ELACC's Role on Open Air Economy Collaborative: Empowering Overlooked Entrepreneurs
by Elba Serrano, Associate Vice President of East Los Angeles Community Corporation
Workshops hosted throughout 2024 with East LA Community Corp.
Since 2008, ELACC has been at the forefront of the street vending initiative, collaborating with partners to drive impactful change. As part of our work, and by listening to our community, we implement culturally relevant programs, such as lending circles and zero-interest micro-loans, that empower vendors to build a stable financial future and strengthen their businesses. We understand how challenging the street vending landscape has been for our members and we are dedicated to bringing them out of the shadows, recognizing their worth, and helping them take their rightful place in the workforce.
As part of the Open Air Economy Collaborative, ELACC is uniquely positioned to provide culturally relevant support for those who have been continuously overlooked. Our focus is empowering women of color with different responsibilities that lead them to become vendors. Many of the women we work with are undocumented and have limited work options. Through our collaborative effort, they receive the support needed to open small businesses and achieve economic independence.
The Open Air Economy Collaborative supports vendors from the beginning of their journey to the end. The Open Air Economy circle of success starts with helping vendors file their taxes, obtain their ITIN (if needed) and foundational information, and offer financial support through lending, exposure, and access to investments. As participants engage in the lending process, we offer tailored business coaching to ensure their continued success and our partners provide legal assistance, loans, and outreach aid. Through our partnership with Mission Asset Fund (MAF), we provided the lending circles of social loans practiced within many Latin American countries, keeping cultural relevance at the center of our focus.
We recognize the additional challenges immigrant women who are monolingual non-English speakers face, navigating the complexities of making a living in Los Angeles while being primary caretakers for their families. Our approach acknowledges that these women need more flexibility, time, and resources to understand formalizing their small business and finding their voice in a system that often silences them. Our goal is to create a new norm where their work is recognized not as a means to make extra cash, but as legitimate small business endeavors worthy of recognition. Once members complete their circle of success, we encourage them to become mentors within the community, passing on the knowledge they've gained. Moreover, all of ELACC’s team is bilingual and all documents and materials are bilingual as well to offer support without language barriers.
This mentorship helps broaden access to services and builds an enduring network of support, creating a better world for street vendors. The Open Air Collaborative is not just about economic success; it's about creating a community where every member can thrive and contribute to the collective well-being.
