We're so glad you're here!

Welcome Amplify Family!

In case you've missed the memo...we wanted to share with you that we're a part of The Arts & Justice Collective along with Belonging Books, Cape Cod Voices, and The Cordial Eye. We're excited to be partnering on mission focused community events and programs to create a culture of belonging for members of historically excluded groups through art and social justice. Follow Amplify's social media pages to stay up to date on all things Collective!

This Month's Spotlight is on...

Band Together for Inclusion #Includeme

Chase Bradford Younger Blackburn, an 18-year-old, 12 grader with down syndrome at the Mashpee High School. Chase has been seeing the world through music and musical theater throughout most of his young life. His superpower is his infectious smile, humor, and ability to inspire people to just be themselves. In addition to music, Chase is a delivery man for his mom Marie’s Homemade Breads (a musical element is added for special occasions), brand ambassador, and an Usher in theater house across Cape Cod. The inspiration for #bandtogetherforinclusion a music festival that debuted on his 18th birthday weekend solidifying his place among his tribe of Cape Cod’s theater arts community. Chase is also the manager of the girl’s tennis team at Mashpee High School. Chase is the inspiration for Cape Cod’s first inclusive advertising guide #Includeme. His motto is “open the door invite people in and mean it”.

#Includeme is not an ask, it’s a statement of empowerment that say’s include me in education, in employment, social recreation, in opportunities and community.

Chase lives what he seeks. The ability to define inclusion in its entirety. Being a young man with down syndrome the inclusion wasn’t always there, starting at a young age. Marie Younger Blackburn (Chase’s mother) started to advocate for Chase and humanize the experience and to show the world that Chase is capable and to change our community’s perception. Marie explained that things take a while to get its footing. The biggest struggle is making sure that the inclusion message is understood as a black woman with a black son with a disability. The constant struggle to not misrepresent looking through the lens of inclusion.

This past Friday, May 5th, was Chase’s Birthday. Happy Birthday to an awesome and innovative young man!

This spotlight feature was written by Naticia Thorpe Reid, Amplify Team Member and owner of Neighborhood Admin

Please Take the Cape Cod Housing Survey

To inform development of the Cape Cod Regional Housing Strategy, the Cape Cod Commission is surveying Cape Codders about their preferences for housing development and redevelopment. This survey asks a series of questions that touch on the design of housing, various housing types, appropriate locations for new housing development and redevelopment, and other housing development considerations.

Take the Survey

Thank You To Our

Racial Equity Level Sponsors

Special shoutout this month to our Racial Equity Level Sponsors who don't just talk the talk but are walking the walk!

Are you looking for ways to make an impact and support Racial Equity on Cape Cod? We have plenty of opportunities for our Community Partners and Individual Allies to support our work. Check out the Sponsorship Opportunities below or email us with your ideas and interest!

Become a Sponsor

Resources You'll Want To Check Out

Our First Vendor Market on May 27th!

A-way With Words is your first opportunity to join us! Vendor Market registration is open. We have four markets planned for this year and we want to see YOU there!

Vendor Sign Up Form

Wampum Moon - 2022 A-way With Words

Small Business

Growth Fund

LISC recently launched an entrepreneur-friendly growth capital fund, piloting an innovative strategy to bridge the growth capital gap faced by entrepreneurs of color in Massachusetts. The Fund offers patient, equity-like capital with capped repayment that is required only when/if the entrepreneur hits agreed-upon growth targets.

Learn More

Financial Wellness & Homeownership Workshops

This series will help you reach your financial goals and help you understand the homebuying process. In partnership with Cape Cod 5, Community Development Partnership will be offering three virtual sessions on Wednesdays, beginning May 10th, May 17th and May 24th from 6 pm to 7 pm.

More Info

Need a Landscaper?

We've Got You!

We receive a lot of calls from folks looking to support POC-OWNED landscaping companies! You asked and we delivered! Remember to always check our online directory for a wide variety of businesses!

Check Out Our Business Directory

Barnstable Ally Group

Spring Book Drive

Help this amazing group of educators and community members reach their goal of putting 500 books into the backpacks of all K-3 students at Centerville Elementary School. "We recognize the need for all students to have the opportunity to identify with, make connections with, and read about characters of color and books with diverse themes. It is our hope that with your donation, students of color and other marginalized groups will more deeply engage with the literature they are reading, all while strengthening a positive cultural identity in the process." Please use the links below to purchase through local POC owned booksellers.

Purchase Books-Footprints Cafe

Purchase Books-Belonging Books

Amplify & Community Events

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: ACCESS TO JUSTICE SERIES

Amplify POC has partnered with the Barnstable County Bar Association to offer the community a free and informative six-part series educating the public on understanding their rights. Each session will kick off with community networking, appetizers & refreshments followed by attorney and advocate panelist discussion and Q&A. Legal resources provided to attendees. In person & virtual attendance options.

We're so grateful to all of our incredible attorney and advocate panelists and moderators! They are doing impactful work in the community and join us to share their knowledge with us all. Reserve your spot for each session through the link below. A special thank you to Cape Cod & Island

Association of Realtors for use of their conference room.

CCIAOR Building

22 Mid Tech Drive, West Yarmouth - 5-7pm

Employment - 5/11/23

Housing - 5/18/23

RESERVE YOUR TICKETS FOR ACCESS TO JUSTICE

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SERIES SPONSORS

BECOME A SPONSOR FOR THE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: ACCESS TO JUSTICE SERIES

SESSION SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS

Law Office of

Eugene R. Curry

More Upcoming Events

BOSS TALK TUESDAYS

Tuesday May 30th - 6-8pm

Hosted by Cotuit Center for the Arts

4404 Falmouth Rd, Cotuit

Come network, share best

practices and support each other!

There will be guest speakers,

appetizers and beverages provided.

Let Us Know You're Coming

A-Way With Words

The 3rd annual A-Way with Words poetry event is May 27th from 3-5pm at the Hyannis Village Green. This event is being organized by the Cordial Eye Gallery and Artist Space, Amplify POC, and the GroovaLottos now in partnership with the Arts and Justice Collective.

Hosted by local performance poet Tamora Israel. This poetry event will honor the life of George Floyd and other black Americans whose lives have been lost to police brutality. Amplify POC Vendor Market and food for purchase from The Karibbean Lounge. Come and be in community with us.

Let Us Know You're Coming

2022 A-Way With Words Performers

The GroovaLottos & Polyphonic Studios

Check out Amplify Members, The GroovaLottos, May schedule of shows. The GroovaLottos are a multi-Grammy nominated soul-funk - Afrobeats jam band, and musical production team created by veteran touring and studio session players and singers.

As the resident production team and session band at POLYPHONIC STUDIOS, they are also a top-level ‘musical think-tank’ who can produce artists and bands in virtually any genre conceivable. With a commercial grade recording studio at their disposal, the ensemble’s music making possibilities are endless.

Check Out Polyphonic Studios

The Cape Clean Energy Tour

Hosted by Representatives Kip Diggs and Dylan Fernandes, learn how to electrify your life combat climate change, and save money!

RSVP

Vendor Sign Up Form

Reserve Your Tickets

Support Her Brand: Women's Social and Networking Affair

June 16th 3-8pm

The Sea View - 76 Chase Ave, Dennisport

Support Her Brand is a community

of like-minded individuals, focusing on advancing diversity and inclusion. Join for a panel discussion, networking, brunch buffet, music, marketing, business development & advisory, giveaways and more! If you're interested in becoming a vendor at this event please email the sign up form to Danielle at shb22@myyahoo.com.

Gypsy, The Musical

Let us entertain you!

Don’t miss the greatest American musical of all time! Cape Cod Theatre Company/Harwich Junior Theatre has cast the show with all lead and many supporting roles with people and children of color. This local theatre has stepped outside of the norm as you don’t have many chances to see many people of color in local theatre on Cape Cod. Make sure you catch this incredible show!

Thurs, Fri, and Sat at 7pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm until May 14th.

Reserve Your Tickets

Bending the Arc 2023: Toward Health Equity

May 19th 10am-3pm

Massachusetts State House 24 Beacon Street Room 428, Boston

Health leaders discuss advancing health equity at the local and municipal level. The Massachusetts Human Rights Coalition (MAHRC) annual in-person convening resumes. Although in-person participation is preferred, there will be a hybrid virtual option. Admission is free, but registration is required. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Our April Boss Talk Tuesday Was a Hit!

Amazing night of networking and community building! Thank you to Melane Diaz Wayburn of Seaside Bridal Couture for hosting this months Boss Talk and for sharing your story of entrepreneurship!

Thank you Jonathan Thompson of JT's Chronicles for your inspirational words of wisdom. Yummy eats provided by The Karibbean Lounge! Shout out to Donna Devine of Magic Mirror Cape Cod for the dope photos - hit her up for all of your events! Thank you EforAll Cape Cod for collaborating with us and sponsoring this event. And thank you to all who joined us for our monthly Boss Talk networking event! Let's keep supporting each other!