Monica Ray

Monica Ray grew up in a rural neighborhood in North Carolina. After graduating from Fayetteville State University, she wanted to go somewhere she could make a difference. After moving to Washington, D.C., she joined the Congress Heights Community Training & Development Corporation (CHCTDC), an organization dedicated to improving economic opportunity in Wards 7 and 8 by supporting Black entrepreneurs.

During her 30-year tenure at CHCTDC, Ray has made significant improvements in local infrastructure and small business support, raising more than $9 million in funding. Under her leadership, CHCTDC has launched programs like The BlackBone Project, providing Black women-identifying founders with access to community and capital; Destination Congress Heights, supporting small and emerging businesses along key avenues; and Incubate the 8, a cohort program for local retailers. In addition to her work at CHCTDC, Ray chairs the board of advisors at two charter schools and leads the Congress Heights Partnership, a non-profit for collaborative economic development.