Dr. Dre has invested in a Black-women-owned business increasing food access in Los Angeles, CA.

Co-founders Carmen Dianne (CEO) and Kara Still (chief operating officer) are the brains behind Prosperity Market, a farmers market on wheels that supports Black farmers, food producers, and chefs, its website mentions. The Los Angeles Times reports that it was founded in 2020 but launched officially the following year. 

While Still was a fashion designer, Dianne had experience as a beauty and SFX makeup artist for events, commercials, print, TV, and film. The murder of George Floyd and the onset of COVID-19 brought them together to launch the farmers’ market.

“Right after George Floyd was murdered, I wasn’t thinking about makeup anymore… everything shifted so drastically in that instant… all I could think of was ‘we need Black-owned grocery stores.’ I texted Kara so I wouldn’t forget, and then we ended up talking about it a lot on hikes and things like that — until it became a mobile farmers market,” Dianne told Edible LA.

Prosperity Market and Dr. Dre

Prosperity Market has secured several investments, including a $10,000 donation from Green Giant and $15,000 from LA Stainless Kings, per ABC News. Dr. Dre has even become an investor, and his support will help build two solar-powered, electric mobile trailers, set to launch in 2026, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™.

Photo Credit: Asha Mone

Per the release, the trailer — which will operate as a food truck and farmers market — will feature brands including Ghetto Gastro, Ghost Town Oats, The Farmer Ken, and Gloria’s Shito. Some of Los Angeles’ top chefs will rotate through the trailer’s kitchens.

Once fully operational, the trailer aims to travel daily from Malibu to Compton and other surrounding areas, with plans to expand to other California cities, per the release.

Photo Credit: Asha Mone

“Dr. Dre is a legend and knows excellence when he sees it, so for him to see it in us is affirming and inspiring,” Dianne said in the news release.

“We’ve been building Prosperity Market since 2020, and everything we have built over the last four years has been in service of our vision for the mobile trailers. His contribution will not only help Prosperity Market grow exponentially, but also all the businesses we work with and communities we serve,” Dianne continued.

Dr. Dre’s donation will also support Prosperity Market’s fiscal sponsor, SIMA, by ensuring that roughly 6,000 African women across 48 countries receive professional health, education, and entrepreneurship training in partnership with LEAP Africa.

“Dr. Dre recognized the work we’ve already done to crowdfund and get the trailer off the ground, and his donation will further amplify our efforts, which not only affects our local community, but through SIMA’s partner, LEAP Africa, provides educational resources for 6,000 African women,” Still said in the news release.