Hi friends,
It’s Ann Marie Guzzi & Brendan Whitaker reaching out on behalf of our newest collaboration: Levy.
We’ve been lucky to help bring something important to life: a three-month AI Upskilling program from our friends at DC Public Library—especially Chelsea Kirkland—who saw the need early and clearly.
It’s not a course or a bootcamp. It’s a supportive, peer-led community for people navigating real transitions—especially those coming out of federal roles or adjacent sectors, looking to regain momentum and build what’s next together.
We’ll be using a cohort model to build this community. And, before the pilot cohort begins in August, we’re hosting an Open House on Tuesday, July 22nd—a chance to learn more, meet others on a similar path, and see how you might want to get involved.
🗓 Tuesday, July 22
🕠 4:30–6:00 PM
📍 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library – Washington, DC
→ RSVP for the Open House
Why come to the Open House?
The Open House isn’t just an info session. It’s a gathering point for the community—local leaders, grassroots groups, hiring managers, mentors, and residents coming together to understand what’s changing and how we can respond.
Whether you’re navigating a career shift, hiring for a team, supporting a neighbor, or just trying to get a handle on what’s next—you’re invited.
More than a program, it’s the beginning of a shared support structure—one that’s designed to scale, adapt, and stay grounded in local reality.
You’ll leave with:
A clear picture of how the cohort works and how to apply
Ways to plug in—whether as a participant, a mentor, a partner, or an employer
Access to free workshops and learning opportunities this summer
New connections with people asking the same big questions you are:
Where is this all going? Who’s being left out? What can we build together?
This is an open door. If you’ve been looking for a way to get involved, stay informed, or support others—you’ll find your place here.
About the Program
August–October · In-person and hybrid
This isn’t a course. It’s a peer-driven learning community designed for people with strong skills and lived experience—especially those coming from federal roles or adjacent sectors—who want to stay relevant and build confidence in the face of change.
What you’ll do:
Build fluency with today’s most practical tools
Identify the human strengths that set you apart
Complete a final project you can share with future collaborators or employers
What makes it different:
Self-Organizing Cohort
The group sets its own learning pace, study topics, and collaboration tools—with facilitation from Levy and the DCPL team.Hands-On Mentorship
Hear from AI professionals across industries who’ll help guide your project ideas and study path.Real-World Tools, Not Theory
Use AI to personalize your learning, improve your workflows, and prepare for future interviews or transitions.Capstone Showcase
Wrap with a final project you can share with potential employers or collaborators.
→ Apply by July 24
(rolling admissions · no technical background required)
Know Someone Shaping the Region’s Future-of-Work?
As we launch this cohort, we’re also inviting a select group of leaders across workforce, economic development, and civic infrastructure to join us for a parallel session to kickoff our regional coalition building campaign called “Capital Rework.”
It’s a fast-paced strategic roundtable where attendees share sharp, 90-second updates about what they’re seeing, building, or funding. No panels. No fluff. Just clarity and alignment across the region.
If you know someone who should be in the room—agency leads, philanthropic partners, university centers, economic strategists—we’d love a warm introduction.
→ Send referrals to [email protected]
A Note From Ann Marie & Brendan
Levy is new. We’re a strategic design company focused on helping regions build what they need most—coalitions, campaigns, and public-facing infrastructure that actually serve people by delivering real outcomes.
This cohort is our first intervention. And it’s already pulling us into conversations, collaborations, and communities we feel lucky to be part of—including the chance to work deeply with one of the most trusted civic institutions in the city: DC Public Library.
This first Open House is more than a launch. It’s a commitment. And like all meaningful beginnings, it’s rooted in a simple belief: real change starts locally, with people who care enough to show up and build together.
For Levy, we’re setting our sights on working nationwide, starting up and down the East Coast, in the places that shape the national debate—from Pennsylvania, to North Carolina, to Georgia. Because nothing grassroots shifts the national trajectory more than than the day-to-day lives of the people in these places.
But none of that matters unless we get it right here, in and around the Capital. This is where our blueprint gets made.
If you’ve made it this far—thank you. For caring. For staying curious. For being part of this early network.
There’s so much more ahead—and we’re grateful to be building it with you.
Ann Marie & Brendan
Co-founders, Levy
→ RSVP to the Open House
→ Apply to the Cohort
