The Roseland People’s Market is a farmer’s and vendor’s market that is for the people and by the people. The market is held every fourth Sunday at a vacant lot on 110th Street and Michigan Ave. The space was once the home of Beacon Light Ministries before the church tragically burned down in 2020.
To check out the market, you’ll need to head to the far South Side and come down Michigan Avenue. You’ll know you are at the right place when you see the market’s volunteer hype team waving you down. If you happen to miss them, look for the beautiful mural of a young Black girl reading a book (designed by Chicago artist Kayla Mahaffey) then follow the sound of traditional house music hits, and you will be led to the fun.
Kalief Dinkins, who grew up in Roseland and graduated from Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep, saw that there was a need for family-friendly weekend events and decided to partner with other organizations in the area who felt the same. Along with Burst into Books, a literacy based nonprofit organization, and S.O.U.L (South-siders Organized for Unity and Liberation), a far-South Side community and food justice organization,and other partners, Dinkins launched the market to offer the community a much-needed fresh food shopping option and ways to come together and mingle with other residents.
At the market, visitors can browse handmade items, freshly made smoothies, Brazilian roasted coffee, flowers, and tropical plants. “We kind of wanted to have a fresh experience, good conversations, and good food,” Dinkins said.
The market is a resource for the Roseland community, but also doubles as an invitation to those outside of the community to experience the beauty that Roseland has to offer. “Roseland is my home, and Roseland and the 100s are the far South Side, and a lot of people typically don’t come that far south,” Dinkins said. He added that the far South Side has a slightly different energy because of its distance from the Loop, and said he hopes the market is a reason people take the trip and experience Roseland for themselves.
“The People’s Market is a space where you can come together and get essentially that experience and essence of the South Side that we all take pride in,” Dinkins said. “You have community, you have food, you have music, and you have the people. People need fresh produce because [Roseland] is a food desert, but we didn’t want there to be just food and that’s it, because we are also in desperate need of community.”
The inaugural market on June 29 proved to be the start of something good. Dutchess the DJ and DJ Willtothe split time on the ones and twos, keeping the crowd of shoppers entertained with classic soul and modern hits. Despite the heat, attendees danced and kids ran around the open portion of the lot playing ball. Roseland residents mingled with one another and there was a multigenerational exchange of joy. Some cooled off in the shade of a tent as they sat for a free portrait from Chicago-based artist Ewrks.
The market’s last scheduled date this season is Sunday, September 28, weather permitting.
Roseland People’s Market, 11026 S. Michigan Ave. Every fourth Sunday during the summer, 12-4pm.
Jermaine Nolen is a contemporary American writer and painter, born on the South Side of Chicago and currently based in West Pullman.