Circulating Black History: Community Spend Week

Description

Join the Town of Carrboro, the Chapel Hill–Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Black Business Alliance for Circulating Black History: Community Spend Week, a community-wide effort to celebrate Black History Month through economic action.

Throughout the week, we will gather at Black-owned businesses to intentionally spend, connect, and support. This initiative brings forward a long tradition of collective economic support by turning history into present-day impact—directing dollars to local Black-owned businesses and strengthening our shared community economy.

Together, we honor the past by showing up in the present.

Please scroll below for Frequently Asked Questions ⬇️

ABOUT COMMUNITY SPEND WEEK

1. What is Community Spend Week?
Community Spend Week is a coordinated effort where people show up at featured Black-owned businesses and spend money together, creating immediate economic impact through collective action.

REGISTRATION & PARTICIPATION

2. Do I have to register?
Registration is encouraged but not required. It helps organizers and businesses prepare for attendance and staffing.

3. Why should I register if it’s free?
Registration is used only as a headcount. Registered participants receive reminders, location details, and suggested spending guidance ahead of each Community Spend Week event.

4. Does it cost anything?
No. Registration is not an admission fee. Any money you spend goes directly to the businesses.

5. Can I attend more than one Community Spend Week event?
Yes. You may register for and attend one, two, or all of the featured events throughout the week.

6. Do I need to stay for the entire time?
No. You are welcome to stop by briefly or stay longer—participate in a way that fits your schedule.

7. Do I have to bring cash?
Cash is encouraged but not required.

8. Why is cash encouraged?
Cash provides the most immediate impact for small businesses. Funds are received instantly, businesses avoid credit card processing fees, and more of each dollar stays with the business.

9. What if I don’t have cash?
No problem. You are still encouraged to participate. Paying by card, showing up, and supporting the businesses all matter.

WHY COMMUNITY SPEND WEEK MATTERS

10. Why focus on Black-owned businesses?
Supporting Black-owned businesses strengthens local economies and helps address long-standing disparities in access to capital, customers, and visibility.

11. How does this connect to Black History Month?
Black History Month is not only about reflection—it is also about action. Community Spend Week brings economic support into the present by encouraging intentional spending today.

12. Is this symbolic, or does it really help?
It helps. Coordinated spending creates real, same-day revenue and increased visibility for participating businesses.

13. What is the bigger goal of Community Spend Week?
To encourage intentional spending, strengthen community connections, and demonstrate how collective action can multiply individual dollars.

14. Who is this event for?
Anyone who wants to support Black-owned businesses—community members, professionals, families, friends, coworkers, and allies.

15. What if I can’t attend during the scheduled times?
You can still participate. Support the featured businesses anytime during the day—or throughout Community Spend Week—on your own schedule. You can also help extend the impact by sharing your support online:

• Post where you visited or ordered from
• Tag the participating business
• Tag the event partners
• Use the event hashtag (if applicable)

Visibility matters. Even if you cannot attend at the scheduled time, your participation—through spending and sharing—still contributes to the collective impact.

SOCIAL MEDIA & VISIBILITY

16. Is there a hashtag we should use when posting about Community Spend Week?
Yes. We encourage participants and businesses to use #CirculatingBlackHistory and #CommunitySpendWeek when sharing photos, posts, or stories throughout the week.

When posting, please consider tagging the participating businesses and partners:

• The Flying Pierogi (@theflyingpierogi)
• Tonya’s Cookies (@tonyascookiescafe)
• Carolina Car Wash (@uncwash)
• Chapel Hill–Carrboro Chamber of Commerce (@carolinachamber)
• Town of Carrboro (@townofcarrboro)
• Black Business Alliance (@blackbusinessalliance_ch_c)