Shared Table

It's the best of times and it's the hardest of times. It's the most meaningful work I've ever done. You're building something from scratch while also trying to prove that it deserves to exist. And as a woman, you're often doing that with less access to capital, fewer networks that were built for you and a whole lot of people who underestimate whether you'll be able to pull it off. 

 
In the same way there is a gender pay gap for professional women, there is a revenue gap when it comes to women-owned small businesses. On average, women-owned businesses earn roughly 40 cents for every dollar earned by businesses owned by men. And the same inequities that professional women of color face persist for BIPOC women business owners. 

 
The good news is that while not all of us are in a position to influence the organizations that would mitigate gender pay equity, when we intentionally spend money at a woman-owned business, we can put our collective thumb on the scales of economic justice: one oil change, one banh mi sandwich or one ice cream cone at a time. 

Small businesses are essential to community infrastructure. They're the places where community actually happens. The neighborhood restaurant where your family celebrates special occasions. The boutique where the owner remembers what you bought last time. The coffee shop that always steps up to lend a hand to those in need. When we uplift small businesses, we're not just supporting the local economy, we're reminding the people behind the places and spaces that bring us together that they matter. 

 

For me, uplifting small businesses starts with recognizing them not only for the products and services they sell, but also for the many ways they strengthen our communities. At the same time, it means telling the truth about the challenges they face and what they're going through. I love amplifying small businesses because it's an opportunity to help people connect with what makes a particular business special or relatable and then close the gap between our good intentions to show up and actions that make an impact. Because every time you choose a family-owned restaurant over a chain, every time you pick up a gift from a local bookstore instead of clicking "add to cart," you are investing in and reinforcing the social fabric of our communities. 

The Seattle Storm community understands what it means to show up for each other. And that’s exactly what small businesses need right now. There are approximately 650K adults in Seattle, and if we all shift $50 in spending to a local business, that would be $32.5M invested in the heart of our communities. The small businesses we love are struggling to survive, and together our spending and support can be the difference they need. 
 

Here are four ways to get started: 

• Visit Intentionalist.com to explore the diverse small businesses at the heart of our communities. 

• Write a recommendation for a small business you love. Word of mouth is the only marketing budget most of these business owners have. Your words matter more than you know. 

• Check in with a small business owner you haven't seen in a while. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply show up and let someone know they're not invisible. 

• And whenever possible, #SpendLikeItMatters. Every dollar you spend intentionally is a vote for the kind of community you want to live in. 

Not only as a woman small business owner but also a Muslim business owner, I have always tried to be strong, resilient and able to face obstacles and opportunities to create something meaningful for my community. I sometimes face extra challenges, such as stereotypes or having to prove your credibility in a competitive industry. I also feel responsible to reflect my values through halal practices, modesty, hospitality and ethical business standards.

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing happy customers, building relationships and watching my business grow through hard work and dedication. 

Visit the restaurant, recommend us to friends, leave positive reviews, and support local small businesses while giving credit to women business owners. It is not easy to run a restaurant in this time with changing cost of items and taxes.

Visit our websites to learn more: 

www.cafeturko.com  

www.cafeturkocatering.com 

www.dailygrindbothell.com 

For a small, local, Black-owned business, it means being trusted at what we consider the highest level and a platform that says, “Excellence lives here too.” It also means impact. When a major organization invests in a local business, that investment circulates back into the community through hiring, sourcing locally and mentorship. This partnership proves that small businesses can operate at elite levels. 

Black History looks like resilience, innovation and ownership. It looks like cooking traditions passed down through generations, building businesses despite limited access to capital, turning culture into enterprise and trying our best to be excellent without permission. As Black women business owners, we don’t separate Black History from daily work. It lives in motherhood, food, leadership and the space we create in kitchens. Black entrepreneurship has always been about more than profit. It’s about community, access and legacy. That mindset also shapes how we source and serve. When we feed the Storm, we’re not just providing meals. We’re standing in a lineage of Black cooks, farmers and business owners who built something from nothing. 

Fans and employees can book catering for corporate or private events, attend pop-ups and community dinners and follow and share social content. We are one of the newest members of the Ballard Farmers Market held every Sunday from 9a-2p. We’re always looking to build partnerships rooted in excellence and impact.