News / Press Releases

Holiday Market: Celebrating women’s entrepreneurship on Sat., December 4, from 11 am to 4 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Center in Maryland
Online Holiday Gift Guide: Now available at ledcmetro.org/ewi

WASHINGTON - Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) announced that its eighth annual Holiday Market and Holiday Gift Guide are returning this year just in time for holiday shopping. These projects are part of LEDC's Empowered Women International (EWI) program, which helps unlock the potential of women through the power of entrepreneurship.

On Sat., December 4, 2021, the Holiday Market will return to the Silver Spring Civic Center from 11 am to 4 pm to offer shoppers the opportunity to buy from local, women-owned small businesses. The market will include over 50 local women artisans and food vendors from diverse backgrounds (Black, Latino, and other minority groups) who offer a distinct and varied selection of beautiful crafts, jewelry, candles, food gifts, fine art, and more.

Given that the last few years have been especially difficult for women and small business owners, ultimately resulting in the cancellation of the 2020 Holiday Market, LEDC invites the community to come out and support the women in their communities this season. Like many women-owned small businesses, there is a lack of access to traditional business capital, connections, and opportunities. Out of 274 women entrepreneurs surveyed in the DC-metro area, 77 percent reported that they had unmet funding needs of $5,000 or more.

“Here at the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), our Empowered Women International (EWI) program has been working tirelessly to ensure that women are not left out of our economy and can provide for their families,” said Marjorie Nemes, interim executive director & CEO of LEDC. “As the holiday season gets underway and you begin your holiday shopping, we hope you can support this program’s mission to transform the lives of women of color – including immigrant, refugee, and low-income women – through entrepreneurship, by purchasing their products.”

In addition to the Holiday Market, EWI announced it launched its second annual online gift guide today, available at https://www.ledcmetro.org/ewi_holiday_gift_guide_2021. The Holiday Gift Guide features 40 local, women-owned businesses.

“We are proud to feature these local female entrepreneurs whose artisan goods make fantastic holiday gifts. MWBC is honored to provide support to women business owners in the capital region year-round with small business consulting and educational workshops and more, including our brick-and-mortar retail incubator shop, Shop Local in Rockville and our DC WBC-partnered ShopHER in Union Station where you can also find great locally-made gifts,” said Morgan Wortham, managing director of the Maryland Women’s Business Center, a sponsor of these projects.

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About The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)

Working families deserve to live in affordable homes and own successful small businesses, but too many are unable to turn those dreams into a reality. The Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) equips Latinos and other underserved communities in DC, MD, VA, and Puerto Rico with the skills and financial tools to create a better future for their families and communities. Participants in our programs learn how to buy and stay in their homes, join with their neighbors to keep their rental housing affordable, and start or expand small businesses.

About Empowered Women International (EWI)

Empowered Women International (EWI) is a program of the Latino Economic Development Center. Our mission is to provide entrepreneurship training, mentoring, market access, and support services to help talented and high-potential women monetize their creative or cultural assets, artistic abilities, knowledge, and skills, and become change-makers in their families, communities, and the world for immigrant, refugee, low-income, and at-risk women in the Greater Washington DC Metro Area.

About Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC)

Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC) empowers small businesses and women entrepreneurs to launch and grow in Maryland's Capital Region.