Supporting Social Enterprises

Support Black-Owned Businesses

From clothing to food to fashion, the Denver area is home to more than 400 local Black-owned businesses. Here are just a few:

• Located in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood, TeaLee’s Tea House and Bookstore provides high-quality loose-leaf teas, food and specialty drinks in an Afrocentric atmosphere.
• The Edward Joiner clothing brand is focused on simplicity, sustainability and comfort in its fabrics and designs.
• Ti-a Woven Goods sells products handmade by women in Ghana, helping them to keep traditional skills alive and adapt their art into products that are environmentally friendly, useful and sought after.

Other Ideas for Giving and Getting Involved

There are many other creative ways you can make gifts with impact. Here are some ideas:

• Stock your local Community Fridge with fresh food and treats for your neighbors.
• Share baked goods or items from your own home in your local Buy Nothing group, and accept items that you can use or regift to others. Have a skill? You can share your knowledge and time, too!
• Join Mutual Aid Monday to provide a Monday night community meal for people experiencing homelessness.
• Donate nonperishable food to the SAME Café, a fair-exchange restaurant that serves healthy food to everyone, regardless of ability to pay. Pitch in to pay for meals for others who may not have the means, or volunteer to work a shift with friends or family!
• The Colorado Safe Parking Initiative provides safe overnight parking and services for people who are unhoused and living in a vehicle. Support guests with gift cards for gas, oil changes, tires or groceries, or provide a hot homemade meal for guests.
• Provide nonperishable food or host a food drive for the University of Denver Food Pantry, helping to reduce food insecurity among students.

Support Local Businesses Year-Round

Throughout the year, you can grow an inclusive economy by supporting local businesses. The Center for Community Wealth Building is a GSSW partner and MSW internship site working to advance a people-owned, inclusive and sustainable Metro Denver economy that catalyzes prosperous and resilient communities free from racism and injustice. Check out their list of local Black-owned, Indigenous-owned, people of color-owned, women-owned and immigrant/refugee-owned businesses.