Amplify Helps to Create a More Equitable Cape Cod

Amplify POC Cape Cod is a racial justice initiative to help amplify the businesses owned by people of color (POC) on Cape Cod. Amplify was founded by Tara Vargas-Wallace, after the murder of George Floyd.

A list of Black owned businesses did not exist for the Cape region, and therefore, Tara created one as part of Amplify's first endeavour. After some discussion with her local NAACP it was decided that due to the dynamics on the Cape it would be best to include all businesses owned by people of color as there simply weren't enough Black-Owned businesses in the region.

The goal then became to amplify business owned by all marginalized groups of people thus adopting the term POC for People of Color. Amplify is a Nonprofit Organization that also provides training and educational opportunities to enhance economic development among people of color on the Cape.

About Amplify POC

Our Mission

Amplify POC is committed to eliminating the racial wealth gap (disparity in assets across race and ethnicity) by removing barriers created by systemic racism. We promote racial equity by providing accessible resources and education that enhance visibility and increase sustainable ownership opportunities for communities of color.

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Amplify POC Vision

Our Vision

We envision an end to the racial wealth gap on Cape Cod and beyond, where communities of color have economic power, increased ownership, and wealth building opportunities.

A racial justice initiative to help amplify the businesses owned by people of color

Our Ask

Firstly, we would like to acknowledge that we are aware that COVID has taken an enormous toll on the economy and people’s finances. We understand that those who would like to support POC owned businesses, and this initiative, may not be able to give as much and we are appreciative of all donations - any amount is welcomed.

We are looking for sponsors to support this grassroots initiative. We are seeking monetary donations and partnerships from local organizations, businesses, and community members for the following: maintain our website and social media platforms to AMPLIFY POC owned businesses on Cape Cod, to create programs and events to support people of color, POC owned businesses and entrepreneurs on Cape Cod, and lastly to continue sharing resources and opportunities with our community.

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Our Ask at Amplify POC

Our Team

Our dynamic team is led by our CEO and Founder, Tara, along with eight board members, 5 of whom are people of color. Each are passionate about racial and social justice on Cape Cod and beyond. Every board member brings their own unique skill set, perspective, and lived experiences to the table to help us achieve racial equity and move the needle on eliminating the racial wealth gap on Cape Cod. We also acknowledge our incredible committee members and volunteers for their contributions and dedication to our cause.

Dr. William (Billy) Roberts

Dr. William (Billy) Roberts

Rotary District 7950 Governor 2021 - 2022, Multiple Paul Harris Fellow & Rotary Club of Barnstable Sunrise Change Maker. Master’s Degree in Administration & Organizational Development Doctoral Degree in Counseling/ Clinical Psychology. Clinical and Consulting Practice serves peoples of diverse backgrounds, and his organizational consulting work is focused on human resource development and change management. First Person of Color to lead Rotary District 7950; Board Member of the Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled; Clerk, Cape Cod Community College Education Foundation Board; Member Board of Trustees for Riverview School; Member MASS HIRE Workforce Board of the Cape & Islands; and Chair, Rotary District 7950 Charitable Trust Board. Active member Barnstable Baha’i Faith Community Committed to Justice and Equity.

Beverley Roberts

Beverley Roberts

Artist, Advocate & Business Owner
Owner of Mijiza Images, Inc. combining her artistic talent and entrepreneurial spirit into a profitable local business. Originally from Trinidad & Tobago, Beverley migrated to the United States in 1996. Served and was ordained as a minister and advocate volunteering in the inner-city boroughs of Brooklyn and the Bronx. Moved to Cape Cod in 2006. Minister at Marstons Mills Community Church Committee Member for the Cape Cod Foundation's Women and Girls Fund.

Dr. Debra Dagwan

Dr. Debra Dagwan

Educator, Advocate & Activist
Master's in Education in Health Science and School Administration from Boston University. Ph.D. in Teaching Administration. Advocate of Civil Rights, Racial Justice, Equality for Women, Individuals with Disabilities, and Supporting LGBTQ Rights. Taught Health Awareness for seventeen years at Falmouth High School. Outreach Worker for victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Homelessness, and Access to Health Services. First Black Women elected President of the Barnstable Town Council Served as a Member of the Greater Hyannis Civic Association for over thirty years, the NAACP, LWV Cape Cod Area, Barnstable No Place for Hate and initiated the concept of the Zion Heritage Museum.

Sean Gonsalves

Sean Gonsalves

Reporter, Communications Strategist & Broadband Activist
Institute for Local Self-Reliance staff as a senior reporter, editor and researcher for ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative. Award-winning Reporter and Columnist with his work appearing in the Cape Cod Times, Oakland Tribune, Kansas City Star, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Boston Globe, USA Today, the Washington Post, the International Herald-Tribune and more. Extensive experience in both television and radio. Board Member for the middle-mile fiber network OpenCape and an Advisory Board Member for FalmouthNet, a citizen-led nonprofit championing an effort to bring fiber-to-the-home service to the town of Falmouth.

Tara Vargas Wallace

Tara Vargas Wallace

Founder, CEO, & President of Amplify POC Cape Cod
Tara’s professional background has been in working with marginalized populations with severe socioeconomic challenges; family trauma, addiction and recovery, domestic and sexual violence, barriers to employment, and extreme housing and food insecurity. It is through this work that she has developed exceptional advocacy skills and strong community partnerships which have been instrumental in strengthening community awareness for the hard to reach populations. After working over 20 years in human services for various nonprofits, Tara founded Amplify POC (People of Color) Cape Cod. She is the Eastern Region Politics and Civic Leadership Platform Coordinator of the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition. Tara is also actively engaged in her local NAACP and MLK Jr. Action Team. She proudly serves on the boards of Housing Assistance Corporation and CCYP. She is a 2022 Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient and was awarded the 2020 “Unsung Hero Award” by the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission. Tara was also a “40 under 40” winner in 2020 by Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine, and the 2021 “Emerging Community Leader Award” from CCYP as well as the “2022 Community Advocacy Award” recipient from Eastern Bank.

Amanda Converse

Amanda Converse

MPP
Co-founder and Executive Director, Love Live Local, a Cape Cod small business advocacy organization President of the Board of Trustees, Hyannis Public Library, member of the Town of Barnstable’s Local Comprehensive Planning Committee

Jeanne Morrison

Jeanne Morrison

M.Ed. Counseling, Cambridge College, Cambridge MA, BS Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Community Activist Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategist Retired from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority as the Assistant General Manager of Diversity and Civil Rights, Jeanne has over 35 years of managerial experience working in non-profit and state agencies, in the health care, human services and transportation industries. She has held senior management positions for some of Massachusetts’s largest employers, developing corporate diversity initiatives and administering civil rights programs. As a senior advisor to Human Resource Directors, CEOs and Board Directors Jeanne has mastered a myriad of best practices for employee development, organizational change and regulatory compliance programs. In addition, she has held Director positions for Behavioral Health, Dayhabilitation and Corporate Diversity programs with expertise in program development and oversight. She has successfully implemented state and federal civil rights and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which have won state and national recognition. Most notably, Jeanne professionalized the MBTA’s Office of Diversity and Civil Rights, leading the organization to successfully acquiesce the approval of the implementation of demands in a consent decree agreement with the Federal Transportation Administration and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office. Resolving a seven year old Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Complaint preceding her tenure. Jeanne has been engaged in community activism and volunteer work since her earliest days growing up on Cape Cod working with the economically disadvantaged, youth and people with disabilities. She committed to equal rights and civility, social and racial justice. She is civically committed, serving on seven local and state boards and seven steering committees. Current Boards and Commissions: (Statewide) * League of Women Voters Massachusetts (LWVMA) Board member at large (DEI, Reparations (co-chair) Nominating Committees); LESF Fund board member •Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition (MAWOCC), Political and Civic Leadership Platform Chair (Local) * Co-President, League of Women Voters Cape Cod (LWVCCA) *Board member and Chair, Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission; Intake and Referral committee (former Chair) and Human Rights Awards Committee Chair * Amplify-POC Cape Cod, Board President * Co-Chair Cape Cod Foundation’s Women And Girls Fund Advisory Committee * NAACP Cape Cod branch, Executive Board Member Cmmunitysteering committees: (Statewide) WYBoston Parity on Board, MA Vote’s Women’s Pipeline for Change, Wage Equity Coalition (Local) Barnstable No Place For Hate, Nauset Interfaith’s MLK Action Team (Police Taskforce), Hyannis Kiwanis, Cape and Islands District Attorney DEI Advisory Committee * Co developed and implement Cape-wide Active BNPFH Active BystanderIntervention Workshops provided through local libraries and schools * firmer Legal guardian for an elderly women with developmental disability (2018-2023) * Massachusetts’s Black Excellence Award 2023

Sunny Fellman

Sunny Fellman

Racial & Social Justice Activist
Realtor & Manager with William Raveis Real Estate, MAR Diversity, Inclusion & Member Engagement Task Force, CCIAOR Chairperson of the Professional Standards and Diversity & Inclusion Committees, CCIAOR Realtor of the Year 2018 & Good Neighbor of the Year 2020, DY School District DEI Committee
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