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Even before best friends Hailey Dukart and Sharly Scannell met, they both felt it — the lack of Black representation and community in Tucson.
“I grew up here and I did not have a lot of representation around me. When I moved away to Atlanta and saw how impactful representation is and then coming back here, I knew I wanted something like that here,” Hailey says. “I wanted to create Black-centered spaces where we can feel seen and exist and feel joyful.”
While Sharly didn’t grow up in Tucson, she knows exactly what Hailey means. She moved from South Carolina to attend the University of Arizona and was shocked at the lack of Black presence in Tucson.
That’s why they both created Blk House Mrkt — originally called Making Black History Market when it was founded in 2023. They wanted to create a third space for the Black community to gather and belong all while urging Tucson to support Black-owned businesses, restaurants and artists.
“It’s important that we create community for us. I was inspired to encourage other Black folks to stay in Tucson because I fell in love with Tucson,” Sharly says. “We want to let students on campus know there is community outside of campus. We want to encourage Black doctors, lawyers, teachers, whoever, to stay and find community through our events and networking. Then maybe they’ll build their own families or build their career here.”
The next Blk House Mrkt takes place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Z Street International Marketplace, which houses Zemam’s Ethiopian Cuisine, Zerai’s International Bar and Zedamo Coffee & Tea at 2731 E. Broadway. There are less vendors than previous events — about 6-8 Black-owned businesses and a DJ will set up shop — but that’s intentional. Less vendors means there will be more space to sit and mingle. Less vendors makes the event more intimate. The friends call it a cozy market — something tiny and wholesome ahead of Christmas.
Part of what Hailey and Sharly are really emphasizing this time around is a donation drive in support of local nonprofit I Am You 360, which supports unhoused young adults, especially those who have aged out of foster care. I Am You 360 has built a tiny home community for youth ages 18-22 and also has a hygiene empowerment program among other resources.
Hailey and Sharly worked with I Am You 360 at their very first event and knew they wanted to partner with founder Desiree Cook again.
“She’s a great example of positive Black representation,” Hailey says. “I just love their mission. She’s a pillar in the community and she’s really addressing a need that I don’t think a lot of people are addressing here.”
Hailey and Sharly are asking the community to bring hygiene products to support I Am You 360, which is in need of African American haircare products, body wash, deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, baby products and items like combs, brushes, lip balm, skincare and toothbrushes. The I Am You 360 website lists suggested brands and they specifically ask for no Suave, VO5 and White Rain products — “We believe our youth deserve quality products.”
To go hand in hand with the donation drive, Hailey and Sharly will be selling raffle tickets to raise funds to buy Black haircare products — from Nique’s, a local Black-owned beauty supply store — to donate to I Am You 360. Raffle prizes include goodies from Alma Sana Chiropractic Studio, Friday Pilates, Divinity Beauty Bar and Alexis Lopez Massage Therapy.
“A lot of what I see at donation drives is there’s a lack of culturally appropriate haircare products,” Hailey says. “Especially for Black folks who are working, our hair is sometimes deemed non-appropriate or it’s just a matter of empowerment.”
Ultimately, Hailey and Sharly hope people visit Blk House Mrkt and stay a while. Of course, they encourage you to shop from the vendors, but this is more than a market — it’s about more than commerce.
“We want it to be a third space. Come exist, sit down, there’s no pressure to spend money,” Hailey says. “I hope people feel excited and a sense of belonging and I hope this inspires them and helps them know about resources out there and folks you can connect with.”
“You can come have lunch, come have a cocktail, come have coffee,” Sharly says. “Work remote out of Zedamo, watch the game at Zerai’s, have lunch at Zemam’s.”
“We are honored to be the home of the Blk House Mrkt,” Z Street International Marketplace said in a statement. “Z Street was born from a vision where family meets community and this event is exactly that. Tucson is full of beautiful and creative people and we can’t wait to see you at the magic that is Blk House Mrkt.”
In the future, Hailey and Sharly hope Blk House Mrkt blossoms into a social club — they envision mixers and social hours that people can look forward to on a monthly basis. Maybe they go on a wine tour, maybe they do a craft workshop together.
“We want to bring people to these elevated experiences that not only bring us together but showcase local talent,” Hailey says. “I would like to do pilates and brunch or a wine tour. And we’ll still do the markets and still honor Black History Month because it all started with honoring Black entrepreneurs here.”
❤️ Blk House Mrkt takes place noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Z Street International Market, 2731 E. Broadway. For more information, visit Blk House Mrkt’s website and Instagram. ❤️
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