed to complement and improve the formal experience of the Summit by connecting the issues discussed during the event with high-impact social alliances and highlight public-private partnerships in action. In order to support applicants and winners of its annual start-up business awards, and to connect with underserved entrepreneurs, Envolve regularly collaborates with like-minded organizations such as Concordia. Hanne Dalmut of Concordia commented: "The Day of Engagement helps make our conference programming 'come alive', creating links between on-stage calls to action and local, partnering entities living those best practices. Envolve's work across the U.S. proves that an entrepreneurial spirit isn't geographically bound, and -- more importantly -- shines a light on innovation stemming from traditionally-marginalized entrepreneurs. This is a key programming message that Concordia wants to elevate this year."

The event will be kicked off with remarks from Hanne Dalmut, Director of Partnership Development at Concordia, and Assembly Member Michael Blake, New York Assembly (79th District) and Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The Day of Engagement will include a panel discussion and a pitch presentation competition, and will culminate in the Envolve Award USA Ceremony, where the New York-based winners of funding and support from the 2018 award cycle will be announced.

The panel, "Investing in Local Entrepreneurs," will be moderated by Christopher Upperman, CEO of Envolve Entrepreneurship, and includes the following panelists: Rebecca Scott, Founder of 2017 Envolve Award Winner Sustainable Snacks; Rahim Mohammed, Co-Founder of 2016 Envolve Award Winner Ginjan Bros; and, Noëlle Santos, Proprietress of the Lit.Bar. "Envolve's mission is to be an advocate for aspiring and burgeoning entrepreneurs. We seek to ensure that America's startup ecosystem properly reflects America's rich diversity. As one of America's most diverse communities, the Bronx is increasingly becoming a beacon for what can be achieved. We're thrilled to work with Concordia and Assembly Member Michael Blake to showcase some of New York's finest entrepreneurs," said Christopher Upperman.