Prospering Places launched the BLACKBONE Project in March 2023 with the support of the community, and JP Morgan Chase. Prospering Places Small Business Center is the brainchild of Monica T. Ray, the President of Prospering Places. She envisioned creating a center to help us accomplish our mission of pushing innovative Black entrepreneurs to new heights. With the understanding that Black entrepreneurs receive less than 2% of venture capitalist dollars, Monica assembled a team of diverse investors, staff, experts, and professionals to help democratize access to information and capital among DC’s underserved Black communities.