Page 8 The Skanner June 20, 2018
News
My Peoples Market — Reimagining the Future
F
ning Way, and is present-
ed by Travel Portland
and Prosper Portland.
Last fall’s market drew
rave reviews from par-
ticipants, who reveled in
the community support,
audience
connection,
and festive atmosphere.
More than 1,200 people
and 90 vendors —nearly
half of whom receive on-
going business support
from Prosper Portland’s
Inclusive Business Re-
source
Network—at-
tended the first market,
which offered connec-
tions with and support
for people of color along
with live music and per-
formances, gift ideas,
and food from some of
Portland’s best restau-
rants. As one attendee
noted, “My favorite part
of participating in My
People’s Market was hav-
ing an opportunity to
do just that: participate.
Something like My Peo-
ple’s Market was long
More than 100 diverse
entrepreneurs, artisans
and food and beverage
crafters are expected at
the June Market, along
with family-friendly live
performances, art, music
and shopping.
Both Prosper Port-
land’s Inclusive Business
Resource Network and
its Mercatus platform
have played a signifi-
cant role in the contin-
ued development of My
People’s Market, with a
shared goal of elevating
the stories of entrepre-
neurs of color and in-
creasing opportunities
for diverse communities
to expand market reach.
Mercatus also offers a
way for businesses to
have an online presence
before or as they develop
a digital presence.
The African American
community had 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 in-
clude an on-site exhibit
curated with support
from Oregon Black Pio-
neers which will exam-
ine the history of the area
and the enduring role Af-
rican American-owned
overdue.” Another said,
“The vibe was so festive
and loving! Networking,
great conversations, all
of the beautiful business
people, products, and
customers.”
The 2018 markets will
continue to celebrate the
diversity within Port-
land’s small business
community and advance
the goal to make Portland
a more welcoming and
inclusive place where all
businesses can thrive.
businesses have played
in Portland’s economy.
The goal for My Peo-
ple’s Market is to connect
entrepreneurs of color
with the community and
new business opportu-
nities. For the vendors,
this connection is an
important point on the
path of scaling their
businesses. For the com-
munity, My People’s
Market tells a story of
today’s diverse makers
and culture in Portland,
an intersecting and ev-
er-evolving
narrative
of place, race and Port-
land’s future identity.
The organizers see the
marketplace as an oppor-
tunity to take a collective
moment and celebrate
our community as it ex-
ists today while we also
honor those legendary
trailblazers, communi-
ty leaders, and business
owners whose stories
may not have been told.
Additional
support
for My People’s Market
comes from YGB Port-
land, Energy Trust of
Oregon, Port of Port-
land, NW Natural, Kai-
ser, and TriMet. A full
list of participating ven-
dors is posted at https://
www.mercatuspdx.com/
mypeoplesmarket/.
This is a paid advertise-
ment.
Newly-Elected Mayor
London Breed Makes
History in San Francisco
FREDDIE ALLEN/AMG/NNPA
ollowing a success-
ful inaugural event
in November 2017,
My Peoples Market
will return twice more in
2018 to expand on its con-
nection and celebration
of multicultural small
business owners and
entrepreneurs of col-
or from throughout the
city. The upcoming Mar-
ket takes place Saturday,
June 30, from noon to 8
p.m. at the Rose Quarter
Commons, 300 N. Win-
London Breed made history to become the first African American
woman mayor of San Francisco, Calif.
By Stacy M. Brown
(NNPA Newswire Con-
tributor)
ondon Breed has
made history, be-
coming the first
African American
woman elected mayor
in San Francisco after
her opponent conceded
in what had been a ra-
zor-close race.
Breed, who had been
appointed mayor last
December following the
death of Mayor Ed Lee,
was forced out of the post
after officials cited a con-
flict with her position on
L
the city’s Board of Super-
visors.
She defeated former
State Senator Mark Leno
in a close race that came
down to 14,000 provi-
sional ballots counted,
over the past week.
“I am London Breed, I
am president of the San
Francisco Board of Su-
pervisors, and soon to
be mayor of the city and
county of San Francisco,”
she told a crowd gathered
downtown after Leno
conceded. “I am truly
humbled, and I am truly
honored.”
See BREED on page 10