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Wednesday, September 16
 

8:00am EDT

🏛️ PLEASE READ: Welcome to BLD Southeast: Building a Monumental Movement 🏛️
Wednesday September 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Hello, and welcome to BLD Southeast 2026! We are so excited to welcome you to Washington D.C, September 16th & 17th. Within our full schedule, you'll find a treasure trove of information about how you can make the most of your week with the B Corp community.

Take a moment to explore the week's agenda, discover sessions that spark your curiosity, and add your favorites to your personal schedule on Sched. This is your unique roadmap to a meaningful, fun, and engaging week. Note, you'll need to have purchased an event ticket via TicketTailor to receive a code to join Sched as an attendee.

Some tips for attending BLD in D.C: 
🪪 Please wear your lanyard/name tag at all times while at the conference.
☀️☔ D.C will be hot with a possibility of rain in the afternoons; don't forget your umbrella! 
🚰 Please remember to bring your reusable water bottle. 
🚇 Use the metro to get around town. You can use a contactless credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google wallet. Please reference the metro map below. 
💵 Please try to bring cash to tip bartenders through out the event. Venmo may also be available. 

Some tips for using Sched:
✨ Build out your attendee profile so other attendees can connect with you. You can choose to make your profile public so that others can see that you're attending and connect with you directly.
🤝 Identify excursions you want to attend on Wednesday morning & afternoon in Sched. These will be from 9:00AM-6:30PM. It's a great chance to get to know a local B Corp or nonprofit, and build relationships with other attendees. The most popular ones can fill up quickly.
📅 Customize your schedule to make the most of excursions, keynotes, breakouts, workshops, networking sessions, network gatherings, and more.
🤝 Plan your time in advance as much as possible, so that you can be ready to connect with peers and engage in meaningful conversations.



Wednesday September 16, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

9:00am EDT

Breakfast and Networking Meetup
Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Kick off your morning in DC with an easy, no-pressure way to connect with fellow B Corp folks. We’ll also have a few friendly faces from B Lab and/or nearby B Corps across the Mid-Atlantic on hand to help spark conversations and make connections!

This is a great activity if you want a casual way to meet others and open to anyone who wants to swing by. Breakfast not provided by BLD, please pay for your own meal. 

Places to grab breakfast: 
  • South Block: Find the menu here
  • Bullfrog Bagels: Find the menu here
  • Maman: Find the menu here

Transportation: 
  1. Walk to Western Market (2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006) about 10 minutes from Hotel Hive, The River Inn, and the George Washington University Student Center.
Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Western Market 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006

9:00am EDT

Capitol Tour with Bart Houlahan (1 of 2)
FULL
Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Limited Capacity full
This is one of two events with Bart Houlahan, please only sign-up for one.

Attendees will meet outside the Longworth House Office Building to begin a tour of the U.S. Capitol with Bart Houlahan, one of the founders of B Lab.

This will be unlike any typical Capitol tour because Bart has special access as the spouse of Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan! Bart will start the tour by taking BLD Southeast attendees to visit Congresswoman Houlahan’s office. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the day-to-day work of a member of Congress before exploring the Capitol complex with Bart. Depending on access and timing, the tour may even include a ride on the Capitol subway!

Reminders:
  1. We recommend taking the Metro, as there are multiple entrances to the building and Uber drivers may not always take you to the correct entrance. If you choose to Uber, please make sure you are dropped off at the main entrance on Independence Ave. (1 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003)
  2. Arrive 30 minutes early so there is plenty of time to go through security. Please be on time, as the tour will not wait for late arrivals.
  3. Dress code: No shorts, tank tops, or jeans please. We recommend conference/business casual attire.
  4. Please review the U.S. Capitol Police's prohibited-items list before arriving. (Certain items, including knives, pepper spray, aerosols, and oversized bags, are not permitted. If the tour enters the U.S. Capitol itself, food and beverages, including water, are not permitted inside). The less you bring the better.

Transportation: 
  1. Walk to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station from Hotel Hive, The River Inn, and the George Washington University Student Center (10 min)
  2. Take the Orange line (in the direction of New Carrollton), the Silver line (in the direction of Downtown Largo), OR the Blue line (in the direction of Downtown Largo) eight stops to the Capitol South Metro Station. (20-30 min)
  3. Walk 5 minutes to the entrance of Longworth House Office Building (1 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003)

Where to meet: 
  1. After security, turn right. You will immediately see an alcove where Bart will meet the group. The tour will leave promptly at the scheduled start time, so please do not be late.

Wednesday September 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Longworth House Office Building 1 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

10:15am EDT

National Museum of African American History & Culture
FULL
Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Limited Capacity full
BLD has reserved up to 20 tickets for attendees to visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Attendees are welcome to explore the museum at their own pace alongside fellow conference-goers. Click here to visit the current exhibitions at the museum and here for the museum maps.

After your visit, be sure to check out the Sweet Home Café for lunch, located in the National Museum of African American History & Culture. There will be a special NOLA Kitchen Menu Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary. The menu celebrates African American cooking and the menu options can be found here.


Transportation: 
  1. Walk to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station from Hotel Hive, The River Inn, and the George Washington University Student Center (10 min)
  2. Take the Orange line (in the direction of New Carrollton), the Silver line (in the direction of Downtown Largo), OR the Blue line (in the direction of Downtown Largo) five stops to the Smithsonian Metro Station. (20 min)
  3. Walk 10 minutes to the entrance of National Museum of African American History and Culture (1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560)

Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
National Museum of African American History & Culture 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560

10:30am EDT

Capitol Tour with Bart Houlahan (2 of 2)
FULL
Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity full
This is one of two events with Bart Houlahan, please only sign-up for one.

Attendees will meet outside the Longworth House Office Building to begin a tour of the U.S. Capitol with Bart Houlahan, one of the founders of B Lab.

This will be unlike any typical Capitol tour because Bart has special access as the spouse of Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan! Bart will start the tour by taking BLD Southeast attendees to visit Congresswoman Houlahan’s office. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the day-to-day work of a member of Congress before exploring the Capitol complex with Bart. Depending on access and timing, the tour may even include a ride on the Capitol subway!

Reminders:
  1. We recommend taking the Metro, as there are multiple entrances to the building and Uber drivers may not always take you to the correct entrance. If you choose to Uber, please make sure you are dropped off at the main entrance on Independence Ave. (1 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003)
  2. Arrive 30 minutes early so there is plenty of time to go through security. Please be on time, as the tour will not wait for late arrivals.
  3. Dress code: No shorts, tank tops, or jeans please. We recommend conference/business casual attire.
  4. Please review the U.S. Capitol Police's prohibited-items list before arriving. (Certain items, including knives, pepper spray, aerosols, and oversized bags, are not permitted. If the tour enters the U.S. Capitol itself, food and beverages, including water, are not permitted inside). The less you bring the better.

Transportation: 
  1. Walk to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station from Hotel Hive, The River Inn, and the George Washington University Student Center (10 min)
  2. Take the Orange line (in the direction of New Carrollton), the Silver line (in the direction of Downtown Largo), OR the Blue line (in the direction of Downtown Largo) eight stops to the Capitol South Metro Station. (20-30 min)
  3. Walk 5 minutes to the entrance of Longworth House Office Building (1 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003)

Where to meet: 
  1. After security, turn right. You will immediately see an alcove where Bart will meet the group. The tour will leave promptly at the scheduled start time, so please do not be late.

Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Longworth House Office Building 1 Independence Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003

10:30am EDT

Gabs & Grabbers (Clean Up)
Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Lace up your walking shoes and join Nathan Stuck from Profitable Purpose Consulting and a local DC organization for a morning of good conversation and service. We'll gab and will grab litter along the way. It's a great chance to connect with fellow attendees, get some fresh air, and give back to the community that's hosting us. Exact meeting location to be announced soon, so stay tuned.
Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

10:30am EDT

Pamper in Provence with L'Occitane
FILLING
Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity filling up
Join L'Occitane for "Pamper in Provence," an immersive self-care experience featuring personalized, head-to-toe beauty consultations. Using an innovative skin-scanning tool, L'Occitane's team will assess each guest's unique skin and beauty needs, offering tailored recommendations across skincare, body care, hair care, and fragrance. Guests can enjoy complimentary mini-facials, customize their own bottles, hand creams, and lip balms with charms and bedazzling, and take advantage of an exclusive 20% discount on in-store products.

Service Opportunity: Guests are also invited to bring beauty items — any brand, not just L'Occitane — for recycling, including hard-to-recycle items, as part of L'Occitane's sustainability partnership with G2 Revolution.

Reminder: You will be standing throughout the majority if not all of this event. 

Transportation: 
  1. Take an Uber (10 min) from the River Inn, Hotel Hive, the George Washington University Student Center to L'Occitane (3106 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007)
  2. Walk (20 min) from the River Inn, Hotel Hive, the George Washington University Student Center to L'Occitane (3106 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007)
  3. Take the bus (10 min) from Pennsylvania Av NW & 22 St NW to M St NW & Wisconsin Av NW. The bus is not free. You can use a contactless credit or debit card, Apple Pay, or Google wallet. Walk (2 min) to L'Occitane (3106 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007)
Wednesday September 16, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT
L'Occitane en Provence 3106 M St. NW Washington DC 20007

12:30pm EDT

Lunch
Wednesday September 16, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Below are some recommendations for lunch on Wednesday, September 16th. 

Option #1: Longsworth Cafeteria
Join Bart Houlahan for lunch at the Longsworth Dining Hall. The group will get lunch and sit outside to eat and converse. Anyone is welcome, regardless if you joined Bart on a Tour of the Capitol. Expect a casual, cafeteria-style experience with lower prices.

Option #2: Sweet Home Café
Are you still at the National Museum of African American History & Culture? Head to the Sweet Home Café located in the museum for a special NOLA Kitchen Menu Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary. The menu celebrates African American cooking and the menu options can be found here.

Not currently at the museum but want to visit the Sweet Home Café? Make sure to reserve a Dine & Shop pass if you'd like to dine, but not visit the museum. 

Option #3: Compliments Only
After the community event at L’Occitane, or if you’ve just dropped your stuff at the hotel and want to grab some lunch, head over to Dupont Circle for a favorite spot: Compliments Only. You can find the menu here

Lunch is not provided by BLD, please pay for your own meal. 
Wednesday September 16, 2026 12:30pm - 1:30pm EDT
Longsworth Cafeteria, Sweet Home Café, or Compliments Only

3:00pm EDT

National Portrait Gallery Tour
Wednesday September 16, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Join fellow attendees for a free tour of the National Portrait Gallery, focused on the Highlights of the Collection. This one starts promptly at 3:00 PM, so please don't be late. Docent-led tours are subject to availability — if a docent isn't available, or if you'd simply prefer to explore on your own, free digital audio tours are also available.

Current Exhibitions at the National Gallery: https://npg.si.edu/whats-on/current-exhibitions

Transportation: 
  1. Walk to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station from Hotel Hive, The River Inn, and the George Washington University Student Center (10 min)
  2. Take the Orange line (in the direction of New Carrollton), the Silver line (in the direction of Downtown Largo), OR the Blue line (in the direction of Downtown Largo) three stops to Metro Center Metro Station (5 min)
  3. Walk to the National Portrait Gallery (8th St NW & G St NW, Washington, DC 20001) (10 min)

Wednesday September 16, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
National Portrait Gallery 8th and G Streets NW Washington, DC 20001

3:30pm EDT

Black History Walking Tour - PAID EXCURSION
Wednesday September 16, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
This is a paid excursion and limited spots are available. Please click here to pay and sign up. 

This tour will be approximately 1.5 hours long. Here's what you can expect: 
  • View one-of-a-kind murals featuring notable Black history makers like Duke Ellington, Harriet Tubman, Barack Obama, and more. 
  • Learn about the jazz and cultural renaissance that shaped today's African American successes, musicians, talents, activists and leaders. 
  • Visit U Street's vibrant Black-owned businesses and iconic attractions including the African American Civil Way Memorial and Museum. 
  • Discover historic entertainment venues like the Howard Theater and Lincoln Theater, which hosted legendary artists such as Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong.

Guests are encouraged to dress comfortably in preparation for walking a duration of about 2 hours. Tours are taken at your own risk. You are responsible for personal preparation on tours, including but not limited to bringing appropriate clothing, footwear, drinking water, and protection from weather. Tours take place in urban environments. Use designated pathways, remain with the tour group, and use caution when navigating roads, bike paths, and any obstacles in sidewalk. In the case of unexpected circumstances, such as construction or parades, follow the directions of the tour guide to get through the area safely. Minors must be accompanied by supervising adults on all tours. The booking party is responsible for sharing all information regarding the tour with any other persons included in the reservation.

Cancellation Policy: The tour proceeds rain or shine. There are no refunds for tours. In the case of inclement weather, you will be notified in advance for a reschedule date or delay in tour start time. If the tour is cancelled, you will be provided a voucher in the amount of the tour to use as a credit for a future tour booking.

At the end of the tour, those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are invited to join us at Busboys and Poets for a BIPOC Happy Hour! 

If you are someone who does not identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, but would still like to attend a Happy Hour, we invite you to join us at Urban Garden Brewhouse (DC’s First Black Woman-Owned Brewery)! There will be a table reserved for BLD attendees.  


Transportation: 
  1. Walk to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station from Hotel Hive, The River Inn, and the George Washington University Student Center (10 min)
  2. Take the Orange line (in the direction of New Carrollton), the Silver line (in the direction of Downtown Largo), OR the Blue line (in the direction of Downtown Largo) six stops to the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station (10 min)
  3. Take the Yellow line (in the direction of Greenbelt) OR the Green line (in the direction of Greenbelt) to U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro Station (8 min) 
  4. Take the 13th Street NW and U Street NW exit and walk to Ben's Chili Bowl (1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009) (2 min)




Wednesday September 16, 2026 3:30pm - 5:00pm EDT
Ben's Chili Bowl 1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009

5:00pm EDT

BIPOC Happy Hour (sponsored by B Lab!)
LIMITED
Wednesday September 16, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, you’re invited to meet up after the Black History Walking Tour at Busboys and Poets for a BIPOC Happy Hour sponsored by B Lab!

If you did not attend the tour but still identify as part of the BIPOC community, you're also invited to join the BIPOC Happy Hour! 

What to expect:
  • Private room 
  • Drinks and light snacks
  • Brief remarks (TBD) 
Metro Instructions: 
  • Attendees will choose to walk (~35 min), take an Uber (~10 min), or, preferably, take the Metro to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Attendees should depart at 6:00 PM to arrive by 6:30 PM for the start of the opening reception.
  • Walk from Busboys and Poets (2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009) to the U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo metro station
  • Take the Yellow line (in the direction of Huntington) OR the Green line (In the direction of Branch Ave) three stops to Gallery Pl-Chinatown metro station.
  • Walk from Gallery Pl-Chinatown metro station to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Sponsors
Wednesday September 16, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Busboys and Poets 2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

6:30pm EDT

Opening Reception
Wednesday September 16, 2026 6:30pm - 9:00pm EDT
Join us on the 5th floor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (in their Event Space and on their Rooftop Terrace) to kick off BLD Southeast at one of Washington, DC’s most beloved institutions.

What to expect:
  • Registration
  • Complementary food and beverage
  • Live music (TBD)
  • Networking and lively conversation!
  • While at the opening reception, take a moment to enjoy an exhibit at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library. Diasporacity will be on the same floor as the reception, but you’re welcome to wander the library to view these other open exhibits.

    Unlike previous BLDs in the Southeast, this Opening Reception will not have any session content. 

Transportation: 
  1. Walk to the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station from Hotel Hive, The River Inn, and the George Washington University Student Center (10 min)
  2. Take the Orange line (in the direction of New Carrollton), the Silver line (in the direction of Downtown Largo), OR the Blue line (in the direction of Downtown Largo) three stops to Metro Center Metro Station (5 min)
  3. Walk to the Martin Luther King Memorial Library (901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001) (3 min)
Wednesday September 16, 2026 6:30pm - 9:00pm EDT
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - 5th Floor 901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001
 
BLD Southeast 2026
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