Heirloom (Noun);
Something of special value handed down from one generation to another.
About The Heirloom Network
, Heirloom Network was created to support women entrepreneurs and creatives at every stage of their journey. Whether you’re just starting with a side hustle, growing into a more established business, or already scaling a mature company, this network is designed to meet you where you are. Anchored by the legacy of Durham’s Black Wall Street, our mission is to create a supportive ecosystem where women have access to the knowledge, tools, and community needed to grow and scale.
With our holistic model, we honor the whole woman behind the business pairing practical guidance with personal wellness, advising, and intentional spaces for connection. Through monthly gatherings, curated resources, and a community that understands the cultural realities of women in business, we help our members build not only profitable companies but also sustainable lives.
The Heirloom Network is a continuation of a legacy of ownership, innovation, and resilience.
About The Heirloom Network
Founded within Provident1898, Durham’s entrepreneurship hub located in the historic North Carolina Mutual headquarters, The Heirloom Network is inspired by the life and leadership of Viola Turner, the first woman elected to the board of directors of North Carolina Mutual.
Members gather in the very place where Turner helped steward one of America’s most influential enterprises to study the principles of leadership, stewardship, relationship-building, and influence that shaped her remarkable career.
Through curated experiences, trusted relationships, and practical lessons drawn from Turner’s life, members build businesses designed not only to grow but to endure.
By connecting the legacy of North Carolina Mutual with the opportunities of today, The Heirloom Network carries forward Provident1898’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders who are building the future.
What We Practice
Stewardship
Building businesses that can sustain themselves and future generations.
Visibility
Positioning yourself and your work to be seen by the right people.
Relationships
Cultivating meaningful connections that create opportunities.
Access
Connecting women to trusted resources, information, and capital.
Meet Viola.
Financial Vice President
Viola Turner went from Macon, Georgia to the boardroom of NC Mutual Life Insurance, becoming the company’s first woman financial vice president. A Morris Brown College graduate, left a legacy that transformed American finance. Turner retired in 1965 after reshaping what was possible for Black women in leadership & finance.
As an Heirloom, she reminds that:
Our success is not individual. It is collective. It is generational. It is an heirloom passed down, waiting to be honored.
Meet Viola.
Financial Vice President
Viola Turner (1900–1988)In 1924, Viola Turner joined North Carolina Mutual. Four decades later, she had helped oversee a multi-million-dollar investment portfolio and became the first woman elected to the company’s board of directors.
She understood something many entrepreneurs learn the hard way:
Success is not built through hustle alone but through relationships, stewardship, strategic thinking, and access to the right information. The Heirloom Network exists to bring those principles forward for today’s women founders.
As an heirloom, her legacy reminds us:
Our success is not individual.
It is collective.
It is generational.
It is an inheritance. Waiting to be honored.
You Belong Here If…
- You’re an entrepreneur building with purpose, seeking support beyond traditional mentorship, and committed to creating impact that extends past individual success.
- You’re a patient, strategic leader willing to invest in growth, viewing business as a nurturing process that values community wisdom and long-term vision.
- You’re a first-gen business owner, social entrepreneur, or founder in tech, wellness, education, or community services – driving impact and navigating systemic barriers with intentional support.
Industry Leaders. Your Advisors.
Your
Membership
Membership Includes
Limited scholarships available at time of purchase.- Unlimited (24/7) access to Provident1898
- Customized Abaca Capital Matching Assessments
- One-on-one personalized sessions with Heirloom Advisors
- Access to Monthly Connection Events
Upcoming Events
Right Place, Right Time.
The moments that matter are waiting for you. Join us at our upcoming events and make lasting connections.
The Legacy of Black Wall Street: Viola Turner
What happens when women enter boardrooms? They help to build billion dollar businesses.
Join The Provident1898 Heirloom Network and Rho Chapter, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. for an afternoon exploring this truth through the life and legacy of Viola Turner. As NC Mutual’s first female board member, Turner helped build their investment portfolio and transformed what leadership looked like at the largest Black insurance firm in America.
This special event honors Turner’s brilliance while celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Rho Chapter, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., which she helped charter right here in Durham. Together, we’ll explore how Turner and other remarkable women from M&F Bank, Mutual Community Savings, NCCU, and Lincoln Hospital propelled Black Wall Street forward through ingenuity and intentional purpose and how their legacy continues to inspire today’s business leaders.
Our Supporters
