Essential Southeast Seattle Collective Fights for Small Businesses in the South End

from Mark Van Streefkerk

Even before the pandemic, BIPOC-owned small businesses and restaurants in the South End faced systemic barriers to success, including lack of access or resources, and the constant threat of gentrification and displacement. The pandemic has only increased these barriers. The processes of applying for vital loans and grants and moving to a larger online presence while trying to keep business up and running have been overwhelming without help. This is where the Essential Southeast Seattle Collective (ESES) comes in.

ESES is a collective of five community-based organizations (CBO) in southeast Seattle, covering eight neighborhoods from Beacon Hill to Rainier Beach. These five CBOs work together to provide critical assistance to businesses and nonprofits, help them build or expand their online presence, and keep BIPOC-owned businesses at risk of displacement.

Angela Castañeda, director of the Beacon Business Alliance, recalls the moment that inspired the collective last March. “Sarah Valenta [director of community & business development] from HomeSight emailed all of us saying, ‘Hey, we have to do something. We need to pool our energies and resources to ensure that important companies that are open are noticed, ”said Castañeda.

Based on that initial email, the Beacon Business Alliance, Mt.Baker Hub Alliance, MLK Business Association, Rainier Avenue Business Coalition, and Rainier Beach Merchants Association worked together to promote South End businesses online, with HomeSight sponsoring the collective. The ESES website launched last May and was an easily searchable directory of over 150 major South Seattle companies. When it turned out that business survival depends largely on online trading, ESES created the Digital Access Cohort for those struggling to establish or maintain a virtual presence. The cohort was a supportive space for learning and exploring questions such as “How do you approach and communicate with your customers?” [them] during COVID? ” said Castañeda.

This year the ESES website was relaunched with an online marketplace component (built by the women’s company DEI Creative), which is ideal for retailers with little to no internet presence. The ESES website is designed to be a single point of contact for local consumers and community members, and to provide a business toolkit for those who need assistance.

CBOs play an important role as organizations with an “ear on the ground” in their neighborhood and can help prevent BIPOC-owned companies from being displaced. A friend of the Beacon Hill legacy companies Baja Bistro and CheBogz, Castañeda helped facilitate their future reopening at the Colina Apartments. She helped secure the future location of the Kumon Math and Reading Center of Seattle – Beacon Hill (it will reopen later in the year at the old Hello Bicycle spot at 3067 Beacon Avenue South) and kept it in the neighborhood as hers Location on 16th Avenue South is slated for demolition. Castañeda also helped find a second location on Beacon Hill for Hillman City’s BIPOC-owned Renew Physical Therapy.

The members of the ESES collective work with the Seattle Office of Economic Development and were a crucial liaison in the early days of the pandemic. When the city rolled out its first waves of funding, including the Paycheck Protection Program, “we worked together to run a ‘call center’ and develop a tracking system with community liaisons … to help make sure no one falls through the cracks,” said Castañeda.

ESES is partnering with the Seattle Public Library to host virtual events called the Business Resource Open House (BROH). Open to everyone, these live streaming events feature representatives from CBOs and the city, and are a treasure trove of information and free resources. Participants are encouraged to use face time with knowledgeable experts to ask questions about resources, mentoring, and funding opportunities. The last BROH on September 21st was hosted by Jenefeness Tucker and included BJ Stewart from Urban Impact, Cesar Garcia and Furno West from Lake City Collective, Ivette Aguilera and Victor Cerdeneta Serrato with El Centro de la Raza, Jennifer Tam, the food business lawyer at Seattle Office of Economic Development and many more.

During the session, Stewart emphasized, “Relationships are so important. If you don’t have relationships, you don’t know how to get the resources you need. ”He encouraged attendees to turn to speakers from CBOs in their neighborhood for help. Urban Impact is currently accepting applicants for their Thrive Business Accelerator, a program that helps entrepreneurs in the early stages of business. (Learn more and apply on the official Thrive website.)

Sheryl Wiser, Director of Outreach at Tilth Alliance, reiterated a point raised by others when she said, “Consumers are looking for” [your business] and they search online. ”Earlier this year, Tilth created the Eat Local First website to help consumers find and connect with local farmers via CSA boxes, farmers markets and more.

ESES is working on putting all BROH events together on one YouTube channel. Translations are provided in Amharic, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin. The next BROH will take place online in December at a date to be determined.

Since the pandemic began, ESES has grown with the challenges South End companies face and is committed to long-term support. During the recent BROH, Valenta brought up a future ESES project that shows the evolving nature of the collective. “One thing we’re working on right now is a nonprofit or collaborative model for a delivery service,” she said. “Tap into the delivery drivers who are out there [already, and] Some of the national brands don’t have all of the profit. “

Be sure to bookmark the ESES Collective website to keep up to date with future events and happenings, and check out ESES-sponsored Seattle Restaurant Week October 24th-November 6th and Plate of Nations (now through September). 26) sponsored by ESES members HomeSight and MLK Business Association.

Mark Van Streefkerk is a South Seattle-based journalist and freelance writer living in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. He often writes on specialty coffees, LGBTQ + topics, and more. Visit his website and follow him on Instagram at @markthewriter.

📸 Featured Image: The Essential Southeast Seattle Collective is made up of five community-based organizations working to connect small businesses and restaurants with vital resources and to combat the displacement of BIPOC-owned businesses. (Photo: Pablo Castañeda Zilly)

Before you move on to the next story …
Please keep in mind that the article you just read was made possible by the generous financial support of donors and sponsors. The Emerald is a nonprofit news agency run by BIPOC with a mission to provide a broader view of the most diverse, least affluent, and pitifully underreported communities in our region. Please consider giving a one-time gift or, better yet, joining our Rainmaker family by becoming a monthly donor. Your support will help ensure our journalists are adequately paid and allow them to continue writing important stories that provide relevant news, intelligence, and analysis.
Support the emerald!

Like this:

To like Loading…