Our Vendors
Nuestros Vendedores
Hear our stories / Eschucha nuestros cuentos
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Aloisa Diaz
After immigrating from Venezuela over thirty years ago, Aloisa is a passionate D.C. community member who turned to street vending in recent years. Aloisa worked various jobs after arriving in the United States, ranging from working as a caregiver to a factory lineman. However, Aloisa fell victim to labor exploitation... Read more
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Maria Vasquez
Like many immigrants in the United States, Maria had a well-established life in her home country of El Salvador; she even owned a convenience store and sold pupusas and tamales for some years. Maria lived a simple and happy life until gang violence rampantly took over her town. After gangs... Read more
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Mary Guzman Lopez
Before making D.C. her home, Mary was a proud business owner in Oaxaca, Mexico. She loved what she did and loved the fact that she was her own boss. Unfortunately, with Mary being the sole provider for her elder mother and four young sisters, her business was not making enough... Read more
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Rasul El Amin
Rasul, an indigenous D.C. native, is a street vendor on 14th street who advocates for D.C. street vendors, bringing attention to the mistreatment vendors face. Before street vending, Rasul worked a full-time job until he suffered a work-related injury that resulted in a disability. Rasul was let go from that... Read more
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Reyna Sosa
Despite facing obstacles and setbacks over the ten years working as a street vendor, Reyna Sosa is still dedicated to waking up every day before sunrise to prepare mangos, watermelon, chicken tacos, plantains, yucca con chicharron, and crazy corn for her cart. Reyna can be found on Fourteenth Street vending... Read more
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Santiaga Gonzalez
Born in Guatemala, Santiaga lived a hard life in her home country, trying to raise her five children, working multiple jobs and was still finding it impossible to make ends meet. In 2008, Santiaga decided to immigrate to the United States to build a better life and made the even... Read more
