From the founder of Atlanta’s thriving Village Market comes an inspirational guide for entrepreneurs and leaders, showcasing the transformative power of community support to overcome systemic barriers to success.

Support is a verb.

Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon keeps that phrase pinned to her wall, as a reminder of the transformative power of community. As she began pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams, she quickly realized the racial disparities impacting Black owners of small businesses. In Atlanta, she found that many brilliant creators and small business owners resided there – but that their future prospects were limited by larger systemic issues.

She founded The Village Market, a collective of Black small business owners, to harness the power of community in growing many Black-owned businesses. The Village Market funneled millions of dollars into local businesses, building generational wealth and prosperity within Atlanta. Dr. Hallmon was delighted to find that her beliefs were true: that by rooting our lives and work in community, we find the resources to create economic mobility. Equally important, we can sustainably grow our dreams.

No One Is Self-Made is an inspirational narrative weaving together themes of community, cooperative economics, and debunking the myth of being self-made. Professionals at any stage in their careers will appreciate Dr. Hallmon’s narrative as to how she founded The Village Market, and the advice she dispenses for those trying to find success in business. She explains the economic and social factors at play, and outlines the tools necessary for entrepreneurs to create their own thriving village. Along the way, it becomes clear why working within community is a more powerful path to success than going at it alone.

At its core, No One is Self-Made is a love letter to community, and a nuanced guide to building together.