Helping Small Businesses Succeed Through Training and Funding | FUSE

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About Us
FUSE is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing the capacity of local governments to engage communities, advance racial equity, and work more effectively for everyone.
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Our Model
The FUSE Model centers around a one-year full-time public service role in city or county government and includes three primary phases from start to finish.
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FUSE Executive Fellows and Alumni are experienced leaders committed to advancing equity through action-oriented partnerships with government agencies.
FUSE Careers
FUSE is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing the capacity of local governments to engage communities, advance racial equity, and work more effectively for everyone.
Our Team
The FUSE team and board of directors are committed to driving equitable change locally and nationally.
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Work with FUSE
The power of government. The experience of community. The impact of new ideas. Together we can build better systems
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Partner With FUSE
The FUSE Model centers around a one-year full-time public service role in city or county government and includes three primary phases from start to finish.
Executive Fellowship Program
FUSE Executive Fellows and Alumni are experienced leaders committed to advancing equity through action-oriented partnerships with government agencies.
Funders And Supporters
Thanks to the generous support and close partnerships of our funders and supporters, we have been able to deepen our impact on issues that matter the most to communities and the government agencies that serve them.
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Our Projects
Our Projects
Through strategic collaboration, these initiatives harness innovative solutions and practices to bridge gaps in healthcare access.
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Health
Expanding access to affordable health care and mental health resources to improve key indicators of community health.
Justice
Enhancing public safety and reform of criminal justice by changing policing, 911 dispatching, bail, sentencing, probation, reentry.
Education
Improving options for childcare, early education, STEM, out-of-school-time, and post-secondary enrollment and affordability.
Climate
Building new infrastructure, disaster resilience, renewable energy, green economy jobs, and plans to reduce emissions.
Housing
Addressing issues of homelessness, housing insecurity, gentrification, and the need to preserve and build more affordable housing.
Jobs
Increasing the number of living-wage jobs and preparing for the future of work through expanded job training.
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To help small business owners, especially those that are struggling, maintain, rebuild, or grow their businesses, the District of Columbia Business Capital Program (DC BizCap) was established by The Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB). FUSE executive fellow Flavian Marwa worked with DISB to assess current programs, optimize the use of district resources, and reach more residents.

Flavian evaluated the effectiveness of DISB’s current programs by bringing together key stakeholders, including internal staff, financial institutions, community partners, small business owners, and entrepreneurs, as well as representatives from broader local and federal government agencies. Flavian assessed the programs, and drew lessons from other states about how to partner strategically and effectively with the private sector to better leverage public funding. Flavian’s work expanded initiatives to offer assistance to minority and underserved populations, improved stakeholder engagement, and cultivated partnerships with the private sector to provide business capital to D.C’s entrepreneurs and small businesses.

FLAVIAN MARWA (2017-18) has more than 18 years of experience working at the intersection of private and public sectors, leading businesses and fostering sustainable economic development, entrepreneurial finance, and startup business incubation. He is the founder and managing partner of Sebelda Global Development Advisors. Flavian earned a BA in Engineering from University of Dar es Salaam, an MS from the University of Maryland at College Park, an MPA from The Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.

2017-2018 | Washington D.C. - Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking

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