Our Mission 

We believe in stepping up to help BIPOC businesses succeed. Things need to change. Let’s be part of the change. 

What is ssBIPOC? 

South Sound BIPOC is a free business directory focused primarily on helping BIPOC Businesses thrive through three pillars; Networking, Marketing and Education. Featuring BIPOC businesses from Seattle to Chehalis, our site’s growing membership has a wide variety of businesses from all over the south sound to choose from. Give our directory a look! Membership is completely free.

What we do  

Networking

In partnership with the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce, we host quarterly in-person networking events and monthly BIPOC Business Roundtables over Zoom. The BIPOC Business Roundtable provides space for BIPOC business owners to discuss wants, needs, and how best to support each other. This networking opportunity occurs on the last Tuesday of every month from 11am-12pm. The roundtable is completely free to attend and any BIPOC business owner, ssBIPOC member or not, is welcome.  

Head over to our events calendar to learn about other events being hosted and attended by ssBIPOC members.  

Follow @ssBIPOC on Facebook or visit the Thurston County Chamber events calendar and type ssBIPOC in the search tab to learn more about upcoming networking events.  

Marketing

We promote our members on our Facebook page and work with the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce to increase ssBIPOC member visibility in the community. Tag us on Facebook for your next event so that we can spread the word for you! 

Education 

Specialists are invited to the BIPOC Business Roundtables to present information that is useful to you as a business owner. We also send information about training and other resources that can help your business thrive.  

The Thurston County Chamber of Commerce has Small Business Incubator space reserved for BIPOC Businesses with rent scholarships provided. To learn more, go here

Who we are 

Makieda Hart, the owner of Strong Family Bonds and Sgt Hart’s BBQ Sauce, started the South Sound BIPOC business directory in 2020 to help BIPOC business owners succeed. It can be challenging to find BIPOC businesses in the south sound, and it is even more challenging to find them all in one place. The ssBIPOC Business Directory’s goal is to provide free visibility, all while supporting BIPOC businesses in their wants and needs. 

SsBIPOC partnered with the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce in 2021 to provide increased resources for our Networking, Marketing, and Education opportunities. 

SsBIPOC co-Founder, Elaine Robinson of Smiling Web Design, conceived of this website and Makieda Hart partnered with Elaine to bring the site to fruition. Lee Doyle of Communication by Design created the logo and business cards. 

Makieda Hart, Co-Founder

Elaine Robinson, Co-Founder

In partnership with the Thurston County Chamber Foundation