Economy Builders

Founded by Boston native Maria McKnight in 2018, 2 Birds No Stones offers sensory and holistic play services designed to foster healing, creativity, and connection in underserved communities. Maria’s work combines art and nature, creating custom resin art pieces from natural materials and offering sensory play experiences for adults and children. Her innovative installations, such as Gratitude Trees and fairy gardens, transform green spaces into places of joy and reflection, providing safe, calming environments for families to gather and heal. Inspired by her own child’s journey with anxiety, Maria channels her passion for nature and cultural heritage into memorable experiences that promote wellness and community connection.

The Bay State Banner is an African American owned news weekly that reports on the political, economic, social and cultural issues that are of interest to African American and English speaking Latinos in Boston and throughout New England.

Founded by Joyce Clark, the Birthing Heirs Project is dedicated to supporting Black and Brown families in Boston through doula services, lactation education, and community-driven health initiatives. Joyce’s vision centers on ensuring families and children are treated with respect and dignity, empowering them to reach their fullest potential. Joyce Clark is a lifelong Boston resident and a passionate advocate for health equity. As a doula since 1998, she was inspired by her own birthing experiences and trained at the Cambridge Birth Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is also a lactation educator with Vital Village, combining her expertise to provide holistic support for families. Beyond her work with the Birthing Heirs Project, Joyce has been deeply involved in health advocacy. She served as the Health Chair for the Boston NAACP, implementing programs to address Alzheimer’s awareness, caregiver self-care, and mental health destigmatization. Her initiatives, such as the "Destigmatizing Mental Health" campaign, brought personal stories and portraits to Boston Public Libraries, fostering community conversations around mental health.

As a creative firm specializing in innovative solutions for businesses and the entertainment industry, Boston Innovation Outlet brings a fresh perspective to traditional models, transforming the ordinary into impactful and memorable results. With a focus on video production, events and engagements, and creative concept development, Boston Innovation Outlet helps clients stand out in competitive markets. Guided by a philosophy centered on finding and creating tailored solutions for success, they exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence that align with UGBA’s mission of supporting socially impactful businesses.

Boston Neighborhood Community Land Trust works to combat displacement and racial injustice by creating permanently affordable, community-controlled housing in the Boston area, with a specific geographic focus on Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan. BNCLT builds neighborhood stability, housing equity, and community strength among low- and moderate-income residents most at risk of displacement; and through the collective strength of partners working toward a shared, equitable, and just future.

CERO (Cooperative Energy, Recycling, and Organics) is an award-winning commercial composting company based out of Dorchester, Massachusetts. CERO provides food waste diversion and pickup services for a wide range of commercial clients in the metro Boston area. In December 2019, CERO was approved for a 100,000 loan from the Ujima Fund.

Comfort Kitchen will be a cafe by day and a restaurant by night, celebrating the flavors and ingredients of the African diaspora — global comfort food — connected from Asia to the Americas. We are a Black-owned, immigrant-owned, and woman-owned business.

CommonWealth Kitchen is on a mission to transform the local food economy by strengthening capacity, creating connections, and unleashing the collective power of diverse entrepreneurs to start and grow successful food businesses.

Cupcake Therapy was founded by a foodie with a lot of allergies. They are a tree nut-free and peanut-free cupcakery that bakes made-to-order cupcakes. They bake with premium ingredients, organic when possible, and many of our cupcakes can be made dairy-free/vegan. They use oat milk in our recipes, which is dairy-free, soy-free, and nut-free. Their goal: to make the best-tasting desserts that almost anyone can enjoy, regardless of dietary restrictions.

The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative's (DSNI) mission is to empower Dudley residents to organize, plan for, create and control a vibrant, diverse and high-quality neighborhood in collaboration with community partners.

DVM Housing Partners (DVM) is a Boston-based, women-of-color-owned firm focused on creating and preserving income-restricted housing. With over 20 years of expertise, DVM provides real estate development and affirmative fair housing marketing services, emphasizing a community-centered approach. DVM prioritizes people—residents, clients, and staff—through care, respect, and collaboration, helping clients achieve meaningful physical, financial, and social outcomes. Its work is rooted in multi-family real estate development, property management, community engagement, and resident services programming. Founded by lifelong Boston resident Dariela Villón-Maga, DVM reflects her passion for affordable housing shaped by personal experiences with housing instability. As a certified Women/Minority Business Enterprise (W/MBE), DVM uplifts communities by centering their voices and needs in every project.

As a worker-owned cooperative, Dorchester Art Project empowers its members by granting decision-making power, profit distribution, and alignment with community needs. This model fosters resilience, collaboration, and collective action, extending its impact beyond the workplace. At DAP, every worker has a path to ownership, ensuring equitable participation through one vote per owner. Owners share in profits, strengthen community financial power, and can propose changes or improvements to enhance the organization. Policies ensure ownership remains rooted locally, keeping DAP aligned with its mission and values. Guided by the Seven Cooperative Principles—voluntary membership, democratic control, economic participation, autonomy, education, cooperation among cooperatives, and community concern—DAP promotes a sustainable cooperative economy and community development.

The Dorchester Food Co-op is a grassroots initiative to build a community & worker-owned grocery store that makes healthy food accessible and advances economic opportunity through neighborhood engagement. In March 2022, Dorchester Food Cooperative was approved for a start-up loan of $25,000 from the Ujima Fund.

Eastie Farm is dedicated to pursuing climate justice, improving food access, and fostering community resilience through the development of interactive urban agricultural spaces and environmental education programs in which residents of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to learn and take part in the production of healthy, locally-grown, and culturally relevant foods.

Fresh Food Generation is a Caribbean-American farm-to-plate restaurant, food truck, and caterer focused on expanding food justice in Boston.

Hillside Harvest is a Caribbean-American natural condiment brand founded by Kamall Jarrett. Jarrett's vision was to create a brand that would bring the Caribbean flavors of his heritage out of specialty international markets and into mainstream supermarket aisles. Hillside Harvest strives to continue the tradition of introducing people to unique flavors and recipes.

Jazz Urbane Cafe is a new arts and restaurant venture planned to launch soon in Boston’s Nubian Square neighborhood. Jazz Urbane Cafe will be an urban arts venue that spotlights local and national artists. In April 2022, Jazz Urbane Cafe was approved for a 200,000 loan from the Ujima Fund.

Kidogo Productions is an early-stage tech startup with BIG DREAMS for the world's kids. Kidogo Productions offers phenomenal and diverse content for children. Their goal is to connect with and have a positive impact on children from all across the world while affirming Black people and their cultures.

The Kush Groove brand was established in 2011 by Michael Pires & Marcus Johnson-Smith. City streets, all over the world, have seen the growth of the new age urban hippie—young, fresh, and dynamic. The Kush Groove brand is a blend of style and culture, expressed through an urban fashion savvy. Kush Groove produces high-quality lifestyle products inspired by the 420-friendly movement.

Live Like A Local Tours brings visitors out of downtown Boston and into the city's neighborhoods where they'll be exposed to foods from different cultures. They have created a tour where people can explore Boston from a passionate local's perspective. They will guide you through these hidden gems to explore the food, history, and culture of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Jamaica Plain.

Founded by Omowale Moses, MathTalk builds on more than fifty years of math education inspired by his father, Bob Moses, founder of the Algebra Project. Omowale’s journey includes teaching math, working with the Algebra Project, and creating the Young People’s Project. As a father, he now combines his experiences to develop products that inspire families to explore and enjoy math together.

Located on Dudley Street in Roxbury, Nos Casa Cafe is an inviting and intimate restaurant owned by Ana Maria and Joshua Fidalgo.

Founded by Jaypix Belmer, a Boston native and graduate of the New England Art Institute, Pixworx LLC uses photography to preserve and celebrate the stories of Black, Queer, and historically excluded communities. With a focus on authentic engagement and visual storytelling, Pixworx aligns with UGBA’s mission to support socially impactful businesses. Pixworx specializes in creating compelling visual narratives, collaborating with visionaries and creators, and developing brand identity through creative projects. Jaypix’s dedication to equity, inclusion, and positive representation enhances UGBA’s efforts to build a solidarity economy.

The word "Shanti" means peace in Sanskrit. Shanti hopes to transport its guests to a more peaceful place with both the ambiance and the cuisine. At Shanti diners will find more than Indian cuisine, where they can also indulge in Bangladeshi style cooking known as Bhuna. All three locations offer a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Founded in 2019 by two young creatives, Side Presents is a dynamic production company dedicated to developing, organizing, and producing meaningful events that celebrate creativity and community. With a focus on Black culture and art, Side Presents creates inclusive experiences where individuals can explore their passions and connect with others in a vibrant and supportive environment. Side Presents is built on a mission to empower individuals to embrace their creative "side" and share their talents with a larger network. By thoughtfully curating events, the organization fosters safe spaces where people can showcase their talents, discuss innovative ideas, and build meaningful relationships. As artists themselves, the founders of Side Presents are passionate about providing a platform for others to express their unique experiences and exhibit their creativity.