Supporting Black-owned businesses is an effective way to close the racial wealth gap, promote economic opportunity, and empower Black entrepreneurs and communities. Closing the racial wealth gap helps to address systemic inequalities and fosters a more inclusive and equitable society. Tons of data show that Black-owned businesses face greater barriers when starting and scaling their businesses. The latest ALICE report revealed that more than 36% of Frederick County households struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, food, health care and technology. Black households in Frederick County take the lead when it comes to poverty and are second place when it comes to being at the ALICE survival threshold. Funds raised through the Unity Campaign will support SOUL Street's vendor Scholarship Fund, which will cover fees for Black ALICE individuals looking to start/grow their businesses and earn a passive income through selling at our markets and attending our educational events. About SOUL Street SOUL Street was founded in July 2020 when we launched our first round of pop-up markets. In 2021, we started Frederick's first-ever Black-Owned farmer's market. Since then, three Black-owned businesses have turned their hobbies into businesses with us and have successfully grown and expanded into brick-and-mortar locations. Five business owners who started with us have expanded into commercial kitchens, and many others continue to grow. We continue to serve as an open-air incubator for Black-owned businesses to grow and raise capital. Mission: SOUL Street empowers the Black business community through events, outreach, advocacy, and education. Vision: SOUL Street aims to create economic opportunity for every member of the Black business community in Frederick County while rebuilding Black generational wealth.

Supporting Black-owned businesses is an effective way to close the racial wealth gap, promote economic opportunity, and empower Black entrepreneurs and communities. Closing the racial wealth gap helps to address systemic inequalities and fosters a more inclusive and equitable society. Tons of data show that Black-owned businesses face greater barriers when starting and scaling their businesses. The latest ALICE report revealed that more than 36% of Frederick County households struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, food, health care and technology. Black households in Frederick County take the lead when it comes to poverty and are second place when it comes to being at the ALICE survival threshold. Funds raised through the Unity Campaign will support SOUL Street's vendor Scholarship Fund, which will cover fees for Black ALICE individuals looking to start/grow their businesses and earn a passive income through selling at our markets and attending our educational events. About SOUL Street SOUL Street was founded in July 2020 when we launched our first round of pop-up markets. In 2021, we started Frederick's first-ever Black-Owned farmer's market. Since then, three Black-owned businesses have turned their hobbies into businesses with us and have successfully grown and expanded into brick-and-mortar locations. Five business owners who started with us have expanded into commercial kitchens, and many others continue to grow. We continue to serve as an open-air incubator for Black-owned businesses to grow and raise capital. Mission: SOUL Street empowers the Black business community through events, outreach, advocacy, and education. Vision: SOUL Street aims to create economic opportunity for every member of the Black business community in Frederick County while rebuilding Black generational wealth.

Supporting Black-owned businesses is an effective way to close the racial wealth gap, promote economic opportunity, and empower Black entrepreneurs and communities. Closing the racial wealth gap helps to address systemic inequalities and fosters a more inclusive and equitable society. Tons of data show that Black-owned businesses face greater barriers when starting and scaling their businesses. The latest ALICE report revealed that more than 36% of Frederick County households struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, food, health care and technology. Black households in Frederick County take the lead when it comes to poverty and are second place when it comes to being at the ALICE survival threshold. Funds raised through the Unity Campaign will support SOUL Street's vendor Scholarship Fund, which will cover fees for Black ALICE individuals looking to start/grow their businesses and earn a passive income through selling at our markets and attending our educational events. About SOUL Street SOUL Street was founded in July 2020 when we launched our first round of pop-up markets. In 2021, we started Frederick's first-ever Black-Owned farmer's market. Since then, three Black-owned businesses have turned their hobbies into businesses with us and have successfully grown and expanded into brick-and-mortar locations. Five business owners who started with us have expanded into commercial kitchens, and many others continue to grow. We continue to serve as an open-air incubator for Black-owned businesses to grow and raise capital. Mission: SOUL Street empowers the Black business community through events, outreach, advocacy, and education. Vision: SOUL Street aims to create economic opportunity for every member of the Black business community in Frederick County while rebuilding Black generational wealth.

Supporting Black-owned businesses is an effective way to close the racial wealth gap, promote economic opportunity, and empower Black entrepreneurs and communities. Closing the racial wealth gap helps to address systemic inequalities and fosters a more inclusive and equitable society. Tons of data show that Black-owned businesses face greater barriers when starting and scaling their businesses. The latest ALICE report revealed that more than 36% of Frederick County households struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, food, health care and technology. Black households in Frederick County take the lead when it comes to poverty and are second place when it comes to being at the ALICE survival threshold. Funds raised through the Unity Campaign will support SOUL Street's vendor Scholarship Fund, which will cover fees for Black ALICE individuals looking to start/grow their businesses and earn a passive income through selling at our markets and attending our educational events. About SOUL Street SOUL Street was founded in July 2020 when we launched our first round of pop-up markets. In 2021, we started Frederick's first-ever Black-Owned farmer's market. Since then, three Black-owned businesses have turned their hobbies into businesses with us and have successfully grown and expanded into brick-and-mortar locations. Five business owners who started with us have expanded into commercial kitchens, and many others continue to grow. We continue to serve as an open-air incubator for Black-owned businesses to grow and raise capital. Mission: SOUL Street empowers the Black business community through events, outreach, advocacy, and education. Vision: SOUL Street aims to create economic opportunity for every member of the Black business community in Frederick County while rebuilding Black generational wealth.

Supporting Black-owned businesses is an effective way to close the racial wealth gap, promote economic opportunity, and empower Black entrepreneurs and communities. Closing the racial wealth gap helps to address systemic inequalities and fosters a more inclusive and equitable society. Tons of data show that Black-owned businesses face greater barriers when starting and scaling their businesses. The latest ALICE report revealed that more than 36% of Frederick County households struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, food, health care and technology. Black households in Frederick County take the lead when it comes to poverty and are second place when it comes to being at the ALICE survival threshold. Funds raised through the Unity Campaign will support SOUL Street's vendor Scholarship Fund, which will cover fees for Black ALICE individuals looking to start/grow their businesses and earn a passive income through selling at our markets and attending our educational events. About SOUL Street SOUL Street was founded in July 2020 when we launched our first round of pop-up markets. In 2021, we started Frederick's first-ever Black-Owned farmer's market. Since then, three Black-owned businesses have turned their hobbies into businesses with us and have successfully grown and expanded into brick-and-mortar locations. Five business owners who started with us have expanded into commercial kitchens, and many others continue to grow. We continue to serve as an open-air incubator for Black-owned businesses to grow and raise capital. Mission: SOUL Street empowers the Black business community through events, outreach, advocacy, and education. Vision: SOUL Street aims to create economic opportunity for every member of the Black business community in Frederick County while rebuilding Black generational wealth.

Supporting Black-owned businesses is an effective way to close the racial wealth gap, promote economic opportunity, and empower Black entrepreneurs and communities. Closing the racial wealth gap helps to address systemic inequalities and fosters a more inclusive and equitable society. Tons of data show that Black-owned businesses face greater barriers when starting and scaling their businesses. The latest ALICE report revealed that more than 36% of Frederick County households struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, transportation, childcare, food, health care and technology. Black households in Frederick County take the lead when it comes to poverty and are second place when it comes to being at the ALICE survival threshold. Funds raised through the Unity Campaign will support SOUL Street's vendor Scholarship Fund, which will cover fees for Black ALICE individuals looking to start/grow their businesses and earn a passive income through selling at our markets and attending our educational events. About SOUL Street SOUL Street was founded in July 2020 when we launched our first round of pop-up markets. In 2021, we started Frederick's first-ever Black-Owned farmer's market. Since then, three Black-owned businesses have turned their hobbies into businesses with us and have successfully grown and expanded into brick-and-mortar locations. Five business owners who started with us have expanded into commercial kitchens, and many others continue to grow. We continue to serve as an open-air incubator for Black-owned businesses to grow and raise capital. Mission: SOUL Street empowers the Black business community through events, outreach, advocacy, and education. Vision: SOUL Street aims to create economic opportunity for every member of the Black business community in Frederick County while rebuilding Black generational wealth.

As a co-founder and current Board Vice President of SOUL Street, I am raising funds to help us take our impact to the next level. SOUL Street became an official nonprofit in 2023, and we are excited to be able to provide important services for our community and Black business owners! SOUL Street was founded in 2020 as an effort to provide effective solutions to ending racial injustice in our own backyard. We empower the Black business community through events, outreach, advocacy, and education. We aim to create economic opportunity for every member of the Black business community in Frederick County while rebuilding Black generational wealth and closing the racial wealth gap.