MERCATUS
Elevate and Connect Entrepreneurs of ColorMERCATUS
Elevate and Connect Entrepreneurs of ColorMercatus ELEVATES the unique and universal narratives of entrepreneurs of color in Portland and CONNECTS the city and region with local talents, businesses, services and products that come from diverse entrepreneurs.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Join a community that CONNECTS. Mercatus offers mixers, workshops, and early access to markets like My People’s Market
MERCATUS BUSINESS MEMBERS
The Mercatus Business Directory Members. Find what you are looking for: caterers, salon, graphic designers AND MORE!
STORIES THAT ELEVATE
The Story Collective shares the unique and diverse histories, cultures, and experiences of entrepreneurs of color.
FEATURED FROM THE STORY COLLECTIVE
Mercatus Magazine Vol. 1
Letter from the Editor
To start let me say how exciting it is to see this magazine take a physical form. I remember spending hours with creator Tory Campbell back in 2015, dreaming about how this project could evolve from an excel sheet into a hub for storytelling and connection focused on entrepreneurs of color. Thank you, Tory, for your leadership.
This magazine is very special to me, not only as a cis Black woman but due to its theme, ‘Ain’t No New Thing.’ If you don’t know, Gil Scott-Heron wrote the poem Ain’t No New Thing on cultural appropriation in America. I reimagined this title for our magazine theme, to actively push back on cultural appropriation, but also celebrate the long history of entrepreneurs of color in Portland. Despite its reputation, entrepreneurs of color have a long history of business ownership in this city. This publication re/claims entrepreneurship as a part of our collective past, present, and future. We entrepreneurs of color are not new, but we are next.
Joy Alise Davis
Mercatus Magazine Vol. 1 Editor in Chief, Design+Culture Lab
CONNECT AT MERCATUS EVENTS
Conversations and Connections
The conversations and connections series is an opportunity to be in a POC-centered space and connect with other Mercatus Members.
Mercatus Momentous
Mercatus annual event. Connect with other POC business owners, learn about the latest business resources, and pick up your copy of the Mercatus Magazine.
My Peoples Market
Held twice a year in partnership with Travel Portland, My People’s Market is the marketplace of the future featuring Mercatus businesses.
Member Events
Support other Mercatus businesses and connect with other members. Attend and share your business events on the Mercatus calendar
WE ALL CRAVE VARIETY, BUT WHEN WE SPEAK OF A THRIVING INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM WHAT DO WE SEE?
Too often such matters are considered and presented in a cultural vacuum or reduced to tokenism & outliers. Most of the time when we hear about vibrant bootstrapping entrepreneurs in Portland, Oregon it’s the dominant culture sharing their stories and aspirations in isolation of the “other.” Rarely do we see the ethnically diverse entrepreneurs in the city sharing their anthems, struggles, and best practices together. More than ever, that is what we require to remain competitive and reflect the shifting demographics of a new & emerging tapestry of entrepreneurs.