WELL WOMEN OF COLOR | Rosalind Brooks

Getting Back To Good Health In Your Own Backyard

Las Vegas is full of big-box retailers — and while they may boast convenience, they lack the true essentials: personality, product diversity, and community. Consumer culture may steer us to chain stores for our shopping needs, but there is usually a disconnect: we don’t alwaysget to know where our goods come from or who makes them. Our choices in these stores are surprisingly limited, and many options sacrifice quality forthe sake of availability. They also make shopping a solitary activity that involves little to no interaction with our neighbors.

Vegas Roots’ “Marketplace at the Roots” addresses these problems by featuring local vendors, providing a familyfriendly weekend activity, and fostering a sense of community. Your dollar goes further because you’re supporting the growth of small businesses, strengthening our local economy, and can find high quality, unique goods that simply don’t exist at the corner store.

This open-air farmer’s market gives shoppers an opportunity to come out and socialize with others in the community while supporting the amazing efforts of aspiring local entrepreneurs. Not only will there be handmade crafts, clothing, jewelry, and fresh food for purchase, this event has a true festival atmosphere — with live music, yoga, painting, healthy food options and activities for kids of all ages. One of the highlights: a Kidpreneur Zone, where young people under 18 will sell what they’ve created. Also, if you are growing an abundance of fruit that the birds are feasting on, the marketplace provides a place to sell your bounty.

Marketplace at the Roots kicks off on Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market will be open every second and fourth Saturday of each month at the Vegas Roots. For more information, send an email to roz@wellwomenofcolor.com.