When Shanté Woody describes The People’s Market, her voice is animated with the kind of passion that only comes from lived experience. “We’re not just another pop-up market,” she says. “We’re a call to action. A community. A place where people find support, creativity, and connection.”
Founded in 2015 in Greensboro’s Glenwood neighborhood, The People’s Market began as a grassroots effort to create a sense of belonging in an underserved area.
What started in a vacant parking lot has blossomed into a seasonal open-air market—operating April through August—that celebrates everything handmade, homegrown, and homemade – From jams and sauces to crochet earrings, soaps, and live music.
But The People’s Market is about more than goods—it’s about growth. Economic growth. Personal growth. Community growth. In 2018, the market teamed up with the Corner Farmers Market to form Neighborhood Markets, Inc., which enabled them to offer SNAP benefits and launch a SNAP doubling program. “For every $20 spent, we give $40 to spend with our vendors,” Shanté explains. “It’s economic development that tackles food insecurity and supports our vendors.”
And the support doesn’t stop at the checkout. In 2023, Shanté launched Side Hustle University, a program offering grassroots entrepreneurs networking and skill-building opportunities. The program has already inspired a podcast featuring stories of everyday people turning side hustles into thriving businesses.
It’s a story Shanté knows firsthand. “I started out as a vendor in 2016. I was underemployed, and entrepreneurship gave me an avenue,” she says. “Now, I’ve been managing the market for five years, and I want others to have that same opportunity.”
Many already have. There’s the vendor who sold mac and cheese while her son underwent chemotherapy. The woman who made enough in one day to retrieve her car from repossession. The creator of My Brother’s Cookies, who began baking as a way to process grief after losing his brother—and now sells downtown and in Deep Roots Market. Or the young entrepreneur crafting natural hair care products, whose business was born at the market and continues to grow.
And then there’s the People’s Free Table, stocked with donated clothes, books, household items, and baby gear. “Free is affordable for everyone,” Shanté says. “This is a space for dignity and mutual aid.”
Recently, The People’s Market received support The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro (The ACGG) to elevate their Ujamaa 365 Festival, a celebration fusing Juneteenth and Kwanzaa through the principle of cooperative economics. With the help of an ACGG Festival Grant, they were able to compensate artists, improve staging, and expand their reach. “It was one of our most successful events,” Shanté recalls. “And it let us do what we’ve always done—support our community—with even more intention.”
Shanté also received a Grassroots Grant to support artist programming throughout the market season. “We’ve always had poetry in April and performances throughout the summer,” she says. “But being able to pay artists for their talent? That matters.”
The People’s Market has officially launched their season for the year! Visit their website to learn more.
