Heartisans Marketplace

Heartisans Marketplace is a Longview nonprofit founded by Julee Rachels that grew out of a 2012 outreach idea through the Women's Ministry at First Baptist Church-Longview. What began as a small arts-and-crafts pilot program for women moving out of poverty became a full work-readiness program and retail marketplace at 3501 Gilmer Road, with more than 130 women having completed the program to date. The retail store sells bath and body products, jewelry, home decor, candles, and other handmade goods, with proceeds helping fund the job-training program alongside community donations and volunteers. Heartisans has also expanded into transitional housing through Heartisans Village, a set of renovated duplexes giving program graduates a safe, affordable place to live as they get established in new careers.