This November marks National Entrepreneurship Month — a time when we celebrate the strength, innovation, and economic power of BIPOC entrepreneurs across Massachusetts. According to the Massachusetts Minority-Owned Businesses Office, our state is home to over 35,000 minority-owned businesses that generate billions in revenue and provide thousands of jobs. From tech startups to neighborhood restaurants and service providers, these enterprises are engines of prosperity and pillars of community development.
When diverse entrepreneurs succeed, our entire business ecosystem thrives. Their contributions are not just a vital part of our economy; they are a driving force for positive change and inclusive growth.
Yet this moment of celebration arrives amid an urgent crisis for food insecure communities in our country.
The recent lapse in SNAP funding is more than a policy failure — it’s a reflection of an economy that continues to devalue care and community. Millions of families are now facing impossible choices at the grocery store. For Black, Brown, and low-income households, the pain is compounded by generations of structural inequity.
At BII, we believe food access is economic justice in action. When families can’t eat, local businesses suffer, children struggle to learn, and community wealth erodes. That’s why we’re calling on our partners, investors, and allies to respond — not just with charity, but with solidarity investments that strengthen our community food systems.
Community-led farms, food co-ops, and small food businesses are on the frontlines right now, feeding neighbors and building ownership from the ground up. They show us what a caring economy looks like — one rooted in mutual aid, dignity, and resilience.
Here’s how you can take action:
Invest: Direct capital toward community-owned food enterprises that build local control and resilience.
Become a member of Dorchester Food Co-op
Give: Support your local organizations meeting the immediate needs of our community.
The Boston Foundation: Meeting the Moment: Sustaining Families
CommonWealth Kitchen: Help Bring Thanksgiving to Every Table
Participate: Explore the resources and paths to support your local community, as residents and businesses of Massachusetts
This National Entrepreneurship Month, let’s honor our community entrepreneurs by ensuring they have the resources and support to sustain their neighbors through this crisis and beyond. Learn their stories, invest in their ventures, and advocate for policies that remove systemic barriers to growth.
This is a moment to move our money where our values are. Let’s make sure every family in our community can thrive — starting with a full plate.
In solidarity,
Samalid Hogan
Director of Business Support Services