Four Latinas are looking to change the dynamic of markets around Tucson. What started as a friendship among small business owners, turned into a collaboration looking to uplift Latina entrepreneurs who want to share their goods with the community.
鈥淲hen I started doing events, there (were) a lot of events that I was like 鈥榃ell, if I could do events, I wouldn鈥檛 do it this way (or) I would do it this way鈥 I started taking notes,鈥 said Angelica Duran, owner of . Her business, which focuses on holistic healing, offers candles that melt into CBD-infused lotion for pain, eczema and other ailments.
This past year, Duran connected with Gissel Guzman Parra, owner of , a vegan food pop-up.
Duran said that because their values aligned, she asked Guzman Parra what she thought of doing events together.
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鈥淚鈥檓 trying to show our community that you don鈥檛 have to eat animal products to be healthy, or to get protein and I also want to show them that it鈥檚 accessible,鈥 Guzman Parra said.
鈥淲e both said 鈥榶es鈥,鈥 Duran said.
The two linked up with Cameo Cruz, owner and jewelry maker of (formerly known as Miss Chingaderaz) and Jeanette Dominguez, co-owner of Phatboiis BBQ.
Cameo Cruz, jewelry maker of Lower Arizona Jewelry seen here at a Las Mujeres Verdes mercado, creates custom Xicana-inspired statement pieces.
鈥淚 said we [could] go off each other and start doing these [events] to help our community, to help small businesses that are starting up and give them a safe space to come promote their products,鈥 Duran said.
The four had the same vision and passion toward their culture and community.
They wanted to create a space that felt inclusive and accessible for the vendors of color, in a way that encourages growth, collaboration and more opportunities.
鈥淲hen we say 鈥榤ore of us鈥, it鈥檚 more of, we鈥檙e not gonna allow them to have to fight to have a seat at our table,鈥 Guzman Parra said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e welcome to come eat with us.鈥
Things such as obtaining licenses to operate a business may seem overwhelming or ridiculously expensive for new business owners, Guzman Parra said. Las Mujeres Verdes want to serve as a stepping stone for those within the small business community.
鈥淲e want to see the money return to the community,鈥 Guzman Parra said.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 have these opportunities, we created them ourselves and we are bringing the community with us,鈥 Cruz said.
Jeanette Dominguez, co-owner of Phatboiis BBQ, is one of four Las Mujeres Verdes.
Serving as a safe space, Las Mujeres Verdes host their markets in partnership with Flowers and Bullets, an organization whose mission is, 鈥渢o reclaim and amplify our cultural roots through sustainability, art and rebellion to liberate, heal and empower our community.鈥 Located in Barrio Centro, Flowers & Bullets maintains an agriculture gardn to share and teach the community sustainable living practices to combat social justice issues.
鈥淓verybody and anybody [who] has been to our events have always [called] them peaceful, with good vibes,鈥 Duran said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we do it, because we want them to have a calm, safe, no stress [experience].鈥
The women pride themselves on being hands-on in making sure vendors are OK.
鈥淲e know where we came from and what we want,鈥 Dominguez said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 something that everybody admires from us.鈥
In addition to supporting vendors of color, the group considers itself to be pro-cannabis activists. Their name, which began as a joke, embodied their shared beliefs in fighting against the stigma surrounding cannabis in their culture.
鈥淐annabis is something that [is] grown from the Earth,鈥 Duran said. 鈥淚f people did research, they would understand all the healing properties not only for your body, but for your mental stability.鈥
Based on their own experiences with the plant, the group promotes alternatives to Western medicine. Their respective small businesses in turn, have taken a mind-body approach focused on social justice and accessibility.
A recent event on Nov. 19 was their largest market since their first on May 21, with around 60 independent vendors sharing food, handmade goods and more. At this market, Las Mujeres Verdes worked with South Tucson Community Outreach, a food assistance group to collect food donations.
Cruz said that other organizations have reached out and asked for help with their prospective markets. 鈥淸We want to] grow in all of the ways that we can.鈥
Gissel Guzman Parra, founder of Nopalinda, stands with her friend and sous chef Shakeena 鈥淜iwi鈥 Ellington. Nopalinda is a vegan food pop-up that reimagines traditional ethnic dishes.
Duran said that sometimes she forgets about her own booth while she oversees the flow of the event. Excited and nervous, the four are eager for upcoming events. 鈥淚 want people to see that we were four women dedicated to our culture and helping the community.鈥
The next Las Mujeres Verdes market is scheduled for Dec. 17 at Flowers & Bullets Midtown Farm, 3538 E. Ellington Place. Learn more at .
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