Our Village United: Investing in the health of both the small business and the business owner

Our programs

Our Village United (OVU) supports the growth of solopreneurs and microbusinesses by delivering targeted technical assistance and shared professional services. Dedicated to serving the whole business, OVU not only focuses on the health of the business but also the health of the business owner by partnering with licensed wellness coaches and mental health practitioners to serve as mentors to small businesses.

How Our Village United supports small businesses in the United States

  • Owning, growing, and potentially even scaling a business can be a powerful pathway to wealth creation. But for many underserved entrepreneurs, that path is filled with barriers — including limited access to startup capital, lower credit approval rates, and a lack of tailored support for growing and scaling their businesses.
  • Our Village United (OVU) strengthens the systems that surround entrepreneurs. From capital access and retail placement to wellness, mentorship, and research, their work fortifies the pipeline of support for both founders and the ecosystem builders who champion them.

Program overview

Our work together

With support from Mastercard Strive USA, OVU is expanding its reach and deepening its impact through a suite of regionally-rooted and nationally-scalable programs:

  • ELEVATED Cities: This 12-week hybrid program supports early-stage founders through capital grants, technical assistance, shared professional services, and wellness support. Elevated Cities impact small businesses across the country, with an emphasis on those in Atlanta, Birmingham, Chicago, Dayton, Houston, Los Angeles, Maryland, New Orleans, New York City, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
  • HER Pro Bono: Serving women-owned retail and e-commerce businesses throughout the South, this initiative pairs founders with pro bono legal, HR, and accounting experts to strengthen core business operations.
  • Village Roots: Designed for alumni of Our Village United programs, this virtual learning series offers advanced training on topics such as civic engagement, cybersecurity, AI, and digital tools — helping businesses stay connected and competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

By the numbers

  • OVU and Mastercard have supported more than 700 small businesses across 20+ states.
  • Over $1.1 million in capital grants awarded to help entrepreneurs grow, stabilize, and build wealth.

“We’re proud to partner with Mastercard to deepen our impact. Because entrepreneurship isn’t just about profit; it’s about purpose, resilience, and community. We’re on a mission to drive upward mobility and advance communities through the power of entrepreneurship.”

Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon

Founder & Executive Director, Our Village United

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