Strategy and Program Design
We assess needs, develop strategy, and design programs that reflect the goals of the institution and the conditions affecting the people it intends to serve.
Economic opportunity that reaches people.
We partner with institutions to build systems, programs, and partnerships that expand economic opportunity.
Discuss an Initiative
Is your institution working to:
- Launch or expand an economic mobility or small-business initiative?
- Increase participation in a program that is not reaching the people it was built for?
- Bring partners, departments, and community stakeholders into a coordinated effort?
- Build the systems and delivery capacity needed to carry the work forward?
Velez Strategies works at the intersection of institutional goals and community realities.
We connect strategy, systems, and partnerships so institutional priorities become support people can access and use.
We build what the work requires.
Partnerships and Community Engagement
We bring partners together and lead multilingual, community-based outreach that helps institutions connect with businesses and communities in ways that support participation.
Implementation and Capacity
We support delivery through facilitation, operating processes, performance tracking, and reporting. When the assignment calls for continued involvement, we stay engaged through implementation.
Prior Executive Leadership Experience
Experience leading the work.
During Lissette Velez’s executive leadership at the Hispanic Contractors Association of the Carolinas, she led a City of Charlotte small-business ecosystem initiative from community needs assessment through strategy, funding approval, program design, outreach, implementation, performance tracking, and partner reporting.
Over 18 months, the initiative reached more than 65,000 people and supported 4,000+ businesses. Its successful delivery led to a three-year, City-funded expansion in the North Tryon/Graham Corridor of Opportunity.
- 65,000+
- people reached
- 4,000+
- businesses supported
- 3-year
- City-funded expansion
Selected VS clients
Let’s talk about the work ahead.
Tell us what you are trying to build, where the work is getting stuck, and what support you need to move it forward.
Discuss an Initiative