Lifting up minority-owned businesses during a pandemic

We all know it’s been tough for businesses trying to stay open during this pandemic. It’s been especially tough on small, minority-owned businesses.

WASHINGTON — Amanda Stephenson owns the Fresh Food Factory Market in the Anacostia Arts Center in Southeast, D.C. She and Lesli Foster met to talk about her business, her community and how she pivoted during the pandemic. It's all part of an effort to put a spotlight on locally-owned black and brown business owners.

"Is there art and life in this part of the city?" Foster asked. 

"There's a lot of life in this part of the city," Stephenson replied. "And that's why I chose Anacostia."

Stephenson opened the Fresh Food Factory Market because she said she knows the importance of having healthy, ethnic foods that are accessible to this tight-knit community she calls home.

The Market carries locally produced minority-owned products and when the pandemic started to shut things down, this small business owner stopped taking a paycheck to make sure her small group of employees was taken care of.

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