Mercatus Mini Mag My People's Market Volume 2 by Mercatus PDX

MY PEOPLEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MARKET VOLUME 2

MERCATUS MINI MAG VOLUME 2

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Note from the MPM team P

ortland is home to many thriving, creative communities of color. My People’s Market, launched in 2017, is the collaborative vision of Prosper Portland and Travel Portland for elevating the voices of entrepreneurs of color. Prosper Portland’s Mercatus platform, an integral component of the My Peoples Market’s initial development, seek to uplift, connect, and expose entrepreneurs of color to new markets. Both programs use storytelling to build relationships between entrepreneurs and with potential buyers. Prosper Portland is proud to co-sponsor this effort to showcase the city’s remarkable entrepreneurs and small business owners of color, further demonstrating its commitment to build an equitable, inclusive economy that serves all of Portland’s communities. “We’re still working through the parts of who we’ve been as an agency that need to be undone,” says Tory Campbell, the agency’s manager of entrepreneurship and community economic development. “But this new approach allows what we are trying to be shine through.” The African American community has a rich history linked to the site of this year’s event, at the edge of the Albina district. With a theme of “Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Reimagining the Future,” the June Market will include an on-site exhibit curated with support from Oregon Black Pioneers which will examine the history of the area and the enduring role Black-owned businesses have played in Portland’s economy. “While the voices of community are never our story to tell, we knew this marketplace was meant to be after receiving overwhelming community feedback expressing collective sentiments of, ‘Wow, I didn’t know I needed this in Portland, and please give me more!’” comments Michelle Comer, community relations manager at Travel Portland and creative lead on the My People’s Market event.

Prosper Portland and Travel Portland see the marketplace as an opportunity to take a collective moment and celebrate our community as it exists today, while also honoring those legendary trailblazers, community leaders, and business owners whose stories may not have been told. “For the vendors, My People’s Market is an important point on the path of scaling their businesses and connecting with new sectors like the travel industry. For the community, the market tells a story of today’s diverse makers and culture in Portland—an intersecting and ever-evolving narrative of place, race and Portland’s future identity,” notes Tamara Kennedy-Hill, vice president of community relations for Travel Portland. Additional support for My People’s Market comes from YGB Portland, Energy Trust of Oregon, Port of Portland, NW Natural, Kaiser, and TriMet. A full list of participating vendors is posted at www.mercatuspdx.com/ mypeoplesmarket/.

“My People’s Market couldn’t have happened 10 years ago,” says Prosper Portland project coordinator Amanda Park. “For Prosper Portland and Travel Portland, it’s a new era, one that’s very collaborative and community-oriented .” We invite you to read on and discover the stories of entrepreneurs, artists and community groups who are at the forefront of carving out an inclusive future for Portland.

HAB Sauce By Nicole Carmella Buchanan Photography: Joshua James Huff

n 2016, David van Overeem and his wife, Libby, prepared for the arrival of their daughter. “We were thinking about who would take care of our daughter when we were working,” he says. “We wanted good child care.” After careful consideration, van Overeem decided to quit his day job to be a stay-at-home dad. The couple spent the next several months at home with their new baby, Valencia. “It was beautiful,” says van Overeem. “We were barbecuing [and] making sauces. I

was still deciding what I was going to do next and was considering going back to school to be a coder.” But when the day came to sign up for class, van Overeem changed his mind. “I pictured myself at a desk and realized I couldn’t do it,” he says. Instead, he began thinking seriously about developing his own hot sauce line and experimenting with recipes. “I’ve been a creative person my whole life,” he says. “I realized, between Libby and I, we could do it all ourselves.”

“It’s amazing how you taste something and it reminds you of a time and place in your life. It’s that nostalgia, it brings you back. I wanted to share it with my family.” — David van Overeem

While developing the sauces that would become his four signature blends, van Overeem was inspired by memories of his mother who passed away when he was 12. “When I cook, I’m trying to get those memories back from when I was visiting my grandma with my mom,” he says. “She was a Latina, so we had Mexican food all the time on that side of the family. It’s amazing how you taste something and it reminds you of a time and place in your life.”

After taking a year to prepare his hot sauce line, HAB Sauce, for market, van Overeem launched the products in January 2018. Today, HAB Sauce is offered by four local retailers and online. “I’m trying to ease into it and not grow too fast,” he says. In the meantime, he continues to pursue other creative outlets including DJing part-time under the name DJ Klavical, making music with local bands, and working as a commission artist. “I couldn’t have done any of this without my family’s support.”

Brown Sugar Cookie Company and Catering By Bruce Poinsette Photography: Cervante Pope

ision, drive, and creativity have taken Sakile Mitchell from line cook to emerging big player in Portland’s culinary scene in a matter of months. With unique flavors like the double chocolate salted caramel brownie and her signature, friendly customer service, Mitchell’s Brown Sugar Cookie Company has already left an impression on the city. “People will see me on the street and recognize me [and say,] ‘You’re the cookie lady!’” says Mitchell. “I appre-

ciate the money and everything,” she continues. “But to know that my name is getting out there for cooking food, which is what I’ve always wanted to do, that makes me really happy.” Brown Sugar Cookie Company debuted in November 2017 at My People’s Market. The business sells decadent, gourmet cookies with unique flavors every season at local festivals and markets. Past cookie offerings include a vegan double chocolate mole, sweet avocado, and rich s’mores brownies.

“People will see me on the street and recognize me. ‘You’re the cookie lady!’ I appreciate the money and everything, but to know that my name is getting out there for cooking food, which is what I’ve always wanted to do, that makes me really happy.” — Sakile Mitchell

Brown Sugar Cookie Company also offers delivery and catering options to ensure their treats are enjoyed by as many people as possible. Mitchell spent seven years working as a line cook and while the experience helped her grow her craft, she realized she needed more business development skills before she could launch her own brand. Since starting Brown Sugar Cookie Company, she has worked with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO) and Mercy Corps Northwest to develop fundamental business skills and build both personal and business credit. “They’ve just given me lots of wisdom, help, and mentorship,” she says. “I did not know how much I needed it until I needed it.”

Mitchell has rapidly built a customer base, and says she hopes to open a storefront in 2019 and expand the business from there. “I want to make it into a franchise, but still keep the authenticity,” she says. “I want this to be big!”

“The experience is very cozy, very welcoming, very loving, and warm,” Mitchell says of running her own business. “I didn’t see a lot of that in the places I worked [before.]” 5

Soapbox Theory By Jennifer Moore Photography: Cervante Pope

“

My plan was to get a job as an engineer, pay off my student loans, retire, and teach for awhile,” Kayin Talton Davis says. “It didn’t quite happen that way.” Talton Davis was born in Portland and in 2005, she started Soapbox Theory—a business producing greeting cards, t-shirts, accessories, home décor, and more featuring positive images of Black culture. But before that, she envisioned a career in mechanical engineering. “There was a lack of people who looked like me. Over the course of [earning my mechanical engineering] degree, I had two classes with another

Black woman in them.” On a middle school field trip, Talton Davis met a woman who made prosthetic limbs for children, and became inspired to learn how to use STEM to make kids feel better and more represented where they were not. However, during her college years, Talton Davis started Soapbox Theory as hobby and outlet. “I missed doing a lot more of the creative stuff,” she says of her decision to become an artsy entrepreneur. “I wanted to feel represented and heard. When somebody’s on their soapbox, they’re talking to the world and to anybody who [will] listen. Soapbox Theory is that ‘anybody.’”

“With Soapbox Theory, I wanted to make sure that all the way from super light to very dark skin tones were covered, especially because we’re not all one shade. There is no one way to be Black.” — Kayin Talton Davis

“[Everyone] has something to say, and that forum isn’t limited to speaking,” she says. “For some people, it’s easier for them to write, wear a t-shirt, whatever it is to get their message across.”

wanted to make sure that all the way from super light to very dark [skin tones were] covered, especially because we’re not all one shade. There is no one way to be Black.”

One of Soapbox Theory’s most popular items is their line of lunch boxes featuring Black boys and girls of various shades as astronauts, cowboys, superheroes, and even Portland icon, Nikki Brown Clown. “When I wanted to go get a card for somebody [before starting my business,] sometimes it just wasn’t really my personality or the skin tones [weren’t] quite for me,” she says. “[With Soapbox Theory,] I

Looking forward, Talton Davis wants her own brick-and-mortar boutique and for national retailers like Target to carry her brand. In addition to continuing to build her product line, Talton Davis would like to make children’s bedding, and, perhaps, a collection of formal dinnerware.

Project Object By Nicole Carmella Buchanan Photography: Kim Nguyen

hen T Ngu couldn’t find the jewelry she was looking for, she decided to make the pieces she wanted to wear: clean designs reflecting the beauty around her. “There wasn’t a lot of minimalist jewelry out there—something you can wear everyday that looks great on pretty much anyone,” she says. Ngu launched her line, Upper Metal Class, in 2010, and after mere months on the scene, bloggers and buyers alike fell in love with her work. Ngu suddenly found herself working through the night to keep up with de-

mand, so she quit her day job to focus on her blossoming business instead. By April 2017, Ngu jumped on an opportunity to open a storefront on NE Sandy Boulevard. Project Object is a shop that features work by women, people of color, and LGBTQ makers. Inside its peach exterior is a beautiful curation of art, clothing, home and paper goods, and Ngu’s own designs. Ten percent of the store’s revenue is donated each month, and Ngu says she finds joy in helping to support others rather than building her own

“There is no purpose if you’re not able to share what you have, what you know, or what you do with others. Those people impacted our lives, and I hope that I can do that for others in some way.” — T Ngu

wealth. Project Object also acts as a pop-up event space and gallery. Ngu often collaborates with local businesses like Via Raíz, and last year jointly threw a Día de los Muertos benefit where all proceeds were donated to emergency earthquake relief. Ngu’s own family was forced to flee Vietnam because of war and they left everything behind in search of safety. While crammed on a boat crossing the ocean, they endured an encounter with pirates, and landed in a Hong Kong refugee camp. They were eventually sponsored by an Ameri-

can family, and headed to Minnesota where Ngu was born. Ngu’s mother was able to help the rest of her family relocate and, at one point, shared her home with 12 other family members. Ngu says the lessons she learned from her mother are a source of where her dedication to giving back comes from. “There is no purpose if you’re not able to share what you have, what you know, or what you do with others,” she says. “Those people impacted our lives, and I hope that I can do that for others in some way.”

Guillen Family Wines By Diego Díaz

esús Guillén is a passionate crafter, artist, and head of Guillén Family Wines—one of the only Latinx-owned wine labels in the United States. Although Guillén began his career as a computer systems engineer in his hometown of Ciudad Jiménez in northern México, a visit to Oregon in 2002 sparked a career change. At the time, his father worked as a vineyard manager at White Rose Estate Winery and Guillén says he quickly fell in love with the state’s beautiful landscape and “winemaking lifestyle.” He was determined to also immerse himself in the world of wine.

To reach his goal, Guillén juggled working hard at the vineyard year-round while studying English at Chemeketa Community College in Salem. By the summer of 2006, scorching heat waves heavily damaged about 1,300 plants at a nearby vineyard, but Guillén saw an opportunity to salvage the fruit just as the vineyard was preparing to throw them away. After carefully picking the grapes and cultivating a batch of pinot noir, the aspiring winemaker tasted his experiment and knew he had made it; he was finally a winemaker.

“When you taste a complex wine, you can smell the spices, the flowers, the fruit, and in that moment, you get transported to a memorable experience. You can feel the smells and flavors and the time you spent with family and friends. When you can connect emotionally with the wine, that is what I call a transcendent moment.” — Jesús Guillén

Guillén was promoted to head winemaker at White Rose Estate in 2008 and he received his first accolades that same year. By 2009, the Wine Advocate ranked one of Guillén’s pinot noirs at 96, tying for the highest score ever attributed to an Oregon pinot noir. Just over a decade later, Guillén opted to establish his own label, Guillén Family Wines, in 2013. Today, Guillén Family Wines is a thriving, family-owned business that produces nearly 1,000 cases per year. Staying true to his own roots, all Guillén Family Wines’ pinot noirs are

named after family members. In 2017, Guillén’s work as a winemaker was featured in the documentary, Red, White, and Black alongside other prominent minority winemakers. “When you taste a complex wine, you can smell the spices, the flowers, the fruit, and in that moment, you get transported to a memorable experience,” he says. “You can feel the smells and flavors and the time you spent with family and friends. When you can connect emotionally with the wine, that is what I call a transcendent moment.”

Po’Shines By Bruce Poinsette Photography: Intisar Abioto

s the founder of Po’Shines restaurant, a soul food eatery in North Portland’s Kenton neighborhood, Pastor E.D. Mondainé uses the power of food to create unforgettable experiences for his customers and to empower his community by unapologetically promoting Black culture in a predominantly white Portland. In 1988, Mondainé left his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri for Portland and founded the Celebration Tabernacle Church. At that time, Mondainé says the Kenton neighborhood had little to

no Black business presence and the neighborhood was sorely neglected. “Wherever I am,” he says, “I want to make a positive difference so that my culture is celebrated and the God that I serve is glorified.” Seeing that many churchgoers in his congregation lacked adequate opportunities to utilize their talents, Mondainé started Girl & Guy Fridays in 1992 next to the church to offer secretarial services and a café to the community. The venture grew into

“We brought a change into Kenton that’s undeniable, we had a great effect on the upward mobility on this community, and that makes me very, very proud.” – Pastor E.D. Mondaine

a full-fledged business known as Fridays Espresso, and after a brief experiment in antique sales, eventually became Po’Shines. Named after Cecil “PoShine” Wooden, a late deacon who advocated for soul food and played a key role in developing the business, the restaurant has become a staple in the Black community. Po’Shines is celebrated for their catfish, wall-to-wall Black art, and is considered a gem of Kenton. The business also has two locations in the Moda Center where it is the longest-tenured food vendor, a catering location that includes a culinary school on Martin Luther King Jr.

Boulevard, and a training program called Teach Me To Fish that helps people further develop skills and build their careers. Looking ahead, Mondainé plans to open a Po’Shines location in the Lloyd Center and eventually will launch a dinner theater called the Po’Room. He takes immense pride in the handson, positive impact Po’Shines has had on the Kenton neighborhood. “We brought a change into Kenton that’s undeniable,” he says. “We had a great effect on the upward mobility on this community, and that makes me very, very proud.”

Letra Chueca By Emilly Prado Photography: Cervante Pope

ndigo ink coats Daniela del Mar’s hands; layers of blush pink cover Camila Araya Pérez’s. The two, co-owners of bilingual letterpress outfit Letra Chueca, are showcasing their work at an art show fundraiser to defend DACA. “I dream her fire stays lit,” “Revolution,” and “Mamá Donna” are just three phrases of hundreds they’ve imprinted onto pieces of cardstock. As attendees jot down their requests, a single piece of paper explains Letra Chueca’s collective messages in bold print: “We have names and these are our dreams.” Del Mar and Araya Pérez say they dreamed of opening a bilingual press together almost immediately after they met. Del Mar was fervently

working on a project late one evening in 2012 at Em Space—a now-defunct letterpress and book arts studio in Southeast Portland—and she immediately perked up when she heard Araya Pérez ask for help with a machine. Del Mar, who grew up in Tennessee in a multigenerational Chilean and Austrian immigrant household, placed Araya Pérez’s accent as Chilean and discovered she had come to the United States from Chile only a few years prior. The pair became fast friends and bonded over their shared culture and love for the antique art of letterpress. One year later, they spontaneously jumped at a fortuitous Craigslist deal that equipped them with the coplete

“It’s really not just about what I call ‘precious printing,’ but using print more as a mode of empowerment.” The results of their knack for printing and commitment to, “as much representation as possible for Latinx, queer, and feminist voices.” — Daniela del Mar letterpress starter kit necessary to launch Letra Chueca. “I decided to do printing because sometimes it’s really hard for me to speak,” says Araya Pérez. “If I can print it, I don’t need to speak it.” Araya Pérez, originally from Santiago, Chile, spent the first five years of her life living under dictatorship. She witnessed firsthand its lingering effects, including a fear of honesty, and engaged printmaking as a tool to make her voice heard. While del Mar says she was originally interested in the techniques and craft of letterpress, she says the work now is about much more. “That’s how Camila has influenced me. It’s really

not just about what I call ‘precious printing,’ but using print more as a mode of empowerment.” The results of their knack for printing and commitment to “as much representation as possible for Latinx, queer, and feminist voices,” are vivid, unique, and often witty bilingual prints. While the duo has plans underway to launch an online shop, they also stay busy by tabling at community events (typically with an interactive element), doing product design for Latinx-owned businesses at the Portland Mercado, and designing and producing books for local groups like the Nat Turner Project. “We really believe in our craft and its capacity to effect social change,” says del Mar.

Story Tellers M

y People’s Market began as an idea shared over coffee: an event where like-minded individuals who reflect Portland’s complexity and talent could come together and make a positive impact on the city. Travel Portland’s Tamara Kennedy-Hill, Vice President of Diversity and Community Relations, and Michelle Comer, Community

the community,” says Tamara. My People’s Market is a space where entrepreneurs of color can promote, connect and share stories with one and another. As Michelle puts it, “My People’s Market is meant to impact the community positively. Our community is diverse with amazing stories to tell, and we make sure [they’re] told.” My People’s Market continues to expose local business owners to new markets while encouraging diverse, young entrepreneurs that Portland is a place where creators of all backgrounds can thrive.

Relations Manager, are passionate about their beloved home. In creating My People’s Market, they wanted to embody local values of place, sustainability, creativity and culture to showcase how people live out their passions in Portland. “It is about being proactive and intentional about connecting and sharing the voices of 16

For full stories and photos visit: travelportland.com

“Latino Network married advocacy together with community services in a way that gives people tools to transform their own lives and self-determine their own lives. We really want people to feel agency and their own power. It’s the kind of agency I would have loved to have had access to as a young kid growing up here.” — Carmen Rubio, Executive Director of Latino Network

“Food is a way to introduce people to other cultures. Don’t just stay in downtown Portland. In the Jade District, I’m learning about new foods and culture just by getting outside of my own little bubble. Portland is still a very white city, as we all know, but it’s changing. I’ve seen changes in the time that I’ve lived here.” — Jessica Asai, Civil Rights Attorney at Oregon Health Science University

Portland Stories

Through storytelling, Travel Portland honors history and looks to the future through the lens of some of Portland’s most resilient and impactful leaders of color. Photography: Intisar Abioto, Evan James Atwood, Joshua James Huff & Vy Pham

“The Memorial Coliseum, the I-5 freeway and a bunch of vacant land was the home of the black population when I was a youngster. They owned grocery stores, dry cleaners, barbershops and butcher shops. That was pretty commonplace. It’s not commonplace today. Soul District is a project to create a place again that’s focused on black people to recreate something that we had when I was a kid 50 years ago.” — Carl Talton, President of Black Investment Corporation for Economic Progress Inc. (BICEP)

“For every Native man you see walking, it’s because of the choices that our ancestors made that they’re here. They tried to extinct the bison, but the bison is here and we’re still here. Our people are resilient. I hope that by me being here, other younger generations will say ‘Hey, this is who we are, and we can do more, because we are more.” — Loretta Guzman (Shoshone/ Bannock), Owner of Bison Coffeehouse

The Radical Brand Lab By Cervante Pope Photography: Intisar Abioto

abulousness isn’t a trait that comes easily to most people, but Jordan Hayles, creative director at The Radical Brand Lab, isn’t most people. “I’m always fabulous on accident,” she says. As a brand strategist, Hayles helps individuals and businesses streamline their public personas into a singular, complete package. “Knowing how to create brand messages that don’t just spread but sell is one of the most important things for getting a startup off the ground,” Hayles says. She knows because she’s lived through the experience, first hand.

After deciding not to go to medical school, Hayles led a language learning startup and managed a global sales team. But nothing was really working. After suffering a major accident, she realized that she could leverage her many skills to help other women business owners develop and grow. “I’m a damn good salesperson. I’m an ideas person. I’m a storyteller,” she says. “And if you can create real trust and loyalty with those skills, then everybody wins.” In 2015, Hayles started The Radical Brand Lab, a collective of radical-

“I’m a damn good salesperson and I sell because of the stories I tell and the loyalty I create with those stories.” — Jordan Hayles

ly-savvy thinkers and doers who help companies foster their creativity, brand messaging and growth. As the website explains, Radical Brand Lab is “a collective of brand strategists, artists, intuitives, inventors, and people who are fiercely human.” There’s also an “intuitive-in-residence,” a position designated to create things the world doesn’t know it needs yet, and leads their signature program, “Unusual Trainings (that should be usual).”

Several blunt comedic bits about periods, vaginas, and uteruses during stand-up sets led her to create vagina-centric think tank, Period Petty. She sees Period Petty as a physical space to find resources for all things vagina and vagina-related, including information about menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. It also provides a community for making open conversation and complaints without shame.

Beyond branding, Hayles works on comedic writing. “That’s where you’ll see a lot of my radical energy come out,” she says. “I want to curse and I want to tell more of the truth that people are not telling.”

Hayles blends her comedic and creative ingenuity into her forthcoming book, Your Brand is Boring—a how-to guide on the concept of brands, how to break rules in the industry, and how to engage with others effectively and authentically.

Cultural Blends By Nicole Carmella Buchanan Photography: Joshua James Huff

treetwear and solidarity may not sound inherently related, but Troy Douglass, creative and strategic mind behind the brand Cultural Blends, is set on seeing that change. Cultural Blends was founded in 2011 by Douglass, who grew up in Lake Oswego, and was an homage to his own multi-ethnic heritage. The idea was born out of his experiences navigating microaggressions and racism, and

a desire to dismantle both through visual arts. “I’ve always wanted to do good,” Douglass says. Cultural Blends offers a variety of products from T-shirts and hoodies to growlers and phone cases, but all are created with authenticity and a sense of common ground. “I always feel like money will come—it’s a byproduct of what you put in,” he says. “Whatever you’re making, if it is speaking to your soul and who you are, the product will sell itself.” Douglass says many of his designs have meaning beyond aesthetics and one of his most popular designs is a call for cohesion: a trio of license plates from Washington, Oregon, and California that are displayed with “The Best Coast” stamped across. “Oregon has this love/hate relationship with California, but we make up the West Coast,” he says. “It gives people in the Northwest representation [and unity.]”

“I always feel like money will come—it’s a byproduct of what you put in. Whatever you’re making, if it is speaking to your soul and who you are, the product will sell itself.” — Troy Douglass

Douglass, an athlete and loyal basketball fan, also creates many designs that give nod to the Portland Trail Blazers. Fittingly, the brand’s first big break came during the 2014 NBA playoffs when Damian Lillard wore Cultural Blends’ iconic “1977” snapback. The brand’s recognition also gained another boost in 2015 after Snoop Dogg reposted a photoshopped image of him wearing “The Best Coast” T-shirt on social media.

Beyond delivering cutting edge designs, Cultural Blends regularly gives back to local nonprofits to further their ethos and impact. In direct response to the Eagle Creek Fire, Douglass is developing a line of branded air fresheners and will donate 50 percent of the proceeds to support restoration efforts. “When the fires happened last year I was devastated,” he says. “This will give people a way to help.”

Kunu Bearchum By Cervante Pope Photography: Joshua James Huff

unu Bearchum, of Northern Cheyenne and Ho-chunk Nations, raps under the moniker of STRYK-9 but assures his rhymes aren’t as astringent as the name implies. “I want to convey that 1), Native Americans are still here and 2), you’re going to respect us,” he says. “We have a voice and we’re not the Indians in teepees like you think we are.” Bearchum was born in Eugene, Oregon, and credits his love for hip-hop to his family and the Bay Area rappers he grew up listening to. He attended

school with a predominantly white student body and staff in Eugene, where Bearchum was frequently kicked out of class for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. “I was different and the system around me didn’t like that. We were all activists,” he says of his family and the tight-knit Native community. “I was a nuisance, but I had a lot of support. I knew I was doing the right thing.” In elementary school, Bearchum lost his father. On a recent track called “Byron’s Song,” he opens up about

“We have always had our oral history and storytelling ability. I want to make music that shows that.” — Kunu Bearchum

his grief. “My dad’s name was Byron. He was murdered by the cops,” he says. “The song is connecting [him] and my son. It’s [a track] that you really have to sit down and listen to.” At eight, Bearchum moved to New Mexico with his mother. After graduating, Bearchum reconnected with family in Oregon. While enrolled in Portland Community College’s multimedia program, he honed in on his craft, not just on the mic, but behind the camera and on the computer as well. He learned how to film and edit his own music videos and do graphic design—all of which he does now for clients as a freelancer.

and nutrition science with traditional ecological knowledge. “Where I’m at now is an evolution of what I feel like I should be putting into the world,” he says. “[Native Americans have] always had our oral history and storytelling ability. I want to make music that shows that.”

Bearchum dreams of creating an entirely Native-focused multimedia broadcast and distribution company like Vice or Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. In the meantime, he’s working hard to launch a STEM summer camp for middle school-aged Native students that marries biomedical 23

Choi’s Kimchi By Amanda Park Photography: Kim Nguyen

imchi is touted as a superfood found at posh eateries, but for Korean people, the traditional dish goes back centuries. Chong Choi, owner of Choi’s Kimchi, grew up in Korea and relishes the time she spent with her mother learning to make the classic dish. Choi immigrated to the United States with her siblings as a young adult, . While frequenting the Portland Farmers Market, she was reminded of days in Korea, shopping at open-air

markets, and seeing buckets of electric red kimchi. No one sold kimchi at the farmers market, and grocery stores didn’t offer local, satisfactory options. “You can see [the] vibrancy and flavor of kimchi in its color before you even taste it,” Choi says. “I knew I could do better than the kimchi I saw in the markets.” With the help of her son Matt, Choi secured a stall at the Portland Farmers Market in 2011. She remembers the details of their first day distinctly:

“My dream is and has always been to make good kimchi. Matt and I are still selling at the Farmer’s Market, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing some sample my kimchi for the first time.” — Chong Choi

150 jars of eagerly-prepared kimchi sold out by noon. Choi and her son didn’t look back. “When you’re an immigrant or person of color, your chances are limited so you say yes to everything,” says Matt. “When you say yes enough times, a few of those things will land into something bigger. That’s what we did.” Soon after, a boutique grocery store offered to carry their products. Unlike farmers markets, wholesalers required product testing and labeling. The Chois were shocked when the first round of testing, however, indicated the kimchi didn’t pass.

to become kimchi.” Choi was right—in later tests, the kimchi readily passed. Today, Choi’s Kimchi is prepared in two production facilities and offers several kimchi varieties in addition to sauces and private-label fermented vegetables. Choi says, “My dream is, and has always been, to make good kimchi. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing [someone] sample my kimchi for the first time.”

Matt immediately started questioning their viability, but Choi didn’t believe the results. The fermented cabbage dish was generally unknown to the public, so she insisted the product be re-tested, not at the pre-fermentation stage when, she says, “that is just a jar of vegetables,” but after it had settled. “Give the kimchi time 25

Kiriko Made By Bruce Poinsette Photography: Kim Nguyen

iriko Made is a welcome respite in a world too often dictated by fast-moving trends and constant competition. Since opening in 2013, the Portland brand and boutique has gained a strong following by promoting collaboration and a no-waste policy that ensures every bit of fabric they come across is fully utilized. “A lot of [our] vintage fabrics have flaws,” says founder Katsu Tanaka. “We value that. We patch on top of that and make it a one-of-a-kind

product.” As a fashion industry veteran originally from Japan, Tanaka says he grew increasingly frustrated with the fast-fashion trend. Fast fashion enables cheap, mass-production, he maintains, and too often relies on celebrity endorsements for perceived value rather than true value and quality. Kiriko counters this trend by combining coveted, decades-old Japanese

“A lot of [our] vintage fabrics have flaws. We value that. We patch on top of that and make it a one-of-a-kind product.” — Katsu Tanaka

fabrics and textiles with modern Western styles to create everything from jackets and pocket squares to pillow cases and kimonos. Throughout the year, Kiriko Made also hosts boro (“patched” in Japanese) workshops where customers can bring in their worn clothes, stitch them together with Kiriko’s fabrics, and create something fresh but, more importantly, sustainable.

he pays that support forward as the founder of Uplift PDX, an organization that serves the needs of local Japanese entrepreneurs, because he wants everyone to get the help they need to share in the success of Portland’s craft-maker business community. In Tanaka’s words, “Support from the city is the reason we can exist.”

Another aspect of Kiriko Made’s success stems from a commitment to collaboration. “Nationally, there’s a misconception that in order to succeed, you have to compete and win,” Tanaka says. “They’re always competing and they’re getting tired. It’s not healthy.” Whether sharing tips, partnering with other small businesses, or working with local organizations, Tanaka says mutual community support is the key to prosperity. In fact, 27

Y.G.B. By Emilly Prado Photography: Intisar Abioto

n the summer of 2015, a group of creatives of color came together to launch Y.G.B. (Young Gifted and Black/Brown) as an intentional community space by and for people of color. Y.G.B. quickly grew to a team of six, the sweat-drenched dance parties with live performances and DJs swept Portland by surprise and, soon enough, more and more people showed up each month to various club venues eager to gather at the intersections of entertainment, art, accessibility, and social justice. Natalie Figueroa, a Chicago-born Boricua, flexed her organizational chops to help collaborate and make the parties happen since day one, but in the years since originally launching, Y.G.B. has naturally shifted its focus away from nightlife and more towards uplifting youth.

“Because everybody has been working really hard to build community, a lot of the folks who were part of the original [group including Lamar LeRoy, Akela Jaffi, Vaughn Kimmons, and Renée Lopez] are glowing up,” she says proudly. And although 28

Figueroa moved back to Chicago in August of 2017, she continues to spend time in Portland for twoweek-stretches quarterly. While many of the collective’s members have moved on to focus on their blossoming creative endeavors, Y.G.B. has thrived with the addition of support from RaShaunda Brooks and Kristen Camacho who bring strengths in organization, curation, and fundraising. Now they’re working on initiatives like Art Saved My Life, Y.G.A. (Young Gifted Artists), and many more opportunities for cross-country collaborations in music and film. “We’re able to build out much more intricate programming with resources, so that’s profound for us,” Figueroa says. “That’s where my heart lies in community work.”

JUNE 30TH, 2018 - 12:00-8:00PM ROSE QUARTER COMMONS

LINEUP HOSTED BY:

DJ SETS BY:

CARLOS THE ROLLERBLADER {E}MPRESS

JERRY BANDITO CASUAL AZTEC (CLUB CULO)

PERFORMANCES BY:

BLOSSOM SAEEDA WRIGHT STRYK-9 AND 2 8 THA NATIVE OF BURIAL GROUND SOCIETY FOUNTAINE GROOVIN HIGH STEPPERS A BEAT HAPPENING SHOWCASE NEW EXPRESSIVE WORKS SHOWCASE ACTIVITIES BY:

YOGA WITH BRE DEPRIEST FACE PAINTING WITH MYSTIQUES FANCY FACES LIVE MURAL CREATED BY MORPHEUS YOUTH PROJECT READING CORNER WITH SHALANDA SIMS MINI-PLAYS WITH WORLD STAGE THEATER MY PEOPLES CARDIO LED BY TRAINER TYRA VILLAGE VIBES PODCAST Lineup curated by Y.G.B. My Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market comes from Travel Portland, Prosper Portland, Y.G.B. Portland, Energy Trust of Oregon, Port of Portland, NW Natural, Kaiser, and TriMet. Full event details: www.mercatuspdx.com/mypeoplesmarket 29

Mercatus Business Directory Elevating and connecting entrepreneurs of color By amplifying the visibility of a growing network of Portland’s entrepreneurial landscape, Mercatus connects the city and a wider market with local enclaves of talent, businesses and goods from ethnically, racially and culturally diverse entrepreneurs. View online: mercatuspdx.com/directory

CONSUMER PRODUCTS

2DYE4CLOTHING Sustainable Denim Brand for Women 2dye4clothing.com

ECOBOTS Robot air plant holders for sustainability ecobotsworld.com

HORIZING UP PRINTING Original design & custom screen printing horizingup.com

AFROCENTRIC ESSENTIALS Black Culture / Body Care Products afrocentricscents@gmail.com

ES SUPER FUN Paper Goods & More! essuperfun.com

IGNORANT REFLECTIONS Provocative Critical Thinking Clothing Brand ignorantreflections@gmail.com

AMAREE & REESE JEWELRY Handcrafted Metal & Stone Jewelry amareeandreese.com

GOUMIKIDS Sustainably designed kids clothing line goumikids.com

INDIGENOUS COME UP Native pop-up for arts, crafts, jewelry indigenouscomeup.wixsite.com/website

AMRAPALI, LLC Boutique Indian Apparel, Jewelry & Handcrafts shopamrapali.com

GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY Joyful stationary and gifts graphicanthology.com

JASMINE GIFTSHOP Asian wearables and keepsakes jasminegiftshop1@gmail.com

ATTIC JOURNALS Upcycled books repurposed atticjournals.com BELLE HAIR BOBBLES Unique elastic hair ties bellehairbobbles@gmail.com

JESSICA NECOR STUDIO GREEN BOX Monthly Curated Cannabis Subscription Club Accessories made with original designs jessicanecor.studio pdxgreenbox.com KATIE M MUDD CERAMICS GREEN HOP Dispensary combining Hip-hop and Cannabis Simple, elegant ceramics katiemmudd.com gogreenhop.com

BLACKSHEEPMADE Small batch, handmade fiber goods blacksheepmade.com

GREENHAUS GALLERY + BOUTIQUE Art Gallery and Shop greenHAUSgallery.com

KIRIKO MADE Timeline Japanese textiles turned apparel kirikomade.com

CHOCOLATE DOPE APPAREL Cannabis-centric merchandise and products chocolatedopeapparel.com

HANDMADE BY SENG Handmade cloth dolls and patches handmadebyseng@gmail.com

LATINA’S STYLE OF ELEGANCE Fashion, handbags and accessories latinasstyleofelegance.com

CREATIONS FOR CONTINUITY Native art and community collective creationsforcontinuity.com

HEARTY HIPPO Illustrations lasered engraved into wearables christinamarie.wood@gmail.com

LUNASOL Handmade global inspired jewelry lunasoldesigns.net

DEAR FASHION MOBILE BOUTIQUE Women’s Clothing and Accessory pop-up dearfashionmobileboutique@gmail.com

HIGH SPARROW Boho-chic clothing from artisanal fabrics high-sparrow.com

MIMI’S FRESH TEES Social Impact Wearables mimisfreshteespdx.com

DREAMERS & REBELS Socially Conscious Notebooks and Crafts drebels.com

HLETTY DESIGNS Mixed media illustration and art hamptonrodriguez.blogspot.com

MINNIE AND GEORGE Handcrafted Fine Leather Goods minniegeorge.com

MULUK Local fashion design and accessories mulukpdx.com

RETHRIFT, INC. Portland’s first online clothing library rethrift.org

THIRTY27 BOUTIQUE Online fashion shop for bold women thirty27boutique.com

NESTED YELLOW JEWELRY CO. Custom Jewelry and Design Studio nested-yellow.com

ROAD TO TIBET IMPORTS Unique gifts from Nepal, India and Tibet roadtotibetimports@comcast.net

TIBET SPIRIT Handmade Tibetan cultural products tibetspirit.com

NUCLEUS PORTLAND Gallery, Shop and Event Space nucleusportland.com

SAINTES Home goods and furniture Design saintes.co

TIGHTY WHITEY SOAP & CANDLE CO. Natural soaps, candles and tonics tightywhiteysoaps.com

ONLI PACKS Functional backpacks designed SEEWHYZHANG Modern and playful art by local artists seewhyzhang.com onlipacks.com SOAPBOX THEORY OROX LEATHER CO. Oaxacan leather Design / Products empowering black culture makers crafting durable goods soapboxtheory.com oroxleather.com

TRAVELING PILLAR Natural hygiene / vegetable-based soaps travelingpillar.com UBUNTU AFRICAN DESIGNS African clothing design ubuntuafricandesigns@gmail.com

ORQUIDIA VIOLETA Reclaimed textiles handmade into clothing orchidorquidia@gmail.com

SPIRITS IN PARIS Apparel with a social cause spiritsinparis.com

UNIFELT Fiber / wood centric creative studio unifelt.com

PARKER SIMONNE DESIGNS Global handmade clothing for women parkersimonnedesigns.com

SUMMIT WOOD CREATIONS Custom Furniture Design and Manufacturing summitwoodcreations.com

VÍA RAÍZ Modern Mexican homewares & more viaraiz.com

PERICAN BING Women’s clothing, accesso- SWITCHBLADE SISTAS Super Fly Vintage Goods ries and housewares dionajack@yahoo.com pericanbing.com THE VENDERIA PIECE’S BY SHERRELL Vending machines with unique surprises Handcrafted, Stylish Jewelry & Dresses vendingmagic.com sherrellemail@gmail.com PROJECT OBJECT Shop and gallery featuring diverse artists projectobject.co

THEA’S VINTAGE LIVING Vintage shop for homewares and more theasvintageliving.com

VEEVEE VICTORIA SKIN CARE Body butters, oils and scrubs veeveevictoria.com WILD SHAMAN Vintage Turkish Kilims & Rugs wild-shaman.com WINDFEATHERS CREATIONS Music, art and design windfeatherscreations@yahoo.com

FOOD & BEVERAGE A YEN FOR CHOCOLATE Custom Crafted Chocolates ayenforchocolate.com

AKADI West African Restaurant & Cuisine akadipdx.com

BLOOM CARAMEL Organic Caramel Sauce bloomcaramel.com

ABBY CREEK VINEYARDS An Oregon earth to glass winery abbeycreekvineyard.com

ALLEAMIN PRODUCTS Fresh Somalian Sauces & Catering somaliansauce.com

BORIKEN RESTAURANT Puerto Rican & Caribbean Cuisine borikenrestaurant.com

AESTHETE TEA Loose leaf teas and teahouse aesthetetea.com

AQUINO TAQUERIA Oaxacan Food Cart with BROWN SUGAR COOKIE COMPANY & CATERING Classic and Seasonal Cookies International Influences brownsugarcookiecompany.com aquinotacos@gmail.com

CHOI’S KIMCHI CO. Small-batch fermented Kimchi Products choiskimchi.com

ARUBAH JUICE Healing, organic juices arubahjuice.com

BUN BO HUE RESTAURANT Vietnamese Kitchen Dedicated to BBH Soup bunbohuerestaurant.business.site

MILIEU & THE CHOCOLATE LABORATORY Makerspace with workshops milieupdx.com

BAMBUZA VIETNAM KITCHEN Vietnamese Kitchen with 6 locations bambuza.com

CAFE ELEVEN PDX Friendly Neighborhood Coffee Shop & Cafe cafeelevenpdx.com

TANGLEWOOD BEVERAGE COMPANY Spiced Chai Tea concentrations tanglewoodbevco.com

BISON COFFEE HOUSE LLC Portland’s only Native Coffeehouse bisoncoffeehouse.com

CASON’S FINE MEATS Butcher Shop since 1980s casonsfinemeats@gmail.com

808 GRINDS Hawaiian Food Truck & Restaurant 808grinds.com

BLACKSTAR GRILL West African Eats in SW PDX blackstargrill@gmail.com

CELLAR DOOR COFFEE ROASTERS Roastery & Coffee Shop in SE cellardoorcoffee.com 31

CEMITAS POBLANAS/MR CORN Mexican food cart in Beaverton (503) 608-9146

KIOSKO Latino-owned coffee shop & roaster kiosko.coffee

POPI’S PASTRIES Salgados: Brazilian appetizers made with love popispastries.com

CHURROS LOCOS Mobile Churro Truck and Catering churroslocos.com

LA FAMILIA HARD CIDER Locally made Mexican Fruit Ciders lafamiliacider.com

REVOLUCIÓN COFFEE HOUSE First Mexican Coffee Shop in PDX revolucioncoffeehouse.com

CRUNCH TIME FOODS Plant-based Korean-American Snacks crunchtimefoods.com

HOT MAMA SALSA Handmade hot sauces and salsas hotmamasalsapdx.com

ROYALTY SPIRITS Featuring Rex Whiskey & Miru Vodka rex-whiskey.com

DB DESSERT COMPANY Cake Designing and Baking dbdessertcompany.com

LAS ADELAS Mexican food cart at Portland Mercado adelaspdx.com

SMOKESHOW Family-owned hot sauce biz smokeshowpdx.com

DE DULCE Latin-inspired Ice Cream viridiana.sanchezlopez@pcc.edu

LUXURY AGAVE Tequila & Mezcal Production Company luxuryagavefest.com

SPICE OF AFRICA East African catering, classes & dinners spiceofafrica.com

DEADSTOCK COFFEE Sneaker-inspired Coffee Shop and Roastery deadstockcoffee.com

MEXIRICAN PDX Mobile Caribbean Beverage Biz pinacoladamexirican@gmail.com

SWEET DAY COTTON CANDY Organic Cotton Candy for Events sweetdaycc.com

DIASPORA COFFEE & CHAI CO. Hand roasting to support immigrants/refugees diasporacoffeeroasters.com

MILDRED’S SWEET TREATS Cakes, breads & more for events mildredssweettreats.com

SWEET TEMPTATIONS Catering specializing in seasonal desserts sweettmptjuliayvette@yahoo.com

DON CHURRO Mexican Churro Focused Food Cart portlandmercado.org/menus

MOON COFFEE Mobile coffee espresso pop-up mooncoffeepdx.com

TAMALE BOY Mexican brick and mortars + catering tamaleboy.com

DON FELIPE PRODUCTS Artisan Mexican Chorizo Products donfelipeproducts.com

MUDBONE GROWN Community Urban Farm in NE PDX mudbonegrown@gmail.com

TAN TAN FOODS Vietnamese Eatery tantancafedeli.com

DONNA’S MACARONS Classic & Unique Macarons from scratch donnasmacarons.com

MY DADDY’S SAUCES BBQ sauces and good vibes willis0307@yahoo.com

THE ARROW COFFEEHOUSE Specialty Coffee, tea, food & pastries pdx@arrowcoffeehouse.com

EITHER/OR CAFE Coffee Mocktail lab and Chai Maker eitherorpdx.com

NE CREPERIE Mobile Creperie available for events necreperie@gmail.com

THE BARRELED BEE Barrel-aged honey from local bees thebarreledbee.com

FIMI KINGSTON Jamaican seasonings and spices fimikingston.com

NONGS KHAO MAN GAI Thai food cart and restaurant khaomangai.com

THE SPICY SPOON Mexican and American BBQ restaurant chefsweetlee@yahoo.com

GOLDEN ELIXIR GHEE Organic ghee and Indian products goldenelixirghee.com

ONE STRIPE CHAI CO. Small batch chai concentrate onestripechai.com

TIERRA DEL SOL Oaxacan food cart & farmers market stand tierradelsolpdx.com

GUILLÉN FAMILY WINES Oregon’s first Latinx-owned Winery guillenfamily.com

OPEN TANDOOR Fine-casual Indian kitchen opentandoor.com

TINIDOR FOODS Filipino food products tinidorfoods@gmail.com

HAB SAUCE Flavor packing hot sauce biz habsauces.com

PALETAZ PDX Fresh frozen treats, Mexican heritage paletazpdx.com

UNIVERSAL COFFEE Coffee beverages with Latinx roots universalcoffee.co

HIMALAYAN DUMPLINGS & MORE Iconic Street Foods from the Himalayas himalayandumplings.com

PANCO FOODS Jerky made out of Mushrooms mushroomjerky.com

VIDA FLARE Southwest-Mexican food cart & catering vidaflare@gmail.com

JAMAICAN HOMESTYLE CUISINE Jamaican eatery in North PDX jamaicuisi@gmail.com

PINTO THAI KITCHEN Thai Food Cart in SE PDX pintothaipdx.com

WYLD BREAD Naturally leavened bread + pastries wyldbread.com

KEE’S #LOADED KITCHEN Southern Comfort Food Cart & Catering rockstarrkee@gmail.com

PO’ SHINES Soul Food Restaurant in N. PDX poshines.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS ANALUNA Skincare, tonics and elixirs analisecleopatra@gmail.com

BLENDILY Natural skin, body and bath care blendily.com

HULA HALAU ‘OHANA HOLO’OKO’A Hula & Tahitian Dance & Entertainment hulaaloha.org

ISHQ CREAMS Moisturizers for face & body ishqcreams.com

BODY BY ME, LLC A fitness and life studio bodybyme.biz

I AM IMAGE Down-to-earth Salon and Barber Iamimagepdx.com

JUST V NATURAL Natural skin and hair products justvnatural.com

CHAMPIONS BARBERING INSTITUTE Education for Barbers and Business cbi.life

IMPRUV FITNESS & WELLNESS Boutique training and fitness biz impruvfitness@gmail.com

R. LEES™ AROMAROCKS! Aromatherapy and home spa products myaromarocks.com

CLAUDELLE R GLASGOW, PSYD Whole Body Healing and Psychotherapy claudelleglasgow.com

LONGHOUSE NW Wellness products created with medical plants wellness@longhousenw.com

SUBLIME DESIGNERS Organic body butters and lotions sublimedesigners.com

CLUB SEVEN FITNESS Fitness Bootcamps and Exercise Studio clubsevenfitness.com

LUMINANCE Yoga & Naturopathic Medicine Practice luminanceportland.com

THE HAIR OIL COMPANY Natural oils for hair growth & preservation thehairoilcompany.com

DEAN’S BEAUTY SALON AND BARBER SHOP Doing Hair since 1956 deansbeautysalon.com

MERAE’S ON 42ND HAIR DESIGNS Multicultural salon with 25+ years experience meraes.com

(COM)MOTION, A PROJECT OF OUR 42ND AVENUE Community movement / exercise studio commotionpdx.org/ ALL MY RELATIONS COUNSELING Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy allmyrelationscounseling.com

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH HAIR SPA Natural hair care spa diamondintheroughhairspa.com

OREGON INTER-TRIBAL BREASTFEEDING COALITION Promoting, educating and supporting Native communities oitbc.com

EBER HEALTH Online platform for health care access eberhealth.com

PAZ HAIR LOUNGE Haircuts and colors in NE PDX pazhairlounge.com

ASCENSION WELL BODY & FITNESS Mind/Body Classes and Training zay@ascendwellfit.com

ESSANCE SKINCARE Small batch, handmade skincare products essanceskincare.com

RECREATING SOCIETY Health and lifestyle consulting shop.recreatingsociety.com

ASHE WELLNESS & LIFESTYLE Doula, herbalism and yoni-care ashelifestyle.com

EYE DEPARTMENT; EYE CARE & EYEWEAR SAFETY SIDE UP Optometry and eyeglass shop Emergency health and safety instruction eyedepartment.com safetysideup.com AUTUMN HERBS SKINCARE GENEVA’S SHEAR PERFECTION BARBER SHERYL MOREN, PMHNP-BC Therapy and Handmade skincare and herbal products & BEAUTY SALON Salon and Barbershop in Psychiatric Medication Management autumnherbs@gmail.com NE PDX genevas.net sherylmorenpmhnp.com GLOBAL ART OF DANCE BARE BEAUTY LLC SIMPLY ALL NATURAL Dance Classes and Studio Rentals Studio for Full Body Waxing Handcrafted body butters and salves globalartofdance.com barebeautypdx.com simplyallnatural.us HOUSECALL MD BEST BROWS IN PORTLAND THE ALPINE GLOW Medial Treatment at your home Eyebrow Care Services and Products Small batch, natural skin & haircare housecallmd-nw.com bestbrowsinportland.com thealpineglow.com BLACK PEARL ACUPUNCTURE A Cultural- HUE NOIR Cosmetics and Makeup for TOKYO BEAUTY Multicultural Women ly Responsive Acupuncture Practice A Full Service Salon huenoir.com blackpearlacupuncture.com tokyobeautysalon22@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ALSHIREF DESIGN AND PRINT LLC Illustration, Design and Apparel Printing alshirefdesign.com

FAMA SCREEN PRINTING Digital and print design services famascreenprinting.com

PDX COORDINATOR Project Consultation and Management pdxcoordinator.com

EL PASAPORTE PROJECT Design to elevate POC businesses elpasaporteproject.com

MUSIKHAUS Music lessons, camps and programs musikhauspdx.com

RECREATION DEPARTMENT Locally Manufactured Party Game Rentals rec-dept.com 33

SISTAS Coaching for mission-based orgs empoweredsistas.com

DIVERSITY WORKGROUP Helping organizations navigate diversity diversityworkgroup.com

LARA MEDIA SERVICES LLC Multicultural communications and marketing firm laramedia.com

THE PRINTORY Screen Printing + Embroidery theprintory.com

DWELL REALTY Largest black-owned realty firm in OR. dwellrealtypdx.com

LAUGH CRY LOVE ENTERTAINMENT Creative storytelling through video production lclentertainment.com

3 DIAMOND CONSTRUCTION, LLC Residential & Commercial Construction 3diamond.construction@gmail.com

EAGLES NEST REMODELING Native-owned Residential Construction eaglesnestremodel@gmail.com

LAZENBY & ASSOCIATES Legal and Strategic Business Advising lazenbyassociates.org

ÅUSH KUMTUX TUMTUM CONSULTING, LLC Educational & Cultural Trainings shilomgeorge@gmail.com

EJP EVENTS Event Planning with Style ejpevents.com

LETRA CHUECA PRESS Latinx design, press and print letrachuecapress.com

ABBI WOOD Writing Strategy and Business ESPER HOUSE Consulting for small biz / nonprofits Communications esperhouse.com abbiwood.com ADVANCED TRIBAL, LLC Commercial and FLOSSIN MEDIA Integrated marketing and communications firm Residential General Contractor flossinmedia.com advancedtribal@gmail.com

MERCHANT CONCEPTS, INC Payment and business consulting services merchantconcepts.com

AMERICA’S HUB WORLD TOURS Unique Tours in PNW & Beyond americashubworldtours.com

GB HOME IMPROVEMENT Construction Company Specializing in Carpentry gbhomeimprovementsllc.com

MISS LOPEZ MEDIA Professional Freelance Photographer misslopezmedia.com

AVENUE Branding and Digital Marketing Services avenueagency.com

GOOD GREEN Graphic design, printing, packaging, promotions goodgreenpdx.com

MIXTO COMMUNICATIONS Marketing and communications consulting mixtocommunications.com

AVISA MULTICULTURAL MARKETING LLC Multicultural / Bilingual Marketing Agency avisam.com

HEARTS+SPARKS PRODUCTIONS Documenting voices & stories via film heartsandsparksproductions.com

MLNN LLC Creative practice highlighting women of color leagueofmlnn.com

BROWN GIRL RISE Community Group for Girls of Color browngirlrisepdx@gmail.com

HYMN SPACE Event and creative space hymnspace.com

MULTICULTURAL COLLABORATIVE Community-driven planning and development multiculturalcollaborative.com

CITY OF ROSES DISPOSAL & RECYCLING Integrated Waste & Recycling Organization cityofrosesdisposal.com

ILTOPIA STUDIOS Creative Studio and Storytelling iltopia.com

NAIM HASAN PHOTOGRAPHY Commercial portrait, event & product photography naimhasanphotography.com

CLEAN ARRIVAL Regional Portland Home Cleaning Services cleanarrivalhomeservices.com

INSIDE SOURCE MEDIA Full Service Creative Business Agency insidesourcemedia.com

NICOLE CARMELLA Storyteller and Freelance Writer carmellabuchanan@gmail.com

CLIENTJOY Curating and Managing Business Gifting clientjoy.com

J.MICHAEL LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE Residential & Commercial Landscaping jmichaelsland@hotmail.com

NORTHWEST ADVISORY GROUP Business development and operations consulting northwestadvisorygroup.com

CLOCKN AUTO & TRUCK REPAIR Mobile Automobile Repair Mechanic clocknauto.com

JBJR PRODUCTIONS Creative Video Production and Editing jbjrproductions.com

PDX YELLOW CAB Driver-owned / operated taxi service pdxyellowcab.com

CULTIVATED SENSE LLC Business Coach and Consultant stephanieghoston.com

JOSHUA JAMES HUFF PHOTOGRAPHY LLC PHOTOSBYKIM Headshots, portrait and culture Photography Photographer, videographer and filmmaker photosbykim.com joshuajameshuff.com PRECIOUS BUGARIN DESIGN JUNK IT JUNK REMOVAL Disposal management services and recycling Branding, design and creative studio preciousbugarin.com junkitportland.com

CW INTERIOR DECORATING Transforming home and commercial spaces cwinteriordecorating.com

KÚKÁTÓNÓN AFRICAN DANCE TROUPE DESIGN+CULTURE LAB Intersectional Community Consulting Agency Building vitality thru african performance kukatonon.org designculturelab.com LA SIRENA DESIGN DEVOTIONAL CARE STAFFING LLC Creative agency for small businesses Medical and Health Care Services lasirenadesign.com devotionalcarestaffingagency.com DIEGO G DIAZ PHOTOGRAPHY Professional Freelance Photographer diegogdiaz.com 34

MAXXIMO INSURANCE SERVICES Commercial insurance & Surety Bonds mymaxximo.com

LAPTOPS & SMALLTALK Biz Resources for Fashion Designers laptopsandsmalltalk.com

PROFESSIONAL LATH & PLASTER Professional Commercial Contractor prolathandplaster.com REAL ESTATE BY JURY Licensed Real Estate Broker/Developer rmls.com REAL ESTATE BY WESLEY Residential Real Estate Services realestatebywes.com

REDE PRINT Customized printing in SW PDX redeprintnshop.com

SEIZURE PALACE SCREEN PRINTING Custom screen printing since 2007 seizurepalace.com

THE SPEAR CENTER Helping single parents navigate education thespearcenter.org TWIRL ADVERTISING & DESIGN Full-service business communications firm twirladvdesign.com

SIX10 VISUALS RESILIENCE PAINTING Commercial and Residential Custom Painting Mobile film services six10visuals.com resiliencepainting.com ROSE CITY URBAN DEVELOPMENTS Licensed and bonded residential contractor rcudllc.com

STEWART MARKETING GROUP Promotional Products and Swag stewartmarketinggroup.com

VERDE LANDSCAPE Workforce training and green landscaping services verdelandscape.squarespace.com

ROXY’S™ PRESCHOOL AND DAYCARE Spanish / English Preschool and Daycare roxyspreschool.com

SUMMIT GOLF FOUNDATION Junior Golf Program and Coaching summitgolf.org

VIVA LA FREE Community activism and expression nonprofit vivalafree.pdx@gmail.com

SAEEDA WRIGHT MUSIC Inspiring and educating performance artists saeedawrightmusic.com

TATTOO 34 Tattoo Shop in SE PDX tattoo34pdx.com

WATERBEAR RESTORATION SERVICES Water damage and plumbing restoration waterbearinc.com

THE LEADERSHIP LAB SAPIENCE CONSULTING Farming, herbs, tinctures & creative services Personal, career and business coaching leadershiplabllc.com creativesclub.com SAVINA MONET Design agency for cannabis industry hellomonet.com

WOMENFIRST TRANSITION & REFERRAL CENTER Community mentorship, trainings and empowerment rebuildwomenfirst.org

THE RADICAL BRAND LAB Storytelling and creative branding services theradicalbrandlab.com

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION AIRSHIP TECHNOLOGIES GROUP Drone / airship design & manufacturing airshiptg.com

IN-IT Online platform for storytelling / crowdfunding www.in-it.com

ONE APP OREGON Free Online Rental FInder & Directory oneapporegon.com

BLUE VOICE ENTERPRISES Social impact design and innovation bluevoiceenterprises.com

KARVEL DIGITAL Website Consulting and Development karveldigital.com

SYNERGY CONSULTING Comprehensive IT services and solutions synergyhq.com

EREP, INC. Software for Recruiting and Hiring erep.com

NEMARIAM ENGINEERS & ASSOC. Transportation/Traffic Engineering & Consulting nemariam-engineers.com

TCC & ASSOCIATES Civil Engineering, Project Management and Innovation tccengr.com

GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS & SERVICES Technical Cellphone Support and Products globalcsweb.com

NEWS BLING Independent media driven by diverse narratives newsbling.co

WORKFROM Business location directory for remote working workfrom.co

MERCATUS MINI MAG MY PEOPLE’S MARKET EDITION VOL. 2 hello@mercatuspdx.com - mercatuspdx.com Project Management: Grid Notes Design: Mariano Spina/Novoa Editing: Jennifer Moore and Emilly Prado Printing: 35

The Power of Prosper Portland is expanding its work with minority-owned businesses and startups to leverage the power of a partnership network committed to increasing the success of underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Inclusive Business Resource Network

Learn more about how we can help your business thrive:

f Partnership We offer support with:

Navigating business services

Long-term Business Advising

Networking & Workshops

Financing for your business

Local business support

Business navigators in North, Northeast, and East Portland can help you find the resources that you need to bring your business dreams to life.

Someone to lean on

Receive one-on-one advising and training from someone you trust. The network will see you through challenges and celebrate your successes. Several partners in the Network provide loans and matched savings grants and all long-term advisors can prepare you for and refer you to financing programs.

Peer-to-Peer Learning

Specialized assistance to grow and scale

Learn what you need to step into the startup world of pitch decks, angel funding, and product market fit. Our partners offer startup boot camps, business incubators, and mentoring.

prosperportland.us/biznetwork

mercatuspdx.com