Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Adams
Hi Melissa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started LocalLiberal.com because I was tired of feeling invisible. Living in a conservative area, I often heard the message that politics and business shouldn’t mix, that expressing my liberal values could hurt my chances of success. But I wasn’t willing to silence myself just to keep others comfortable.
I also kept encountering the same frustration: needing a Realtor, Photographer, or even just the perfect gift, and having no clue whether the businesses I was supporting shared my commitment to equality, sustainability, and human rights. I wondered why there wasn’t an easier way to identify businesses aligned with these values.
So, I created Local Liberal, an online directory (localliberal.com) dedicated to connecting people with liberal-owned small businesses across the country. With no design experience, just a clear vision and determination, I built the initial version entirely from scratch. What began as a small idea has since blossomed into a nationwide resource. Our active Facebook group has grown to over 10,000 members from all over the USA, all looking to support small, liberal-owned businesses and foster community.
Today, when business owners reach out to tell me things like, “You’ve helped me grow,” “I finally feel seen,” or “I found my community here,” it reinforces that we’re making a real impact. Local Liberal isn’t just about shopping, it’s about nurturing a values-driven economy and providing a space where people can authentically be themselves.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all! Has the journey been smooth? Definitely not. The road to building something meaningful rarely is. Local Liberal has challenged me more deeply than I ever anticipated. I had to quickly learn how to design and manage a website, build and nurture a vibrant online community, and handle it all while raising a young family.
Visibility has been especially tough. We’re pioneering something new,openly progressive, politically engaged, and unapologetically values-driven,and this makes some people uneasy. Instead of shrinking back, we leaned into our community, asking our members for help spreading the word. Their grassroots support became invaluable.
Every challenge has helped me grow, and looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Those messy moments turned out to be where the real magic happened.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Local Liberal is more than just a directory,it’s a movement. We connect people with liberal-owned small businesses across the U.S. so they can vote with their wallet and support values like equality, sustainability, and progress in their everyday lives. Whether you’re searching for a coffee shop, wedding photographer, or therapist, we help you find businesses that reflect your beliefs.
What sets us apart is our clear commitment to values. At a time when everything feels political, we’re proud to openly stand for what we believe in. This authenticity attracts people looking for more than just products or services,they want alignment, community, and a sense of belonging.
We’re most proud of creating something that genuinely helps small businesses grow and makes individuals feel seen and supported. Hearing feedback like, “This is exactly what I’ve been looking for, but didn’t know existed,” captures exactly why we’re here.
Ultimately, Local Liberal is about fostering connections, between people, businesses, and causes, and we’re just getting started.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are so many ways to be part of Local Liberal! If you’re a liberal owned small business, you can join our directory to reach values driven customers—and you can also advertise with us to get even more visibility across our platform and social channels.
If your looking for community you can join our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/localliberal which has over 10,000 active members.
We also love collaborating—with creators, organizers, nonprofits, and anyone who’s passionate about progress. Whether it’s a local partnership, a content collab, or a grassroots campaign, we’re always open to new ideas.
Even a simple share or tag helps us grow. Word of mouth is powerful, and we’re so grateful for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.localliberal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liberalownedbusinesses/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/localliberal
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/localliberal.bsky.social
