Group founded in Prince George’s County connecting women through faith and business

WASHINGTON (7News) — 13 years ago, Andrena Sawyer was a struggling entrepreneur.

Today, she’s helping women across the country connect with other women who share the same faith and business goals–through an organization she founded.

“It came to me one day to create what I didn’t have when I started, which was a community of like-minded people, who didn’t want to compromise their faith, who were very aware of the elephant in the room, sometimes, which is diversity–and how it affects women in business,” Sawyer said. “And I thought it was going to be very small–but it started to grow.”

In 2019 she founded MCWEN, or, “Minority Christian Women Entrepreneurs Network.”

“It’s a faith-based community for women who are either operational in business or aspiring business owners, and they are looking for community,” Sawyer said.

“I’m not registered or claiming a faith based business, per say,” MCWEN DC Metro Chapter Co-Coordinator Kathy Evans said. “I am a Christian, and my faith is a big part of my service and my business.”

“I wanted to be a part of something that started with ethics,” MCWEN DC Metro Chapter Co-Coordinator Truline Rodgers said.

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Apart from faith–Sawyer says–black female entrepreneurs are still struggling to access business resources and see as much revenue.

Inside this chapter meeting in D.C., Sawyer wants to address those disparities through strength in numbers. The business model is a tribute to her West African heritage.

“We joke a lot about how back in Africa you don’t even have to call people ahead of time to come to their house and visit them, but that’s how communal we are,” Sawyer said.

If people feel like they belong, if they feel comfortable to ask the tough questions, including, how can I find money because my business is going underground very, very quickly, that in and of itself is a win,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer says MCWEN has already spread to 16 cities nationwide. She wants to see it grow even more.

“Fairness is important, equity is important for women of color,” Sawyer said. “And as Christian women, we shouldn’t have to dilute our principles or dilute our presence.”