BY TFN STAFF

While we had originally hoped to hold our 2021 conference in New Orleans, we want to nonetheless celebrate the people, cuisine and culture of this beautiful and resilient city.

We also hope to minimize the economic impact of our decision to go virtual with an opportunity to support local New Orleans vendors and entrepreneurs, many of whom have been hard hit by the economic impacts and social disruptions caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Shop Here! Virtual Market offers the opportunity to order directly from NOLA-based vendors, artisans, and social enterprises as a way to support these local vendors.

TFN’s 2021 Virtual Conference: Rise Together takes place March 15-17. But you don’t have to wait for our virtual conference to order something cool for yourself or someone you care about: The market is already open for business on our #TFN2021 webpage.

And you don’t have to be registered for TFN’s virtual conference to make purchases and support these businesses. (Although we do hope you’ll register if you haven’t; Early Bird rates end this Friday!)

TFN worked with Berto Horne and Ayanna Carrington of the Atlanta-based The Village Market, which seeks to connect Black-owned businesses to engaged consumers, impactful resources, and investors. Berto and Ayanna helped curate this virtual market with an emphasis on Black-owned businesses that connect to the vibrant culture and history of New Orleans and its surrounding region.

The links in our Shop Here! Virtual Market will take you directly to those vendors’ sites. TFN did not charge any fees to vendors for participating, and all transactions are conducted directly with the vendors featured in this virtual market.

We’d like to offer a special thanks to The Rockefeller Foundation for its support as a presenting sponsor of the Shop Here! Virtual Market.

Learn more about our conference, including speakers, sessions and other highlights here.

Shop Here! Virtual Market

Below are just some of the New Orleans-based businesses you can find in the Shop Here! Virtual Market. Please visit the market to find links to these vendors and others.

Fankara Fans offers a breath of fresh air in the form of collapsible, handmade fans in vibrant colors (like those pictured above.) They also offer a variety of tees and bags that asks the question, “Have you supported a Black woman owned business today?”

Maison Bertrand, founded in 1931 as the Monogram Coffee Company in Shreveport, La., offers iconic chicory coffee and other celebrations of Louisiana tradition and culture, including handmade pralines and apple cider caramels.

Meet Me At The Bar connects people over cocktails through curated experiences and products, including both in-person and virtual events. The company was founded by college friends Chanté McDonald and Ciara Coleman. (Fun fact: Ciara is a 2018 TFN PLACES alum!)

A self-confessed extrovert and hypochondriac, Taylor Simone found herself feeling idle and alone during quarantine closures, so she turned her jewelry-making hobby in to a business. Joy Journey offers handmade polymer clay earrings, including custom options.

The Rustic Shoebox was founded by former IT professional Chatoya Connor, who swapped a career in the corporate world for a new one selling fiercely fashionable shoes, handbags and other accessories.

Conference Highlights

TFN’s 2021 Virtual Conference: Rise Together will encourage funders to explore the strategies and stories that are creating more equitable, sustainable, and resilient places to live — work that has taken on increased urgency as we face the dual challenges of a global pandemic and structural racism.

We’ve designed sessions that are intersectional, cross-cutting and grounded in racial equity and speak to activism, collaboration and movement building.

Please check out our TFN 2021 Virtual Conference: Rise Together webpage for more updates and conference highlights, including #TFN2021 Critical Conversations, Flash Talks, a Cook Here! Funder Social Hour and other opportunities to learn, share and connect.