Sherman Phoenix Marketplace, located on the city’s north side on 36th and Fond Du Lac, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with a big birthday party.
Created out of the burned ruins of a bank and other buildings during protests after a man was shot and killed by a former police officer in 2016, Sherman Phoenix has come to reflect the neighborhood’s rebirth. It is now a place of healing and gathering, a beacon of light in the community.
“We want to continue to help businesse and be their first brick-and-motar, to help them to grow and develop their business, and not just survive but thrive,” said Dr. Stacia Thompson, the executive director of Sherman Phoenix in describing the purpose of the multi-business marketplace.
The Sherman Phoenix currently hosts more than 25 Black-owned small businesses, employing more than 75 people.
The celebration included proclamations, music, drinks, and food.
But the party was not held just to celebrate the accomplishments of the past five years. It was about plotting a course for success in the future.
In honor of the fifth anniversary, the Sherman Phoenix Foundation is encouraging people to donate in increments of $5, attend five events, or support five of the businesses.
The foundation also offers community programs, like a training hub and others.
“(We have) group mental health sessions, we have monthly youth trap therapy, which is group mental health for the family, and we also have self-care Sundays, which is mental health support for veterans,” said Thompson.
Leave a Reply