The Capital Market (TCM) is a community-led organization that:
centers food systems and leverages cultural capital to revitalize communities through advocacy, education, small business support and land-use development.
Our Vision
We envision a place where all have access to healthy foods, affordable housing, and opportunities for community and self-actualization. A place where history is used to guide the present and future to sustain an environment that is safe and engaging for each community member no matter the stage of life. A place where everyone can connect with their food systems and neighbors in a meaningful way.
What We Stand On
The values that ground The Capital Market.
- Embrace Joy: Celebrate the vibrancy and resilience of our community in all that we do
- Lead with Love: Approach interactions with empathy, respect, and compassion
- Ingenuity + Imagination: Use what we have to build the future that we want
- Stewardship: Responsibly care for the people, places, land, and things that make up our food system
- Self-Determination: Take ownership of our personal destiny and the evolution of our community
- Act with Integrity: Practice transparency and accountability to ensure that our actions align with the needs and aspirations of the communities we serve.
- Collective Action: Organize diverse groups of people, to achieve common goals, build community power and knowledge, and create inclusive places.
- Guided by Legacy: Prop up the strength, hard work, and stories of our ancestors in our work.
- Kinship: Recognize and cultivate connections with both familial and chosen kin networks, to build individual and community accountability.
Our History
The Capital Market formed in July 2018 as the Oakcrest Farmers Market, an initiative born out of the Food Justice Coalition of 20743, a partnership between the Capital Area Food Bank and the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council. Launched in response to a neighborhood grocery store closure, TCM initially operated in collaboration with the Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation Department at the Oakcrest Community Center in Capitol Heights. Over time, the market relocated to sites near the Capitol Heights Metro Station and the Creative Suitland Arts Center, partnering with organizations such as the Town of Capitol Heights, Joe’s Movement Emporium, Mary & Main, and the Prince George’s County Revenue Authority. These moves not only broadened the market’s reach but also solidified its identity as TCM, a community-driven resource firmly rooted in local needs and culture.
From 2020 onward, TCM expanded both its programming and impact. Its markets consistently drew hundreds of visitors, supported a growing number of BIPOC-owned businesses, and contributed hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to families experiencing food insecurity. Beyond direct market sales, TCM spearheaded educational initiatives, such as gardening workshops, and healthy food walk audits, empowering residents with the skills and knowledge to shape their own food systems. As a result, TCM’s influence extended well beyond the marketplace itself, weaving together a network of partners committed to nourishing local economies, improving health outcomes, and fostering a sense of belonging.
In recognition of its community-led approach and measurable successes, TCM has received accolades such as the LISC DC Trailblazers Award and the J. Franklyn Bourne Award for Community Service. Its ongoing initiatives—ranging from pop-up markets and soil testing events to the Blue Line Corridor Civic Leadership Institute—demonstrate TCM’s commitment to fostering equitable development, placekeeping, and cultural affirmation. Today, TCM stands as a trusted conduit for fresh, healthy food access, a convener of diverse stakeholders, and a model for how markets, policy work, and cultural programming can come together to uplift communities and support their long-term resilience.