Meet Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, The Entrepreneur Behind The Village Atlanta
Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon is the entrepreneur behind The Village Market Atlanta, a community hub for Black businesses to help them connect and engage with their consumers.
What is The Village Market?
Over the years, The Village has become a staple in Atlanta for many Black-owned businesses. In addition, the thriving village has connected with small businesses across 38 different states in four other countries, which is a testament to the platform’s growing popularity.
To date, The Village has spotlights thousands of Black-owned businesses specializing in all-natural products and foods. In addition, hundreds of shoppers have contributed over 7 million dollars to Black entrepreneurs through their marketplace events.
“This was in 2016 when a lot of conversations were about going digital. I know there’s power in being communal, being in person and seeing people buying from Black folks, I know what that does,” Dr. Hallmon said in an interview.
“I wanted to talk about building villages, building communities, and allowing that to be an economic model for families.”
Visibility For Black Entrepreneurs
According to Dr. Hallmon, the platform’s primary mission is to provide more visibility to Black entrepreneurs, and since 2016, the platform has managed to surpass that goal.
One of the most significant issues most prominent Black entrepreneurs face is a lack of visibility. According to reports, Black business owners are less likely than their white peers to have exposure which is why The Village’s work is crucial for developing Black-owned businesses across Atlanta.
Through The Village’s community hub, more than 120 businesses have benefited from additional exposure and the necessary skills to scale their business.
Dr. Hallmon has also partnered with Walmart to offer technical assistance to small businesses led by Black women.
“Black women founders are leading the tide when it comes to growing rates of entrepreneurship,” added Dr. Hallmon. “This program is an opportunity to give Black women founders the tools and resources they need to build a solid foundation.
