Investing in LA's Black and Brown Women Mirco-Entrepreneurs
by Senior Associate, Technical Assistance, Josephine Gardner
The Open Air Economy Collaborative joined LA Central Library to host a successful resource fair dedicated to supporting Black and Brown Women street vendors. This event offered a wealth of business resources, workshops, and networking opportunities to help these micro-entrepreneurs who often navigate the challenges of the informal economy alone.
The day kicked off with a powerful screening of “Hollywood Vendor Film,” a documentary that intimately captured the daily lives of street vendors. Fellow street vendors cried and laughed as they watched these stories that resonated with them—featuring a powerful Q&A session, including Hollywood vendor Ruth Monrroy and Andrea Cruz, editor of the documentary.
Open Air Economy Collaborative members join in discussion at the Los Angeles Central Public Library.
Ruth shared her journeys of resilience and the trials she faced as a street vendor. “This is the first time that I've spoken on a panel like this, Ruth remarked, her voice a mixture of pride and vulnerability. “To talk about my personal life and what it means to be a street vendor, and talk about what happened to us when we worked as street vendors,” says Ruth Monrrory, a Hollywood street vendor.
Key Insights from the Resource Fair:
The Open Air Economy Advisory Board, comprised of inspiring Black and Latina women micro-entrepreneurs, emphasized the critical need for support and resources for small businesses. The advisory board members include Alma Archuleta, Jamella Brown, Lonette Robinson, Marcel Douglas, Stephanie Johnson, Teresa Hermenegildo Silverio, Santa Huerta, Amelia Gallegos, and Sabrena Whigham. For the past two years, the advisory board has played a crucial role in connecting business owners with essential services such as one–on–one legal business support, financial coaching, access to capital, lending circles, and other entrepreneurial resources. Additionally, they co-created and led the resource fair planning. These dedicated women entrepreneurs have paved the way for countless others, sharing their invaluable experiences and knowledge with the community.
Meet Some of the Board Members:
Santa Huerta, originally from Peru is a veteran street vendor with over 35 years of experience. Operating La Aquinita, Santa sells clothes and toys in the Fashion District of San Pedro and La Pico. She was working for a company before street vending, however, a lack of documents forced her to leave.
“The Open Air collaborative provided invaluable workshops and information,” She shared. “I’m looking into loans because “honestly as a street vendor we are struggling and we have too many needs.” Santa’s journey of being a street vendor has been driven by the fact that she needs to support her family.
Amelia Gallegos has five years of experience as a street vendor selling general merchandise and covering San Pedro and 28th to Jefferson. Before the pandemic she operated a storefront for about six years, unfortunately, the pandemic forced her to close her business and become a street vendor. “I joined the Advisory Board to share my knowledge. I want other entrepreneurs to know that resources are available.” She has successfully used the resources provided to obtain capital for her business. Her determination to uplift her fellow entrepreneurs underscores the community spirit at the heart of this initiative.
Sabrena Whigham is president of the African Village Vendors Association at Leimert Park. She brought energy and empowerment to the panel, which many attendees appreciated. With 20+ years of experience, she has been instrumental in advocating for vendors in Leimert Park by organizing and supporting over 200+ black-owned vendors. Sabrena emphasizes that “There is strength in realizing that you are a creative genius. You have your character, discipline, and drive, to walk the streets and see vendors up at five o'clock in the morning and doing the work all by themselves. That takes some character within a street vendor. I choose to do that, I choose to let everyone know how great, grand, and honorable of a position they have because they are a self-starter. I like being a self-starting street vendor and I want everyone to know the jewel that they are.” When discussing the needs she sees in Leimert Park, she states that a sense of security for street vendors and support with permit applications is vital. When asked about the resources she and her vendors obtained through the Open Air Collaborative, she states that “they help you get seller’s permits, what’s great about these organizations is that they walk you through it, and a lot of business owners do not know that it’s free.
Regarding BTRC Business Tax Registration Permits, they came to our neighborhoods and helped us get the forms. The farmer’s market supported me with the agriculture, and health department, Seller’s permits, and a Temporary Food Facility license required for businesses that sell or provide food or beverages at temporary events the vendors needed that, and they supported me with filing. They supported me with tax preparation and walked me through it step by step.” she says.
Members of the board felt a celebratory rush after months of co-planning the resource fair and conducting outreach, and It was also their graduation moment. We captured the camaraderie, empowerment, and sisterhood we have been able to build for the past two years. Attendees engaged in several workshops led by experts, including Public Counsel Know Your Rights, Inclusive Action for the City Access to Capital, JP Morgan Chase’s Banking 101; and ELACC on lending circles, offering women business owners with tools they need to navigate their street vending businesses more effectively. Everyone was so happy, engaged, and appreciative to be a part of this incredible event.
These inspiring women of advisory board members emerged as invaluable mentors and advocates for their community and fellow business owners. The stories of these street vendors resonated deeply and were a reminder of the power of sisterhood, resilience, and a strong spirit of community and entrepreneurship. Thank you to Community Power Collective (CPC), Community Corporation (BusinessSource Center), MCS (BusinessSource Center), International Rescue Committee Financial Coaching, LAPL Adult Literacy, LAPL, Cybernauts, LA Saves, LA Against Hate, and Department of Public Health for your contribution in making this event a success.
These inspiring women entrepreneurs not only built successful businesses but have also become invaluable mentors and advocates for their fellow Brown and Black women street vendors in their community. Their dedication and commitment are a testament to the power of entrepreneurship, and the importance of investing in BIPOC women-owned businesses.