Ready to turn your LinkedIn from online resume into a real business-building tool?

Join us for LinkedIn Local™ Raleigh on Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6–8 pm at The Wright Village, 315 Hubert St, Raleigh, NC 27603.

We’re teaming up with Give It To The People and the Give It Get It Biz Membership for an evening of:

• Action-oriented LinkedIn training led by Chisa Pennix-Brown

• Real talk on how to use LinkedIn to get noticed, get connected, and get opportunities

• Networking with entrepreneurs and professionals from across the Triangle

Bring your laptop or tablet and be ready to update, optimize, and take action on the spot.

Free and open to the public

#LinkedInLocalRaleigh #SmallBusinessNC #TriangleBusiness #WakeTech #TheWrightVillage

Attorney Venus Liles will teach you how to build a real business while keeping your day job. Legal basics, smart strategy, and growth without the risk.

This workshop is built for builders balancing a paycheck and a passion project. If you’re growing a business alongside your 9–5, we’ll walk through the legal and strategic essentials you need to protect what you’re building and set it up for real growth without jeopardizing your current role.

You'll learn:

• What your employment agreement really says about side projects

• Why contracts matter (even if you’re working with friends)

• IP ownership 101: make sure your employer doesn't accidentally own your business

• Steps to protect your brand, your time, and your peace of mind

Whether you’re aiming for supplemental income, long-term scalability, or the option to go all in later, you’ll leave with clarity, structure, and a business foundation that works for where you are now and where you’re headed!

This workshop reveals 5 hidden blocks limiting your income and gives tools to break through to your next revenue level.

Are you putting in the work but still hitting the same income ceiling? Often, the issue isn’t a lack of effort or strategy; it’s the unseen mental and emotional blocks operating beneath the surface.

In this transformative workshop, you’ll uncover five hidden barriers that quietly limit earning potential: money mindset blocks, self-perception gaps, guilt patterns, fear of visibility, and the often-overlooked silent block. These internal patterns can sabotage progress even when your external strategy is sound.

Participants will walk away with practical tools and actionable insights to identify, neutralize, and move beyond these blocks, creating space for sustainable growth and increased revenue. This session is ideal for entrepreneurs, professionals, and creatives ready to break through limitations and step into their next level with clarity and confidence.

Workshop Host:

Julia Jenkins is a Business Coach-Therapist with Business Breakthrough Therapy, LLC. Along with Julia’s experience as a successful business owner, business consultant, and award-winning sales team builder, she is a registered therapist with over 500 hours of clinical hypnotherapy training and over 16 years of practice.

Brand Ready: Headshots + Lunch

A professional headshot experience with lunch, networking, and confidence built in.

Your brand deserves to look as strong as the work you’re doing.

Brand Ready: Headshots + Lunch is a curated, midday experience designed for entrepreneurs, professionals, creatives, and job seekers who need an updated headshot—without the stress or time commitment of booking a full photo shoot.

Hosted at The Wright Village, this experience combines professional photography, lunch, and light networking in a relaxed and efficient setting. You’ll walk in hungry and walk out with a professional image you can confidently use across LinkedIn, websites, speaker bios, and more.

This is not a rushed photo line or a traditional networking mixer.
It’s intentional, welcoming, and designed to respect your time.

What’s Included

✔️ Professional headshot session (5–7 minutes)
✔️ 1 professionally retouched digital image
✔️ Lunch during the event
✔️ Light networking with local professionals and entrepreneurs
✔️ Option to purchase additional images directly from the photographer

Who Should Attend

• Entrepreneurs & small business owners

• Professionals updating LinkedIn or corporate profiles

• Creatives refreshing their online presence

• Job seekers and career switchers

• Speakers, consultants, and community leaders

If your current headshot no longer reflects how you show up today, this event is for you.

What to Expect

• 11:30–12:00 PM: Arrival, lunch, and networking

• 12:00–1:45 PM: Headshot sessions (5–7 minutes per person)

• 1:45–2:00 PM: Wrap-up and closing

Each attendee will rotate through individual headshot sessions to ensure a smooth, unhurried experience.

What to Wear

Choose an outfit that reflects how you want to show up professionally.
Solid colors and minimal patterns photograph best. Feel free to bring a jacket, accessory, or second look if desired.

Ticket Pricing

🎟️ Early Bird – General Admission: $50 (limited availability)
🎟️ General Admission: $60
🎟️ Villager Rate: $45

All tickets include lunch and one professionally retouched digital headshot.

Important Notes

• Space is limited to ensure quality and flow

• Tickets are required in advance

• Photos will be delivered digitally within 48-72 hours

• Additional images and upgrades are available directly through the photographer

• Tickets are non-refundable but transferable

This event is part of Brand Ready, a quarterly series by The Wright Village designed to help professionals consistently show up prepared, confident, and aligned with their goals.

A relaxed, no-pressure lunch where entrepreneurs and professionals connect, refuel, and build community — Wright Village style.

Lunch & Link is a relaxed, no-pressure lunch gathering designed for entrepreneurs and professionals who want to connect, refuel, and build real community, Wright Village style!

Held every 2nd Wednesday of the month, this casual networking experience creates space for meaningful conversation, shared insight, and authentic connection without the awkward pitches or forced small talk.

Each month features a new theme, guiding a 30-minute open conversation where attendees can exchange ideas, real-life experiences, and practical takeaways they can actually use. Occasionally, guest experts will join to help spark dialogue and deepen the discussion.

Whether you’re growing a business, building your network, or just craving a genuine connection during the workday, Lunch & Link is your mid-week reset.

What to Expect

• A laid-back lunch networking experience

• 30-minute guided conversation around the monthly theme

• Shared insight, real talk, and practical nuggets

• Occasional guest experts

• No pressure. No pitches. Just community.

Lunch Options
Grab lunch from Chef Q’s Wednesday pop-up, bring your own, or simply come for the connection.

Location
📍 The Wright Village
Raleigh, NC

When
🗓 Every 2nd Wednesday
⏰ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Good food. Real conversation. Meaningful connections.

This workshop teaches how to build a system that attracts ideal clients and converts prospects into paying customers.

This workshop is designed for entrepreneurs, service providers, and business owners who are ready to stop chasing clients and start attracting them with intention. Participants will learn how to separate marketing from service delivery, create a prospecting system that works long-term, and develop clarity around their ideal client. By the end of the session, attendees will understand exactly where to find their audience, how to engage them, and how to convert them into loyal clients or customers with ease and confidence.

We’re bringing back our monthly networking lunch — Wright Village style.

Lunch & Link is where real connections happen — no pressure, no pitches, just genuine conversations that feed your business and your soul.

This month’s theme: Reflection & Refuel
Take a breath with us before the holiday rush. Lunch & Link: Reflection & Refuel is a laid-back lunch where entrepreneurs and creatives can unwind, share what’s working, and connect without the pressure. Bring your lunch, pre-purchase from our featured caterer, or just come ready to link up.

No agenda. No pitches. Just good people and easy conversation to wrap the year on a warm note.

📅 Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
🕛 Time: 11:30 PM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: The Wright Village | Raleigh, NC
💼 Bring your lunch | Pre-purchase from our caterer | Or come for the connections

✨ Good food. Great conversations. Leave with your soul full.

Join us for a chill evening of networking and mingling with fellow business professionals at our Business After Hours Mixer every 4th Monday

New location Alert! We are bringing it home.

Join us at our new location The Wright Note Cafe for an evening of socializing to tap into new connections within our Village and other local businesses. Invite someone you would like to do business with.

• Mingle with other business owners

• Enjoy Refreshments

• Meet new contacts

• Build business relationships in the community

If you would love to sponsor our next Business After-Hours mixer, please request information at events@thewrightvillage.com

Pitch. Feed. Grow.
Join us for Feed the Village: Community Pitch Night, a quarterly event where entrepreneurs share their ideas and the community feeds them with real feedback, resources, and support.

Whether you’re an aspiring business owner or simply want to connect with local innovators, this event is all about collaboration and collective growth.

Each participant gets 3 minutes to pitch their idea and 3 minutes of feedback from coaches, peers, and potential decision-makers, the ones who might just help take their idea to the next level.

You don’t have to pitch to participate! Come for the energy, the conversation, and the opportunity to feed the ecosystem that keeps Durham’s entrepreneurial community thriving.

🕰️ Event Schedule

5:30–6:00 PM | Networking & Light Bites
6:00–7:00 PM | Pitch & Feedback Session
7:00–7:30 PM | Wrap-Up & Open Networking

🎟️ Tickets

• Pitcher Registration: Reserve your spot to pitch your business or idea (limited to 8–10 participants).

• General Admission: Join to watch, network, and offer feedback — no pitching required.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

💡 Who Should Attend

• Entrepreneurs and small business owners

• Coaches, mentors, and funders

• Students and emerging leaders

• Community members who love supporting local ideas

🤝 Hosted By

The Wright Village — a coworking and entrepreneurial hub fostering culture, connection, and collaboration.
Durham County Library — supporting lifelong learning and innovation in our community.

🍽️ Why “Feed the Village”?

Because when one entrepreneur grows, the whole community eats.
This series is part of a new quarterly initiative by The Wright Village to connect, inspire, and nourish Durham’s business ecosystem through collaboration, storytelling, and shared growth.

📩 Questions?

Email: events@thewrightvillage.com
Follow us: @thwrightvillagerdu

This online workshop is designed to empower business owners with the tools and knowledge to use GoFundMe as a strategic funding resource. Participants will learn how to effectively launch and manage fundraising campaigns to support a wide range of business needs.

Alice is a mission-driven sales and partnerships professional with 13+ years of experience helping purpose-driven organizations scale their impact, from supporting criminal justice reform at Rasa Legal to building community connections in underserved housing markets at Bungalow. Her approach to business development is rooted in empathy and genuine care for helping others, consistently ranking as a top performer while maintaining focus on serving people during challenging moments in their lives

Celebrate the season — and our anniversary — the Village way!
📅 Sunday, November 16th, 2025 | 11 AM – 4 PM
📍 The Wright Village | 399 Hubert St, Raleigh, NC
🎟️ Free Admission | Family-Friendly

Celebrate the season with us at The Wright Village’s 2nd Annual Harvest Marketplace + Open House!

Join us for a cozy, community-centered day featuring local vendors, delicious food, pony rides, fall family photo sessions, art, crafts, and more — all while exploring the Village’s newest additions during our first-ever open house and 5-Year Anniversary Celebration.

Whether you’re shopping for handmade crafts, vintage finds, tasty treats, or creative gifts, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant fall marketplace experience.

🌾 Event Highlights

🛍️ Shop Local Vendors: Discover unique products, handcrafted goods, and thrift treasures inside and outdoors.
🍴 Food & Seasonal Treats: Enjoy delicious bites from local chefs and vendors.
🐴 Horse & Pony Rides [HT Ranch Stables]: Treat the kids (and your inner child!) to a joyful pony ride experience right in the heart of the Village.
📸 Fall Photo: 5-minute mini sessions include one printed framed photo — ideal for families, friends, or solo portraits in our festive fall setup. Please select your photo session ticket based on the time slot you’d like to reserve for your mini session.
🎨 Live Art Exhibit: Experience creativity in motion in our Training/Event Space.
🪄 Craft Corner: Get hands-on with free fall crafts in our Makerspace.
🤳 Selfie Content Room: Step into our transformed Break Room for Insta-worthy photos and fun fall moments.
🏠 Open House Tours: Explore our expanded coworking hub, makerspace, photography studio, café, and more.

🌟 Calling All Vendors!

Are you a local artisan, food vendor, creative, or thrift seller?
We’re looking for passionate vendors to be part of our marketplace! Showcase your products, connect with customers, and celebrate in a lively community atmosphere.

💰 Vendor Fees: $30 Outdoor | $40 Indoor | $60 Food Vendors
📧 To apply, email events@thewrightvillage.com or select the Vendor Ticket option and an application will be sent to you.

🎉 Don’t Miss Out!

Bring your friends and family and enjoy a day of shopping, eating, creating, and celebrating community.

Admission is free — so mark your calendar for Sunday, November 16th and come experience The Village, where creativity, entrepreneurship, and community thrive.

👉 Register today to let us know you’re coming, and follow us for updates on featured vendors, activities, and surprises!

We’re bringing back our monthly networking lunch — Wright Village style.

Lunch & Link is where real connections happen — no pressure, no pitches, just genuine conversations that feed your business and your soul.

This month’s theme: Gratitude & Growth.
As we close out the year, let’s celebrate how far we’ve come, share what we’re thankful for, and link up with other entrepreneurs and creatives who are growing, evolving, and giving back.

Take a midweek pause that nourishes both your body and your business. Whether you bring your own lunch, pre-purchase from our featured caterer, or just come ready to connect — this experience is all about community, collaboration, and leaving full — full of food, full of ideas, and full of inspiration.

No agenda. No structure. Just a good lunch with good people.

📅 Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
🕛 Time: 11:30 PM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: The Wright Village | Raleigh, NC
💼 Bring your lunch | Pre-purchase from our caterer | Or come for the connections

Free to attend, Just pay to eat.

✨ Good food. Great conversations. Leave with your soul full.

Click the link below!

Handle Conflict. Build Confidence. Negotiate Better.
Join us for a dynamic 2-hour workshop that will help you navigate everyday negotiations with clarity, calm, and a fresh perspective on conflict.

Whether you’re asking for a deadline extension, managing a tough client conversation, or trying to align competing priorities—negotiation is everywhere. Based on his TEDx talk, “What If Conflict Wasn’t Your Enemy?”, negotiation coach Dr. Sam Bayer introduces the Negotiating AGENT framework: a simple, practical approach to resolving conflict without sacrificing relationships.

In this upgraded session, we’re adding two exciting and practical tools to support your growth:
✔ Half of the workshop will be spent actively working through real-life conflict scenarios that participants bring with them—so come with a situation you want help navigating.
✔ All attendees will receive free access to a custom ChatGPT-powered AGENT chatbot designed to coach you through negotiations. We’ll also walk you through how to use it to prepare for your next tough conversation.

You’ll learn how to:

• Stay grounded when conflict heats up

• Distinguish what people want from what they truly need

• Help others win—without giving up what matters to you

• Craft agreements that actually stick

Through real stories, guided exercises, hands-on practice, and now AI-powered coaching, you’ll walk away with practical tools you can use immediately—whether you’re a freelancer, founder, creative, or consultant.

Come ready to shift how you think about negotiation—and maybe even conflict itself.

🛠 Fueling Entrepreneurs, Feeding Dreams 🛠

Entrepreneurs and small business owners, we’re here to support YOU! Join us for a special Food Distribution Event at The Wright Village on October 16th. 💼✨ Come out, connect with your community, and grab what you need to keep moving forward!

📅 Date: October 16th
🕓 Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Location: The Wright Village, Hubert St. Raleigh

💥 This event is open to all small business owners and entrepreneurs, just show up and receive the support you deserve!

🔗 We’re also looking for volunteers! Email us at info@thewrightvillage.com and ask for the Volunteer Form!

This is a 1.5-hour class on working with this promising new technology and insights into how AI can make your small business better!

This workshop cuts through the noise and gives you the straight facts about what it takes to launch your business in NC the right way.

Yasmine is a marketing strategist dedicated to helping business owners turn their social media into a powerful sales tool. With a background in both corporate marketing and small business growth, she has mastered the strategies that drive real results beyond just going viral!

Participants will leave with a customized content calendar framework, proven strategies to optimize their profile, and clarity on how to use social media to generate consistent leads and sales!

What You’ll Learn:

• How to craft a bio that turns visitors into customers

• The type of content that builds trust and converts sales

• How to map a clear journey from social media to your business offers

• A simple action plan to boost revenue and prepare for Q4 & more!

From Side Hustle to Startup: Build Your Business Without Quitting Your Day

This workshop is designed for the dreamers, doers, and 9-to-5ers who are building something on the side and want to do it right. We’ll cover the legal and strategic must-haves for growing your business with confidence while staying employed.

You'll learn:

• What your employment agreement really says about side projects

• Why contracts matter (even if you’re working with friends)

• IP ownership 101: make sure your employer doesn't accidentally own your business

• Steps to protect your brand, your time, and your peace of mind

Whether your goal is extra income, a future exit, or full-time freedom, this session will help you build a solid legal foundation — no resignation letter required.

New location Alert! We are bringing it home.

Join us at our new location The Wright Note Cafe for an evening of socializing to tap into new connections within our Village and other local businesses. Invite someone you would like to do business with.

• Mingle with other business owners

• Enjoy Refreshments

• Meet new contacts

• Build business relationships in the community

If you would love to sponsor our next Business After-Hours mixer, please request information at events@thewrightvillage.com

Southeast Raleigh’s Shark Tank

Business Networking Event

Raleigh Shark Tank: Where Bold Ideas Meet Big Connections! Step into the spotlight and pitch your business to a room full of movers, shakers

Black Chamber of Raleigh is proud to collaborate with The Wright Village, Raleigh’s premier business resource hub dedicated to supporting Black and underrepresented entrepreneurs. Through this partnership, we’re creating a stronger ecosystem of mentorship, shared resources, and strategic support—helping small businesses grow, scale, and thrive in the heart of Raleigh. Together, we’re building a village where collaboration drives success.

This class begins by recapping some search basics and then moves into a discussion on how the shifting sands of AI are impacting the bedrock principles of SEO.

How are we searching in the post-AI world? Is our content training future AI models? And how can we take advantage of AI to adjust to the ongoing changes from search stalwarts like Google and Bing?

Hosted by: Jen McFarlandJen founded Marit Digital in 2022 after 20+ years in higher ed and a year-long stint in corporate America. She is an avid reader, loves games, and is a busy mom to two kids.

Marit Digital is a dedicated B Corp, primarily working with small businesses and teams. They step in to support the needs of companies lacking dedicated technical expertise, or those needing project-based strategy and support. Their goal is to be a resource provider for the long-term, building partnership and trust through excellent experiences.

https://maritdigital.com/

Join us for an inspiring evening of connection, community, and conversation with Solomon, a business strategist, educator, and nonprofit leader dedicated to building strong family enterprises and creating generational impact.

We’ll start the evening with a warm community dinner (ticketed at an affordable rate), creating space to share stories and build meaningful relationships. After dinner, Solomon will guide us through an intimate talk on how to build family businesses that honor your story, center cultural values, and create lasting wealth for future generations.

Dinner Ticket: $10 (includes meal and reserved seat)

Together, we’ll explore:

• Defining family business in our communities

• Trust, governance, and shared vision

• Navigating emotional and generational dynamics

• Planning for succession and sustainability

• Addressing unique challenges in historically excluded communities

Whether you're building a business with family, thinking about legacy, or simply curious, this evening is for you. Come ready to share a meal, listen, reflect, and connect.

Join us for Reel Resilience: A Film Series for Entrepreneurs, a monthly gathering designed to inspire, educate, and empower entrepreneurs. Each event features a compelling film or documentary exploring themes of entrepreneurship, resilience, and innovation, followed by thought-provoking discussions on business growth, financial success, and overcoming challenges.

This series welcomes all business professionals looking to gain insights, build connections, and be part of a thriving entrepreneurial community.

🎥 This Month’s Featured Film: "SHE DID THAT"

She Did That. is a powerful documentary that celebrates Black women entrepreneurs and the incredible impact they have on business, culture, and communities. Directed by Renae Bluitt, the film offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the journeys of Black women who are building thriving brands and breaking barriers — despite facing systemic obstacles and underrepresentation.

It features inspiring stories and insights from influential business leaders including Lisa Price (founder of Carol’s Daughter), Melissa Butler (founder of The Lip Bar), Tonya Rapley (financial educator), and Luvvie Ajayi (author and speaker).

More than just a business documentary, She Did That. is a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the unapologetic drive of Black women to create their own lanes and redefine success on their own terms.

Key Themes:

✅ Entrepreneurship & Business Growth – Building a brand from the ground up✅ Resilience & Overcoming Adversity – Facing discrimination and industry challenges✅ Women in Leadership – Breaking barriers in a male-dominated society✅ Branding & Marketing – The power of storytelling and self-promotion

VIP Black Box Experience 🎁

Attendees who select VIP admission will receive an exclusive VIP Black Box, filled with premium products and resources from local businesses. Want your brand featured? This is a prime opportunity to showcase your business to a targeted audience of entrepreneurs!

📢 Just want to say thank you to Raleigh Division of Community And Small Business Development for sponsering this event!

📩 Interested in Sponsoring or Featuring Your Product?Email us at outreach@thewrightvillage.com or call 919-822-1937 for more details!

📅 When: Last Thursday of Every Month | ⏰ 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM📍 Where: The Wright Village

🍿 Limited seats available—reserve yours today! 🎟️

Session - 1

July 22nd,11:00 am- 12:30 pm

Small Business Capital (Reasons and Sources for Funding):

This session will outline the primary sources of small business capital, including some of the advantages and disadvantages of each. A focus will be on debt financing, with an overview of small business loan underwriting fundamentals to help the entrepreneur understand better what lenders look for in a loan package. The presenter will also provide a brief overview of SBA loan products and how the SBA works with banks and other lenders.

Session - 2

July 22nd, 1:00 pm-2:30 pm

Financial Statements and Analysis for Small Businesses:

This session will provide an overview of the main financial statements, stressing the importance of accurate bookkeeping and discussing some information that can be learned from analyzing these statements. The presenter will introduce participants to key ratios and other measures used in analysis and as key performance indicators as they manage their small businesses. Some of these measures are also used by bankers and other lenders when making approval decisions on small business loans and lines of credit.

• Workshops begin promptly at 11:30

• 12:30 Lunch

• Bring paper and pens to take notes

Villager(member) - $10 with lunch, FREE workshop only

Catered by: Taste Of Soul

• Jerk Chicken Sandwich

• Jerk Portobello Mushroom Sandwich

• Caribean Slaw, Chips, and a drink are included with all meals

For questions please call 919-822-1937, email info@thewrightvillage.com or visit www.thewrightvillage.com/events

About our Facilitator Gene Holland:

Gene brings financial analysis and business credit underwriting expertise to the SBTDC Raleigh Center, drawing on his experience with BB&T (now Truist) as a Commercial Banker and a Business Credit Instructor. Gene exited the financial services industry in 2007 as Co-Founder of CORK & TEE, LLC, a boutique, luxury travel company specializing in customized experiences featuring golf, wine, culinary, and cultural elements. In this role, Gene wore every hat imaginable, leading up to his departure in 2019, he focused largely on financial, HR, and operational areas as CORK & TEE grew to a profitable, $ 4+ million company. Along the way, Gene gained a considerable understanding of international payments and foreign exchange rate hedging methods.

Gene grew up in Chapel Hill and attended UNC-CH, where he played Varsity Golf and earned a BA in Economics. Upon graduation, Gene spent nearly eleven years as a PGA Golf Professional, then earned his MBA from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2002. Along the way, Gene has refined his mentoring skills coaching middle school basketball and youth, showcase, high school, and American Legion baseball.