FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – When it comes to uplifting the local community, the New England Revolution’s annual Match for C.H.A.N.G.E. was an unequivocal win this past Saturday night, as fans championed diversity and supported small businesses at a pre-game pop-up market in the Fan Zone. The event was hosted in partnership with Women of Color Entrepreneurs (WOCE) and Heritage Market, bringing together 20 local BIPOC-owned small businesses for an evening of community and fun.

“This will be our largest pop-up market to date thanks to these two essential organizations, who do so much to uplift and empower small-business owners in our communities. We are honored to provide this platform for these entrepreneurs,” Revolution President Brian Bilello said ahead of Saturday’s event.

The Revolution’s C.H.A.N.G.E initiative – converse, help, amplify, nurture, galvanize, and educate – represents the club’s mission to spark dialogue on racial justice and fight for equality.

That mission was apparent on Saturday, as fans filled the market with a purpose. The night was a major hit, not just for the fans who enjoyed treats like Thai springs rolls and bought vintage Boston sports jerseys, but for the vendors whose booths were packed with Revolution supporters.

“This is our second year in the Fan Zone and we love it, and our companies love it. They love to be here. They love to meet the fans, and they love to just amplify their products to a new audience,” said WOCE director and co-founder Anuradha Yadav. “We are so grateful to the Revolution for all the work they do with local organizations like ours.”

Yadav helped launch WOCE in 2019, to support women of color build successful businesses in Massachusetts. On average, households of color experience a major wealth gap compared to white households, and that gap is exponentially larger in the Boston area. These racial and gendered disparities make it much harder for female, small business owners to launch and grow their businesses – and that’s where WOCE steps in, providing mentorship, support, and visibility to give female entrepreneurs a leg up.

“We work with a lot of different organizations in the community to highlight and amplify larger organizations that support smaller businesses. We see these relationships, like the one we have with the New England Revolution, as so critical in providing access for our companies, but also just as a chance to work together to support local, small businesses,” said Yadav.

The Revolution have supported the work of WOCE since 2022, when they were selected as beneficiaries of a $20,000 grant through the New England Revolution Players Collaborative Fund to bolster their work against systemic racism.

The Revolution also partnered with Boston-based Heritage Market to expand the range of small businesses participating in Saturday night’s market. Heritage Market works with BIPOC-owned small businesses through pop-ups and events to support their growth and increase their impact in the Boston area.

“The need for us to help these small businesses is essential,” explained Heritage Market co-founder Miriah Payne, who started the organization in 2023. “We started by reaching out and utilizing spaces to get these brands known and to get these brands out to the world. We’re giving them the space, and we're reaching out to them and saying, ‘Hey, we want you to make money. We think you're a great, dope business. We think you should be here, and you have space here.’”

The support for C.H.A.N.G.E. wasn’t just limited to pre-match festivities, but carried over to the pitch, as well. Revolution players wore a special patch across their chest, designed by local artist Eamon White. Designed to look like a butterfly made from overlapping Adinkra symbols, it represented transformation and change.

For those who couldn’t make the pop-up market on Saturday night, there is still room to make a difference. Fans can now bid on the one-of-a-kind Revolution jerseys and participate in C.H.A.N.G.E. All proceeds from the match-worn and signed jersey auction will benefit the Chica Project, a Massachusetts organization dedicated to supporting women and girls who face oppression at the intersection of race, ethnicity, and gender.

After a four-game homestand, the Revs are back on the road to face the Columbus Crew this Saturday night. It’s an important match for New England, who remain on the hunt for playoff contention with just eight games remaining in 2025.