About us

Our Mission

  • Support, connect, and advocate for Black-owned businesses

  • Provide resources, technical assistance, and visibility

  • Foster economic equity in Cambridge and surrounding communities.

Our Vision

Build a strong, connected, and thriving Black business community.

The Cambridge-Somerville Black Business Network, facilitated by Nicola Williams of The Williams Agency and sponsored by the Sustainable Business Network of MA (SBN) and Cambridge Local First (CLF), brings together Black entrepreneurs and identifies specific programs that can be developed or adopted to help ensure these businesses survive the pandemic and thrive moving forward. This new initiative will convene and work with Black-owned businesses based in Cambridge and Somerville that are in at least one of these phases:  start-up; expansion; recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

History and Milestones

Our Partners

Our Team

Barbara Thomas

Artifact Soapworks

Angela Hofmann

Nussli 118

Jessica Acevedo

Little Star of Ours

Andrea Taylor Dunkley

ATD Advisory

Laury Hammel

Sustainable Business Network
& Longfellow Health Clubs

Katie Labrie

Cambridge Local First

Nicola Williams

The Williams Agency / CSBBN

Monica Raffo

Business Support Coordinator, CSBBN

Community Impact

The Cambridge-Somerville Black Business Network (CSBBN) strengthens the local economy by uplifting and supporting Black-owned businesses in Cambridge and Somerville.

Through marketplaces, technical assistance, funding access, and strategic partnerships, we create opportunities for entrepreneurs to grow, increase visibility, and build sustainable businesses. Our events connect hundreds of residents directly with local business owners, helping dollars circulate within the community and fostering meaningful relationships between consumers and entrepreneurs. 

Vendors consistently report strong satisfaction, new customer connections, and measurable business growth through participation in CSBBN programming 

At its core, our impact is about more than commerce. It is about advancing economic equity, community pride, and long-term resilience, ensuring that Black-owned businesses are not only supported, but celebrated as essential to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods.

Surveys

The 2025 CSBBN Holiday Marketplace (December 12–14) was a great success, with positive feedback from both shoppers and vendors. Attendees reported high satisfaction and strong engagement with local and Black-owned businesses, while vendors praised the overall experience, communication, and exposure. This report summarizes key insights from the post-event surveys to inform and improve future marketplaces.

  • This report analyzes 158 post-event survey responses collected following the CSBBN Holiday Pop-Up held from December 12 to December 14, 2025. The findings demonstrate that the event was an exceptional success, achieving very high levels of attendee satisfaction, strong alignment with community values, and meaningful engagement with local and Black-owned businesses.

    Read full survey analysis

  • Vendor feedback for the event was overwhelmingly positive. Most vendors (73%) attended all three days, and 87% rated their overall experience 4 or 5 out of 5. Key aspects such as communication, setup, and business exposure largely met or exceeded expectations, though some noted challenges with customer flow and logistics.

    Read full survey analysis