Celebrate National Black Business Month with trip to Amplify POC's Summer Vendor Market

Rasheek Tabassum Mujib, Cape Cod Times
·4 min read

HYANNIS — Honoring the National Black Business Month, Amplify POC (People of Color), a nonprofit organization, is scheduled to launch its first annual Summer Vendor Market this weekend.

The daylong event is set to launch Saturday. The event will showcase about 30 POC-owned businesses and several nonprofits on the Cape. It's slated to be from noon to 5 p.m. at Aselton Park in Hyannis.

In December 2021, Amplify POC hosted a Holiday Vendors Market. This is the first time it's hosting an annual summer event and it plans to continue in the coming years. Amplify POC will be launching two major vendor markets every year, once in the summer and once in winter, during the holiday season, founder and CEO Tara Vargas Wallace said

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“Last year’s holiday market was phenomenal, we had a huge turnout, it was amazing to see the community come out and support small businesses," she said. "We expect the same from this year’s event."

More than 400 visitors attended the holiday market, Vargas Wallace said.

The time and location of this year's vendor market is suitable for both visitors and vendors, said Elizabeth Wurfbain, executive director of Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District.

"August is the prime time for summer visitors at the Cape, the location is great and the live music lineup along with the vendors are spectacular this year," she said. "Hyannis residents are sure to benefit and enjoy a lot at this event."

Elizabeth Wurfbain, executive director of Hyannis Business Improvement District
Elizabeth Wurfbain, executive director of Hyannis Business Improvement District

What is Amplify POC?

Vargas Wallace founded Amplify POC in 2020 after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Cape residents were interested in businesses owned by people of color and she created a space specifically for such businesses. In July 2021, the organization became a nonprofit.

Vargas Wallace, the southeast coordinator for the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition, was also a member of the Cape Cod and Islands Commission on the Status of Women. She's a member of NAACP and worked for the Hyannis-based Housing Assistance Corp.

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“Our mission is to eradicate the racial wealth gap and to provide visibility for black and brown businesses, or businesses of color,” Vargas Wallace said. “The pandemic affected a lot of these businesses, but multiple businesses started their journey during the pandemic as well. In terms of entrepreneurship, there has been significant growth and innovation, which is really inspiring for people of color.”

Amplify POC also provides training and workshops for people of color on the Cape, including workshops on business plan writing, grant writing and other resources needed for starting a business, Vargas-Wallace said.

“We are currently partnering with the Housing Assistance Corporation on a homeownership workshop; we are also partnering with the Cape and Islands Association of Realtors, though the details of the workshops are yet to be finalized,” she said.

In terms of funding for the vendor market events, Amplify POC at times struggles to collect the needed funds.

"We try our best to get as many sponsors as we can, but we sometimes need to utilize our general operating funds, due to lack of enough sponsors at these events," Vargas Wallace said.

Vargas Wallace founded Amplify POC in 2020; she was the southeast coordinator for the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition, and was a member of the Cape Cod and Islands Commission on the Status of Women.
Vargas Wallace founded Amplify POC in 2020; she was the southeast coordinator for the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition, and was a member of the Cape Cod and Islands Commission on the Status of Women.

What to expect from this year’s Summer Vendor Market?

Vendors at the Summer Market will offer everything from clothing to jewelry, pottery, candles to books and hair products.

One vendor creates clothing from specially designed fabrics, another makes African, handmade jewelry. One vendor makes paper dolls out of newspapers while a health fitness professional has her own line of workout gear.

“Several jewelry stores are coming this year. There will also be African handmade jewelry, a variety of handwoven baskets, clothes, unique household items; we have several book vendors as well,” Vargas Wallace said.

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Organizers also expect a variety of food vendors at this year’s market. There will be Brazilian food, Jamaican food, ice cream and a beer and wine tent. Food trucks will also be serving American food.

The market will offer live music, featuring the band, Dis N Dat and DJ Peter Barboza.

“The event is also to enjoy a day of community,” Vargas Wallace said. “We will have face painting and arts and crafts for the kids, we have family games and a photo booth as well.”

Vendors and sponsors

Some of the scheduled vendors are: MiniMe Clothing Boutique, Adrene Jewelers, Bodi By Mari, Little Boutique, Belonging Books, J. Alexis Designs, Butu International, B free Wellness Inc., Scarlet Clothing, Medusa's Tea Room, Cutco, Positive Vibes Clothing, The Periwinkle Goddess, and KeniKay Collections and more.

This year’s vendor market is sponsored by Housing Assistance Corp., the Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Five Bank, the Knack Cape Cod, and Fisherman’s Daughter.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Celebrate Black Business Month with Amplify POC's market on Cape Cod