About Us
Encouraging intentional impact since 2015
The vision for what would become POP: Power of Purpose began in 2015, when Brianna LaGuardia, then a student at Bryant University, and Sandra Enos, Professor of Sociology, connected over a shared passion for community impact. Together, they imagined a holiday marketplace where nonprofits, social enterprises, and NGOs could share their stories, sell their products, and generate support for causes ranging from refugee resettlement to environmental sustainability and access to education.
The event quickly became a hit on Bryant’s campus and later expanded into corporate settings, inspiring shoppers to make intentional purchases during the holiday season and beyond. At its core, POP is about creating meaningful impact in the communities where people live—introducing shoppers to mission-driven vendors and local businesses they might not otherwise encounter and giving those vendors a platform to grow and thrive.
In 2025, the initiative—formerly known as the Social Change Marketplace—officially rebranded as POP: Power of Purpose. Looking ahead, the team plans to host more events across the Northeast and beyond, fostering a community of purpose-driven individuals and building a network for sharing ideas, challenges, and successes through coffee chats and networking sessions. POP also envisions bringing these experiences into diverse venues such as coffee shops, art galleries, conference spaces, hotels, and more. We welcome anyone interested in attending or hosting an event to connect with us and become part of this growing movement.
POP Pillars
Ecosystem Building
Intentional Purchasing
Intentional Purchasing
Foster a supportive network that empowers vendors to grow, collaborate and thrive.
- Collaborative Learning: Offers workshops, brainstorming sessions and peer circles for shared learning and problem-solving.
- Mentorship & Partnership: Build mentorship and partnership opportunities across nonprofits, social enterprises and community leaders.
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Foster a supportive network that empowers vendors to grow, collaborate and thrive.
- Collaborative Learning: Offers workshops, brainstorming sessions and peer circles for shared learning and problem-solving.
- Mentorship & Partnership: Build mentorship and partnership opportunities across nonprofits, social enterprises and community leaders.
- Ongoing Connection: Develop an online hub to sustain collaboration beyond events.
Intentional Purchasing
Intentional Purchasing
Intentional Purchasing
Empowering conscious consumers to create change through purposeful purchasing.
- Marketplace Connections: We host vibrant, marketplace-style events in diverse spaces—from corporate offices and college campuses to art galleries and coffee shops—uniting vendors who drive positive social impact in their communities.
- Sharing Purpose & Story:
Empowering conscious consumers to create change through purposeful purchasing.
- Marketplace Connections: We host vibrant, marketplace-style events in diverse spaces—from corporate offices and college campuses to art galleries and coffee shops—uniting vendors who drive positive social impact in their communities.
- Sharing Purpose & Story: Each participating nonprofit, NGO, social enterprise, and small purpose-driven business showcases their mission and products, fostering meaningful relationships between consumers and changemakers.
- Purposeful Consumption: This pillar raises awareness for social entrepreneurship and encourages individuals to use their spending power intentionally, transforming everyday purchases into opportunities for lasting social good.
Impact Amplification
Intentional Purchasing
Impact Amplification
We celebrate purpose in action by amplifying the voices, stories, and outcomes of those driving meaningful social change.
- Voice & Visibility: Elevates vendor voices through engaging social media content, press features, and storytelling campaigns, while creating spaces—like panels and live discussions—for changemakers to share their jou
We celebrate purpose in action by amplifying the voices, stories, and outcomes of those driving meaningful social change.
- Voice & Visibility: Elevates vendor voices through engaging social media content, press features, and storytelling campaigns, while creating spaces—like panels and live discussions—for changemakers to share their journeys firsthand.
- Transparency & Outcomes: Showcases measurable community results through transparent reporting and authentic storytelling, demonstrating the real difference created by social enterprises and purpose-driven initiatives.
- Movement & Momentum: Positions Power of Purpose as a unifying movement that celebrates social good, inspiring companies and individuals alike to take action and contribute to lasting, tangible impact.