SHE’S SO BOSTON: Meet Cara & Africa, AKA Boston Women Market

Once a month, we want to highlight really cool women who are doing really cool things around Boston in this cute little segment we like to call “She's So Boston”. This month, we are featuring two girlies who are killing it as they help small business owners THRIVE by hosting markets all around Boston with Boston Women's Market! 

What is Boston Women's Market all about?

BWM provides selling opportunities for women owned small businesses. That doesn't limit us to businesses that craft or sell goods. We invite vendors that sell services, musicians, face painters, etc. We offer collaborations with lawyers, financial advisors, social media managers, etc by providing informational sessions and workshops for our community of vendors. We all support each other.

What led you to where you are today?
Africa: I was raised in Madrid, Spain, but when I moved to Boston in 2014, I lacked a sense of community. BWM, essentially, allowed me to connect with the amazing small business owners in the area and bring the community together.

Cara: I have a passion for entrepreneurship, and after graduating, I began working for organizations where I could get my hands dirty in all things small business. I've come to realize I get the greatest satisfaction and joy from helping others learn and succeed, and I strive to bring this to the BWM community every day!

What inspires you to do the work you do?

Africa: I noticed the lack of support small entrepreneurs have and how physically draining it can be from watching my mother's experience as a small business owner. BWM always strives to provide support to the vendors due to what I saw the market business lacked.

Cara: The vendors I interact with daily motivate me to pursue BWM's goals. It's fulfilling to help others achieve their goals, even in small ways. In the past seven years, we've grown alongside other small businesses in our community.

How do you believe your work or activities make a difference in the Boston community?

Africa: A vendor from BWM told me once that our markets support the most fundamentally human activity, making. That stuck with me. We help encourage creativity, interconnectivity in the community and the local economy.

Cara: Not only do we create selling opportunities like our year-round markets, but we encourage vendors to invest in their ongoing education and development. By hosting free or very low-cost educational workshops year-round on all topics that are necessary for small business owners, from marketing to legal to finance, we want to make these topics that are often scary and approachable for anyone.

Can you share a challenge you've overcome in your journey and what you learned from it?

Africa & Cara: One challenge we always face is how to deliver top-notch programming to our community we value so much, with such a small team and budget. How can we keep offering opportunities to our community and building relationships with Boston's key players that open doors for small business owners? 

The biggest challenge is to adapt to the times and current events to provide the same services and connections with our vendors and the local community.

Can you highlight a collaboration or partnership you've had with other local women or organizations that was particularly meaningful?

Africa & Cara: On top of being featured in the Boston Globe, in 2023, we began partnering with other women makers and artists in our community to host DIY workshops. This is a great way to bring new, fun programming to BWM and also promote and build brand recognition for the talented makers and artists in our community!

Aside from your work or the activities you're known for, what are you passionate about?

Africa- I'm extremely passionate about health and wellness. I approach my health with a holistic eye. I am a Holistic Nutrition Health Coach who concentrates on women's hormones.

Cara - Besides BWM, I'm most passionate about my family. The perfect day to me is spending time doing something fun with my niece and nephew or doing something goofy with my sister and brother.

What's something, not many people know about you that you'd like to share?

Cara- I'm pregnant! There, my official reveal, courtesy of Girlfriends Boston Haha. Due in October :)

THAT’S WHY “SHE’S SO BOSTON” IN THIS CASE, “THEY ARE SO BOSTON” :)