Arlington Economic Development

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Arlington Economic Development, through BizLaunch en Español, is shining a spotlight on the entrepreneurs, organizations, and community leaders whose talent, creativity, and perseverance help make Arlington thrive. Guided by this year’s theme, Juntos Somos Más (Together We Are More), we celebrate the individuals and businesses whose contributions strengthen our economy and enrich the cultural fabric of our community.

From September 15 through October 15, communities across the nation recognize the histories, cultures, and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Here in Arlington, those contributions can be seen every day through the local businesses, nonprofit organizations, artists, and innovators who help create a vibrant and welcoming community.

The impact of Hispanic entrepreneurship continues to grow across the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanic-owned employer businesses generate more than $653 billion in annual revenue and support approximately 3.6 million jobs. Their continued growth reflects the innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit that fuel local economies and create pathways to opportunity.

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, BizLaunch en Español will spotlight Arlington businesses and organizations whose stories reflect the spirit of Juntos Somos Más, including:

1. Tang & Sizzle

2. Pan American Bakery

3. Dov & Company

4. Don Churro

5. Island Jewelry

6. IndigArt Designs

7. Sun & Honey Grazing

8. Ana Just Made It

9. El Alfa Taquería Food Truck

10. Shirlington Employment and Education center

11. ENDependence Center of Northern VA

and community partner Arlington Public Libraries. Follow along on social media to learn about their entrepreneurial journeys, community impact, and the many ways they help make Arlington stronger.

A special community event culminating the festivities will take place on October 13 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Arlington Central Library, where BizLaunch en Español and Arlington Public Libraries will host an evening celebrating entrepreneurship, culture, and community.

The event will feature Genny DeFoor, owner of Pan American Bakery, and Maria and Sofia, co-founders of Dov & Company, who will share their experiences as entrepreneurs, lessons learned along the way, and perspectives on building successful businesses while staying connected to community and culture.

We invite you to join us this Hispanic Heritage Month by supporting local Hispanic-owned businesses, attending community events, and celebrating the individuals whose creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit help Arlington thrive.

And don’t forget to join the conversation online. Follow BizLaunch en Español and BizLaunch on social media throughout the month, and like, comment on, and share the stories of the entrepreneurs and organizations helping shape our community.

Juntos Somos Más. Together We Are More.

For updates on featured businesses, upcoming events, and resources for entrepreneurs, follow BizLaunch and Arlington Economic Development throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

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One of Arlington’s favorite traditions returns this September as the 34th annual Rosslyn Jazz Fest brings an international lineup of music, culture, and community celebration to Gateway Park.

Taking place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 1-7 p.m., Rosslyn Jazz Fest has grown into Arlington’s largest free outdoor music festival, drawing audiences from across the region for an afternoon of world-class performances, food, activities, and dancing under the Rosslyn skyline. This year’s lineup showcases artists whose music spans continents and traditions, reflecting the diversity and vibrancy that define Arlington’s arts scene.

Headlining the festival is Grammy-nominated Plena Libre, one of Puerto Rico’s most celebrated musical groups and a driving force in contemporary plena and bomba music.

For more than three decades, the internationally acclaimed ensemble has captivated audiences with infectious rhythms, masterful musicianship, and high-energy performances that have made them ambassadors of Puerto Rican music around the world.

The full lineup offers an exciting mix of styles and influences:

• Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars brings the joyful spirit of New Orleans, blending jazz, blues, and vintage swing. 2024 Tiny Desk Contest Finalist

• Parlor Greens delivers soul jazz, funk, and groove-driven improvisation in the classic organ trio format.

• Dogo du Togo & The Alagaa Beat Band, a regional favorite, combines Afrobeat, psychedelic rock, and traditional West African influences into a sound uniquely their own.

Returning as emcee is local media personality Tommy McFly, whose enthusiasm and connection to the community have made him a longtime festival favorite.

More than a music festival, Rosslyn Jazz Fest is a celebration of creativity, cultural exchange, and community connection. Festival attendees can enjoy food trucks, outdoor bars, family-friendly activities, lawn games, and plenty of opportunities to relax or dance while experiencing music from around the globe. Set in Gateway Park, the festival offers the perfect blend of urban energy and outdoor gathering space in the heart of Arlington.

Events like Rosslyn Jazz Fest help showcase Arlington’s reputation as one of the nation’s most vibrant arts communities. Through partnerships between Arlington Arts and organizations such as the Rosslyn Business Improvement District, residents and visitors alike have opportunities to experience outstanding performances free of charge while exploring Arlington’s neighborhoods and public spaces.

So bring a blanket, gather some friends, and spend an afternoon discovering new sounds from Puerto Rico, New Orleans, West Africa, and beyond. Rosslyn Jazz Fest returns Saturday, Sept. 12, offering a celebration of music and culture that is uniquely Arlington.

For more information and free registration, visit the Rosslyn Jazz Fest website.

This fall, Arlington Arts is turning 2700 Art Space into an outdoor movie destination with a free film series celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Free Movie Nights at 2700 Art Space will bring together film, music, food and community on select Friday evenings from September 18 through October 16. The series features community-curated films highlighting Latin music and its powerful role in storytelling, culture and identity.

What makes the series especially Arlington is the community behind the selections. Each evening features a film chosen in collaboration with a local community curator, bringing different perspectives and connections to the monthlong celebration.

The series kicks off September 18 with We Like It Like That, curated by Leon City Sounds, exploring the history and enduring influence of Latin boogaloo.

On September 25, Arlington Food Assistance Center curates a screening of In the Heights, the vibrant film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical celebrating family, neighborhood, dreams and the Washington Heights community.

The series continues October 9 with Mambo Legends: The Music Never Ends, curated by Jim Byers of WPFW’s “Latin Flavor Classic Edition,” bringing the sounds and history of mambo to the big screen. Director Mari Keiko Gonzalez will introduce the film.

The final evening, October 16, features Disney and Pixar’s Coco, curated by Encore Stage & Studio. The family-friendly film explores music, memory and the connections between generations.

But these evenings are about more than watching a movie. Guests are encouraged to arrive at 6 p.m. to enjoy food, music and time together before each screening begins at sunset, around 7 p.m. Bring a chair or picnic blanket, find a spot and settle in for an evening under the stars.

The series also offers another opportunity to experience 2700 Art Space, Arlington Arts’ creative space at 2700 S. Nelson Street, as a place for gathering, cultural exchange and shared experiences.

Fridays, September 18–October 16 | 6–9 p.m.
2700 S. Nelson Street, Arlington, VA

September 18: We Like It Like That — Community Curator: Leon City Sounds
September 25: In the Heights — Community Curator: Arlington Food Assistance Center
October 9: Mambo Legends: The Music Never Ends — Community Curator: Jim Byers, WPFW’s “Latin Flavor Classic Edition”
October 16: Coco — Community Curator: Encore Stage & Studio

Learn more at ArlingtonArts.org. 

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For many employers, parental leave begins and ends with a policy. But while a policy may outline how much time an employee can take away from work, it often does not address the operational and human challenges that surround leave itself.

That gap is what Arlington-based startup Resilient Returns was created to solve.

Founded by Licensed Professional Counselor and working parent MJ Yost, Resilient Returns helps employers manage the full parental leave lifecycle, from planning and communication before leave to employee support and reintegration after return. The company’s leave-management platform combines structured processes for employers with resources designed to help employees navigate one of life’s most significant transitions.

Yost’s perspective comes from both her professional and personal experience. As a therapist, she spent years supporting individuals through family building, pregnancy, postpartum, loss and the transition back to work. As a working parent herself, she also understood the practical challenges of balancing a growing family with a career. Those experiences helped her identify a gap in how employers prepare for the realities of parental leave.

“We often hear from organizations that they have a great parental leave policy on paper and a plan for the baby shower, but no real system for transitioning an employee’s work before leave or supporting their return afterward,” says Yost.

The challenge is increasingly relevant for employers of all sizes. While organizations invest significant time and resources in recruiting and developing talent, many lack consistent processes for helping employees navigate major life events while remaining engaged and connected to their careers.

For small and midsize businesses in particular, getting parental leave wrong can be costly. Losing an experienced employee can create recruiting and training expenses, disrupt team operations and result in the loss of valuable institutional knowledge. For high-growth companies, the challenge can be even greater. Rapidly expanding organizations often rely on specialized talent, move quickly to meet customer demands and operate with limited redundancy. When a key employee takes leave without a structured transition plan, the effects can ripple across projects, client relationships and team performance.

Resilient Returns approaches parental leave as a business process rather than simply an HR policy. Employers can use the platform to create pre-leave coverage and communication plans, prepare managers for an employee’s transition, conduct guided return-to-work check-ins and track key milestones throughout the leave journey.

At the same time, employees receive resources designed to help them navigate the personal and professional transition into leave and back to work. That dual focus, supporting both the employer and the employee, is central to the company’s approach.

The need for that support can become especially apparent when circumstances do not go according to plan. While many employers have established processes for a typical parental leave, fewer have a clear approach for navigating unexpected challenges or complications. The way an organization responds during those moments can have a lasting impact on employee trust, engagement and retention.

For Yost, building those processes is about more than managing a period of time away from work. It is about helping employers navigate the operational realities of leave while giving employees a clearer path through the transition and back to work.

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