Take a peek at your expenses over the last few months. What businesses do you spend your money on? An even better phrasing of this question is—where do you assign value? Are local, creative businesses on that list? If not, that's a good place to start. Studies show that when you support local, you have a better chance of supporting diverse business owners in your community.

Women, LGBTQ+ and BIPOC creatives are part of the largest (and sometimes fastest) growing segment of small businesses in the US, yet they're simultaneously the most under-resourced. So, become a fan. If you like what creative small business owners bring to your community, support their work by spreading the word. It works.

When we consciously support the creative small businesses we want to see in the world, especially with representation and equity in mind, we have the opportunity to circulate economic value within our communities more equally. We are also actively encouraging the people, places and spaces around us—right where we are—to grow.

Small businesses often double as community-building spaces. We can physically see and be around other people who live in our neighborhoods or are interested in the same things we are. So, when we pay attention to the art market down our street or the barber shop up the block, we create culture for ourselves and others. And in times of crisis, the health of our creative and small business communities are often indicators of changes that impact us and our neighbors. So, even when your budget's tight, show up. Open emails. Attend events. Make friends. Explore.

If we want to live in resilient and vibrant communities, where creatives and small businesses thrive—where culture thrives—we can make it real. Being mindful and realistic about how we participate in and contribute to our local economies is a stepping stone to better understanding the ecosystems we live in, as well as the power we all hold to shape our worlds.