BE IN THE ROOM

This Week With Give It To The People®

This week, we're giving you multiple ways to learn something, get some work done, meet the right people, and move your business forward.

And here's the best part: some of the rooms are virtual, and some are in person.

You don't have to do everything. But you should do something.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

LEARN WITH US ONLINE

Wednesday is about sharpening your skills from wherever you are.

We're continuing our virtual education with AI-focused webinars designed to help entrepreneurs understand how to use AI as a practical business tool, not just another piece of technology everybody keeps talking about.

Canva + AI Tools & Tips (Online)
Wed, Aug 12 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Canva can be used to create some graphics and assets for your business. This lively webinar will show you what apps are available and how you can use them to enhance your business.

The AI Knowledge Base Webinar (Online)
Wed, Aug 12 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Train your AI to know your business as well as you do, then let it work. Build a custom
knowledge base inside ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini so every AI interaction starts with full context and outputs that sound like you wrote them.

Whether you're trying to save time, improve your marketing, strengthen your business systems, or figure out how AI actually fits into the work you already do, join us online.

Come ready to learn. Leave ready to use it.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

NOW, LET'S GET IN THE ROOM.

We're bringing the #BeInTheEcosystem energy to ReCity, 112 Broadway Street in Durham for a day of learning, working, eating, and connecting.

11 AM–1 PM

SUBMIT WINNING RFPs WITH AI | $50

RFPs shouldn't feel like a mystery.

Join La-Tasha Best-Gaddy of Infinity Bridges for a practical session on using AI to better understand the client, analyze an RFP, position your business, and build a stronger proposal.

If government and corporate contracts are part of your growth strategy, this is a room you need to be in.

1–4 PM

GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE® COWORKING | FREE

Three hours.

Your laptop.

That project you've been putting off.

And a room full of other entrepreneurs getting things done.

Sometimes you don't need another webinar. You need uninterrupted time to actually DO THE WORK.

The space is on us. Lunch is on you.

Lil's Cheesesteaks will be onsite serving authentic Philly cheesesteaks and vegetarian options, so you can support a local Black-owned business while you're here.

Lil's Cheesesteaks will be on site from 11 am-5 pm. Bring your office, your client, or just yourself.

Want to skip the wait? Order ahead! The menu is attached.

Text 919-519-2095 with:

• Your name
• Your order
• Any special instructions
• Your preferred pickup time

A payment link will be sent in advance, and tax will be added to your total. Whether you’re grabbing lunch before diving into coworking or taking a midday break, Lil’s will have it ready for you. Walk-up orders will also be available throughout the day!

1–4 PM

GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE® COWORKING | FREE

Three hours.

Your laptop.

That project you've been putting off.

And a room full of other entrepreneurs getting things done.

Sometimes you don't need another webinar. You need uninterrupted time to actually DO THE WORK.

The space is on us. Lunch is on you.

Lil's Cheesesteaks will be onsite serving authentic Philly cheesesteaks and vegetarian options, so you can support a local Black-owned business while you're here.

4–6 PM

GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE® NETWORKING | FREE

Then we close the laptops.

This isn't about collecting 37 business cards you'll never look at again.

It's about meeting entrepreneurs, collaborators, business resource providers, and people you need to know.

Come ready to have a conversation.

Come ready to tell somebody what you do.

And, just as importantly, come ready to find out how you can help somebody else.

That's how we #BeInTheEcosystem.

YOUR MOVE THIS WEEK

Wednesday: Learn.

Thursday: Apply. Work. Connect.

You don't have to attend everything to be part of the ecosystem.

But you do have to show up somewhere.

BE IN THE ROOM.

View this week's events and choose your room on our Give It Get It Luma calendar.

NC EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP CONFERENCE

NC Employee Ownership Conference to Help Business Owners and Advisors Explore Succession Planning,

Legacy Preservation, and Employee Ownership

RALEIGH, NC - As thousands of business owners across North Carolina approach retirement age, many are facing one of the most important decisions of their careers: what happens to the business after they step away?

To help address that question, the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center (NCEOC) will host the NC Employee Ownership Conference on September 16, 2026, at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

This one-day conference will bring together business owners, attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, consultants, lenders, economic developers, and business support professionals to explore succession planning strategies and employee ownership models that can help preserve businesses, protect jobs, and strengthen local economies.

Employee ownership has emerged as a powerful tool for business succession, offering alternatives to traditional sales or closures. Conference attendees will learn about Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), Worker Cooperatives, and other ownership transition models that can help business owners create intentional plans for the future.

"North Carolina is home to thousands of successful businesses whose owners will eventually transition into retirement," said Illa Burbank, Executive Director of the North Carolina Employee Ownership Center. "Our goal is to ensure business owners and their advisors understand the full range of options available to them. Employee ownership can provide a pathway that preserves a company's legacy, rewards employees, and keeps businesses rooted in the communities they serve."

The conference will feature industry experts, experienced advisors, business owners, and employee-owned companies sharing practical insights and real-world experiences. Participants will gain actionable knowledge, build valuable connections, and learn strategies they can immediately apply within their organizations and client relationships.

The event is designed for:

Business owners planning for succession, retirement, or future growth
Attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors, and consultants
Economic developers and community leaders
Lenders and business support organizations
Anyone interested in the future of business ownership in North Carolina

Event Information

NC Employee Ownership Conference 2026
September 16, 2026 9 am-5 pm

McKimmon Center 1101 Gorman Street Raleigh, NC 27606

$25 REGISTRATION

About Give It To The People

Give It To The People is a Durham-based business development and event curation company that creates conferences, summits, professional development experiences, and ecosystem-building initiatives that connect entrepreneurs, business owners, and business support organizations across North Carolina. Through innovative programming, strategic partnerships, and community-centered events, Give It To The People helps people build stronger businesses, stronger networks, and stronger communities.