The Sister Accord Accelerator, led by Sonia Jackson Myles, Founder of The Sister Accord Foundation, and Jean Freeman, Principal and CEO of Zambezi advertising agency, unveiled its second cohort. Seven women-owned businesses from various parts of the United States have been selected to participate in the program. Each business will be granted $10,000 in funding and will benefit from valuable mentorship throughout the five-month duration of the program. Among the 2024 Cohort are the following women entrepreneurs:

• Natasha Broxton, Select Auto Parts & Sales, Milwaukee, WI
• Denise Healy, Streets2Schools, Placerville, CA
• Jilea Hemmings, Nourish + Bloom Market, Fayetteville, GA
• Trina House, The Prevention Center, Oklahoma City, OK
• Taren Kinebrew, Cream & Sugar Coffeehouse, Cincinnati, OH
• LaTonya Mark, Professional Response Agency, Hattiesburg, MS
• Tia Rochelle, Premier Lifestyle Concierge, Cincinnati, OH 

In its second year, The Accelerator is supported by a distinguished team of mentors comprising influential global leaders such as Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder and CEO of The ActOne Group; Shelley Zalis, Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient; James Rhee, Founder and bestselling author of “red helicopter,” and Johnson Chair of Entrepreneurship at Howard University; and Jenn McCabe, Partner at Armanino LLP. They will lead group sessions titled “Meet The Incredibles…Lessons From Successful World Leaders,” focusing on sales, marketing, and operational strategies to empower participants in enhancing and scaling their businesses effectively.

This round, The Sister Accord Accelerator experienced a significant surge in applicants, skyrocketing from 200 in 2023 to over 1,000 in 2024, marking a remarkable 400% increase in interest. Founder Sonia Jackson Myles said, “This year’s surge in applications shows an increased need for a program like this. We see the potential to expand our ability to serve more businesses, but we can only do that through further awareness and support.”

This year, The Accelerator received an extra $10,000 grant from Marchoe D. Northern, SVP of NA Fabric Care at P&G, enabling the addition of a seventh business grant. Northern, drawn to The Accelerator’s distinctive offering of both grant funding and mentorship, was inspired to make a personal contribution following the opening of applications.

 Freeman, principal and CEO at Zambezi said, “We are incredibly grateful to this group of powerhouse advisors who have joined us this year. Not only have we created an easy application in a world where the grant process is arduous, but we are melding funding with expert counsel, while also building a sense of community for these women to rely on, to provide a very unique offering.”