New Nonprofit Booth at The Market: LadyLike

This article includes an interview with Lindsey J. White, Control Management Senior Manager for Wells Fargo Home Lending and Program Lead of the LadyLike Initiative.

• Lindsey J. White

The Downtown Farmers’ Market is one of Downtown Des Moines’ (DSM’s) most attended events. Each summer, from May until October, thousands show up to Historic Court District to find locally made treasures and fresh foods at booths along Court Avenue and its neighboring streets. This year, The Market’s vendors and nonprofits will showcase their products on Saturdays from 7 a.m. until Noon. May through September and 8 a.m. until Noon in October.

In the Q and A below, Lindsey J. White shares what the LadyLike initiative does and how the organization's presence on-site at The Market will help uplift black women-owned businesses.

Market Nonprofit Booth: LadyLike

Q+A with Lindsey J. White, Program Lead of the LadyLike Initiative

What is LadyLike?

LadyLike is an organization that empowers African American Women in DSM by elevating local talent and addressing the racial wealth gap. By offering training, mentoring and support, more Black female business owners can own their own small businesses. LadyLike provides resources for those entrepreneurs.

What resources do you offer local Black entrepreneurs?

• PowHER Hour: Hear from local speakers in a monthly event that focuses on topics for Black women.
• PowHER Brunch: Hear from local, regional and national speakers in this annual event for Black women.
• Sip & Shop Grant: Apply for a grant that helps with professional tax support, website build/update, strategic business coaching or operational support.

Black women are the fastest-growing entrepreneur base, but the least likely to get funding from outside sources. For many, the Sip & Shop Grant has been the first time Black-owned businesses have applied for a grant like this.

Who does LadyLike partner within the DSM community?

In late 2021, we had a Sip & Shop Mystery Box where we partnered with local Black women-owned businesses, similar to a subscription box. It was short-lived before we switched to the Sip & Shop Grant, but it was a good introduction to partnering with local companies.

How did you get involved with The Market? How often will you be at The Market?

Back in February, LadyLike identified businesses who were ready to scale to the level of the Downtown Farmers’ Market. Ever since, LadyLike has worked with those vendors identified to pull together marketing, etc. and will add web-based support for the businesses leading up to each event.

LadyLike will be at The Market nine Saturdays from May through September, and each event, the LadyLike booth will showcase a different Black female-owned business. We’ve rented the tables and tent for them to give them an opportunity to sell in a large-scale market.

What is your favorite part of being part of LadyLike?

The best part has been seeing the business grow in an organic way as the business comes out of the pandemic with brand-new programming that impacts women and their families in a positive way. Watching women succeed and being in a position to support work that serves so many is exciting.

How can people support LadyLike?

• Visit the booth at The Market
• Visit ladylikedsm.com
• Reach out about partnering with the organization
• Help raise awareness of what LadyLike does

Lindsey J. White Lindsey J. White is a Control Management Senior Manager for Wells Fargo Home Lending. She is President for the Central Region of Black & African American Connection Employee Resource Network and serves on the Central Iowa Diversity Equity & Inclusion Council committee. She is Program Lead of the LadyLike initiative.

From May to October, experience local artists, live music and entertainment at the Downtown Farmers’ Market featuring nearly 300 family farmers, bakers, artists and crafters from around the state. It’s easy to visit with plentiful and affordable street and ramp parking options.