Here are ways to support E-Town's Black businesses
Instagram it!
Neha Singh, a student at Rice University and Evanston Township High School (ETHS) 2018, grad sent us this great idea and asked us to pass it along.
"Please follow, engage with, and share a new Instagram account @evanstonshopsblack!" she wrote.
"This is an effort to foster engagement between non-Black residents and Black-owned businesses."
"When you shop at a Black-owned business, take a picture and DM us with some words about your experience. We’ll post it to the account for the entire community to see."
Also, Neha asks that you use #etownshopsblack on your own accounts.
Shop Black-owned businesses
DE adds: You can find a great directory of Evanston's Black-owned businesses at Black Business Consortium Evanston North Shore or on their website.
The consortium was founded by Wendy Weaver and Clarence Weaver, owners of C & W Market and Ice Cream Parlor and Jean Murphy and Larry Murphy, owners of YoFresh Yogurt Cafe.
Click here for a list of Black-owned restaurants and here for other Black-owned businesses in Chicago.
Support Covid-19 Relief for Black-Owned Businesses
A number of Evanston's Black-owned businesses currently have created online fundraisers to help them open back up after being hit disproportionately hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and by historical, structural racism that had them coming from behind in the first place. They would all appreciate your support both by visiting them in person and by contributing to their fundraisers.
Click C&W for C&W Market and Ice Cream Parlor's GoFundMe.
Click YoFresh for YoFresh Evanston's GoFundMe.
Click here for Jamaica Good To Go's GoFundMe.
Click here for Chef Q's GoFundMe.
Let us know if there are fundraisers for Black-owned businesses in Evanston that we may have missed.
Juneteenth opportunities to support Black-owned business this weekend
Last night, Kemone Hendricks, president of Evanston Present and Future, held a Juneteenth pop-up shop at Jamaica Good To Go.
This morning YoFresh hosted one featuring Young, Black & Lit, whose mission is to increase access to children's books that center, reflect, and affirm the experiences of Black children.
Tomorrow, don't miss the Juneteenth pop-up from noon to 2 p.m. at Hecky's BBQ. Enjoy Hecky's famous BBQ and purchase Juneteenth merch.
To register: Hecky’s Juneteenth Popup Shop
Finally, for the month of June, shop Minouchic Boutique (the store features a selection of African clothing) and a portion of your purchase will go to support this year's and future Juneteenth events.
