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"The most important investment of our time is in our community and our youth"

"The most important investment of our time is in our community and our youth"

My participation in the all Latina Goddess Mercado was very empowering for a young girl like me. Everyone was so sweet and made me feel welcomed. Honestly, I didn't expect that! I now feel incredibly fortunate to be a young Latina from this neighborhood. As a new businesswoman I felt like I had a lot of support at this new market. Seeing so many boss Latina women doing their thing really made me feel like I belong to this community. I feel that as Latina entrepreneurs we face similar barriers and struggles.  It felt good to know I was around relatable women that I could share experiences with . I am happy that I am now part of this community!

I am a student and reside in Boyle Heights. I started my business last august to help distract myself from all the crazy things going on in the world. Then I found my love for baking and making sweets by exploring other things I could make to help grow my business. My educational goal is to become a child psychologist and help children through emotional barriers and trauma so that they can succeed in school and life.  Thank you for supporting me at our next #thegoddessmercado!

Jenni Sierra- I am the owner and creator of @sweets.by.jennyy Please follow me and support me by placing your next sweet order with me or visiting my booth at our monthly all Latina  @Thegoddessmercado.

@Thegoddessmercado at 1426 Maple Ave in DTLA

In efforts to support and encourage Latina entrepeneurialship and empowerment in our community, 323MARKET has agreed to sponsor participation of Latina high school students at our monthly events.  We are accepting applications for one free vendor spot at our monthly market. Must be a Latina high school student that is creating their own artwork or product at home.  

Please apply only in person at our next monthly market. See Diana at @mexichiccrafts booth.

"Mujeres unidas nunca seran vencidas"

"Confidence comes from not always being right but not fearing to be wrong!"

wrong!"

  Yes, I am loyal to my Tapatio sauce because he was my first sauce-Zas! Tapatio is affordable, goes a long way and comes easy.  Sometimes, however I don’t want easy!  I want hard, and prefer to be challenged, feel wild, fearless, and strong.  A good hard Chile does it for me!  How awesome is to bite a hard one and have that sensation of that eternal hell in your mouth? “Que no?!” A Chile so hot that its steam gushes out along with your tears and snot and…

…you know?

I know! That’s crazy right?  But that’s the way I was raised.  This is the way I was loved.  “Con mucho Chile” My dad once ate around 80 jalapenos just because it was a cheap way to entertain me and my siblings.   “Quieren que coma otro?” he would ask, and we would jump up and down, clapping, cheering, and scream “Siiiiiiii…”  I remember him chewing and sweating as we all chanted “otro, otro, otro…” Pobresa inspired creative Chile improvisation. You can imagine my poor dad that day after?! 

So I'm looking for a good Chile, and I'll tell you all about that later! 

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Photography: Crystal Lopez @eyesonupphotography

Creative Direction: Diana Diaz  

Dog: Chilito Chihuahua

TAPATIO MAN

“Where’s the Tapatio?” I get asked this at home all the time!    Like many I know here in East LA, and the greater LA, I put Tapatio brand hot sauce on everything.  Especially on quesadillas, fruits, salads, soups, sandwiches, Doritos and all.  This might be a total Chicano thing, because I almost never find Tapatio when I’m in Mexico. I only found Tapatio in some states I visited in the U.S.  Here in LA however it’s at every restaurant where I eat, and at every home I visit.  Family and people I know who are from Mexico, oddly always prefer other bottled salsas that are thicker and grainier like Valentina, Cholula or Huitchol. These are also good but not as flavorful and cool as Tapatio. Another major reason I think I love Tapatio is because there is a portrait of a fucking hot ass looking Bigoton in a Charro suit and he is right smack in the middle of the label.  He is beautiful and has always fascinated me (I think this is great marketing BTW!)  Growing up, I always wondered if that guy was real and to be honest many times I wished he was because I had a little crush on him. I’m only a little embarrassed to admit it and I’m positive that I am not the only one who crushed on the Tapatio man! When I confessed to a couple of my amigas about my crush, they laughed at me.  Am I crazy?  I also felt like this about the Bounty lumberjack but not as hard as I feel it for my Tapatio man.  As I’m growing older, my pansa tells me that I overdo it with hot sauce so I try to cut back,  but Tapatio, “I can’t quit you!"  There are constant reminders of him everywhere.  He’s on little ketchup packages in my every ceviche order.  He’s stepped on, splattered on the sidewalk, on walls, and on my clothes.   My hot man is everywhere and I have surrendered to loving his sauce.   Tapatio man is so very easy for me to love.  I am pretty sure it’s because we have more in common then with the other hot sauces! But seriously, is he real?!  If your family is from Jalisco, then this dude looks like many of our fathers or uncles. They might have looked like him when they were young too. My dad is from Jalisco and he kind of looks like he could have been related to Tapatio Man, but more like a wannabe Chente! Seriously, when my son was old enough to recognize my dad, he would point at the Tapatio bottle and yell out “Tata”! If Tapatio man is real, he is Chicano for sure! He’s a hard worker and his community appreciates that! He probably lives here in Los Angeles or somewhere near me. We might even be the same age?! 

* Tapatio started as a small business- please continue to support small and local businesses.

Photography: Crystal Lopez @eyesonupphotography 

Creative Direction: Diana Diaz

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