SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell joined local businesses and organizers of an effort called 'Black Black Friday' to announce a series of to support Black-owned businesses in and around the city.
Those efforts include a gift card program and directory. Intentional spending resource The Intentionalist, credit union BECU and creative agency DNA partnered to sell gift cards at a discount that can be spent at Black-owned businesses during the holiday season and beyond.
The launch took place at Metier Brewing Company (MBC) -- more than a business to CEO and co-founder Rodney Hines.
"Our customers, in many ways, they make me feel like I'm at home in our space," Hines said. "And I have the moment where they come in and they're either greeting me with a hug and telling me what's going on with their lives or they're introducing friends and family who are visiting because they want to bring them to this space."
Hines works to make MBC a space of community, hosting entrepreneurs like artist Carlos Khali, who says his work represents how different aspects of Black culture and history have affected communities and how to find the positive.
"It opens us up to people who wouldn't necessarily be part of something like this, to come here and feel welcome and feel invited," Khali said.
Hines said he also tries to buy from Black suppliers where possible and build an overall sense of community.
"We have a history of a wealth gap that exists and we have a need and an opportunity to support all of our businesses," Hines said. "Black, brown, queer- we should be supporting all of our businesses,"
That's also the mission of 'Black Black Friday.' With sponsorships, customers can pay $40 to get $50 in gift cards, $80 to get $100, and so on. They can be spent at Black-owned shops, restaurants and more around the Seattle area.
"In a wealthy city like Seattle, it means absolutely nothing if we aren't treating people with values of equity," Mayor Bruce Harrell said at the launch.
The city said 8% of people in Seattle are Black but only around 1% of businesses are Black-owned. This program aims to protect that 1% and help it grow.
"They're creating jobs, they're cultivating culture, they're creating home in their spaces and they are usually partnering with other Black businesses so they are creating this small microeconomy," Hines said.
The cards are part of a larger effort to celebrate businesses already flourishing -- and help customers find new favorites.
To learn more, view a business directory or purchase gift cards, click here.