Native Washingtonian, Mary Blackford was inspired to create Market 7, a food hall market, while on a teaching trip to Ghana, where she saw firsthand how integral community markets were to underserved residents. In 2017, she began hosting pop-up and flea markets in Ward 7 to give Black food businesses and farmers an opportunity to showcase their products, but more importantly to give residents of Ward 7 a chance to purchase healthy food options. In 2019, Mary and her team broke ground on a 7000 square foot building that will operate a food market hall, food incubator and event space in the heart of Ward 7 DC.

In episode 1 of Do Something Good Today, I spoke with Mary on the food injustice that has long taken place in Ward 7 & 8 in Washington, DC, the clear connection between food insecurity and the rise of poverty and health ailments in the black community, how she funded her 7,000 square foot food market hall, and more. We went in-depth on actionable items and even discussed topics that have that will take steps to eliminate food insecurity in these particular Wards. 

Everybody's Juice: EverybodysJuice.com

Market7: Market7DC.com