Ramunda Lark Young is a Connection Strategist, SocialPreneur, community advocate and passionate leader. She is the owner and co-founder of the nationally recognized, award winning bookster MahoganyBooks in Washington DC, along with her husband Derrick. At the helm of strategic partnerships, Ramunda is instrumental in building the MahoganyBooks brand and building relationships with local and national authors, celebrity writers, and community leaders. Over the years, MahoganyBooks has hosted President Barack Obama, U.S. Representative John Lewis, April Ryan, Misty Copeland, Jason Reynolds, Stacey Abrams and a host of others. Active in her community, Ramunda serves as Vice Chair of the Prince William County Human Rights Commission and is a gubernatorial appointee to the Council on Women in Virginia. Ramunda also organizes an annual “Books for the Block” summer reading campaign. To date, close to 1,000 books have been donated to youth. She has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Oprah Daily and was named to the Forbest Next 1000 list.
Extended Bio:
Ramunda Lark Young (Rah-mun-dah)
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entrepreneurship and community is a part of Ramunda Lark Young’s DNA. Inspired by her family’s work ethic and the historic Black Wall Street in her hometown, Ramunda is a dedicated entrepreneur, passionate speaker, and committed community leader.
Ramunda is owner of MahoganyBooks, a nationally recognized and award-winning, independent bookstore co-founded with her husband Derrick. The bookstore is named after their daughter, Mahogany.MahoganyBooks is the premier destination for books written for, by and about people of African descent with physical locations in the historic Anacostia community of D.C., and National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
At the helm of strategic partnerships, Ramunda is instrumental in building the MahoganyBooks brand and building relationships with local and national authors, celebrity writers, and community leaders. Over the years, MahoganyBooks has featured President Barack Obama, U.S. Representative John Lewis, April Ryan, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jason Reynolds, Misty Copeland, Gabrielle Union, and D.C.’s Mayor for Life Marion Barry among others.
Ramunda is a sought-after speaker and panelist who focuses on the crucial importance of Black books and literacy in the community. Through the Ramunda Young Group, LLC, she teaches women to build successful business relationships that increase sales and self-confidence. Her popular masterclasses equip women to sit comfortably at any table.
Active in her community, Ramunda serves as Vice Chair of the Prince William County Human Rights Commission and is a gubernatorial appointee to the Council on Women in Virginia. Ramunda also organizes an annual “Books for the Block” summer reading campaign. To date, close to 1,000 books have been donated to youth.
Ramunda was named to The Root 100, a list of the most influential African Americans in the nation, awarded Commissioner of the Year by the Virginia Association of Human Rights, a Washington Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree, and recognized by Forbes magazine as the Next 1000. Ramunda is a proud alum of Langston University and Leadership Prince William. Ramunda also is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Awards & Recognition:
- 2021 — Forbes Next 1000 List
- 2020 — Washington Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree
- 2019 – Spectrum Circle Award Winner – Innovation in Business
- 2019 – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Community Pearl Honoree (Omicron Phi Zeta Chapter)
- 2018 – The Root 100 Honoree– Top Most Influential African Americans in the nation
- 2017 – National Coalition of 100 Black Women (Prince William) Courageous Generational Leadership Award
- 2017 – Langston University Women Leadership Award
- 2016- Most Influential Women of Prince William County (Prince William Living Magazine)
- 2015 – Commissioner of the Year – Virginia Association of Human Rights
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Short Bio
Ramunda Lark Young is a Connection Strategist, SocialPreneur, community advocate and passionate leader. She is the owner and co-founder of the nationally recognized, award winning bookster MahoganyBooks in Washington DC, along with her husband Derrick. At the helm of strategic partnerships, Ramunda is instrumental in building the MahoganyBooks brand and building relationships with local and national authors, celebrity writers, and community leaders. Over the years, MahoganyBooks has hosted President Barack Obama, U.S. Representative John Lewis, April Ryan, Misty Copeland, Jason Reynolds, Stacey Abrams and a host of others. Active in her community, Ramunda serves as Vice Chair of the Prince William County Human Rights Commission and is a gubernatorial appointee to the Council on Women in Virginia. Ramunda also organizes an annual “Books for the Block” summer reading campaign. To date, close to 1,000 books have been donated to youth. She has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Oprah Daily and was named to the Forbest Next 1000 list.
Extended Bio:
Ramunda Lark Young (Rah-mun-dah)
A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entrepreneurship and community is a part of Ramunda Lark Young’s DNA. Inspired by her family’s work ethic and the historic Black Wall Street in her hometown, Ramunda is a dedicated entrepreneur, passionate speaker, and committed community leader.
Ramunda is owner of MahoganyBooks, a nationally recognized and award-winning, independent bookstore co-founded with her husband Derrick. The bookstore is named after their daughter, Mahogany.MahoganyBooks is the premier destination for books written for, by and about people of African descent with physical locations in the historic Anacostia community of D.C., and National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
At the helm of strategic partnerships, Ramunda is instrumental in building the MahoganyBooks brand and building relationships with local and national authors, celebrity writers, and community leaders. Over the years, MahoganyBooks has featured President Barack Obama, U.S. Representative John Lewis, April Ryan, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jason Reynolds, Misty Copeland, Gabrielle Union, and D.C.’s Mayor for Life Marion Barry among others.
Ramunda is a sought-after speaker and panelist who focuses on the crucial importance of Black books and literacy in the community. Through the Ramunda Young Group, LLC, she teaches women to build successful business relationships that increase sales and self-confidence. Her popular masterclasses equip women to sit comfortably at any table.
Active in her community, Ramunda serves as Vice Chair of the Prince William County Human Rights Commission and is a gubernatorial appointee to the Council on Women in Virginia. Ramunda also organizes an annual “Books for the Block” summer reading campaign. To date, close to 1,000 books have been donated to youth.
Ramunda was named to The Root 100, a list of the most influential African Americans in the nation, awarded Commissioner of the Year by the Virginia Association of Human Rights, a Washington Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree, and recognized by Forbes magazine as the Next 1000. Ramunda is a proud alum of Langston University and Leadership Prince William. Ramunda also is also a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Awards & Recognition:
- 2021 — Forbes Next 1000 List
- 2020 — Washington Business Journal Women Who Mean Business Honoree
- 2019 – Spectrum Circle Award Winner – Innovation in Business
- 2019 – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Community Pearl Honoree (Omicron Phi Zeta Chapter)
- 2018 – The Root 100 Honoree– Top Most Influential African Americans in the nation
- 2017 – National Coalition of 100 Black Women (Prince William) Courageous Generational Leadership Award
- 2017 – Langston University Women Leadership Award
- 2016- Most Influential Women of Prince William County (Prince William Living Magazine)
- 2015 – Commissioner of the Year – Virginia Association of Human Rights