Since childhood, Silivia dreamed of becoming a successful business owner. Her family moved to the United States, and like many immigrant families, she saw it as the land of opportunity and carried her idea of the American dream with her.
When Silivia’s daughter heard about Veggielution’s Eastside Grown program, she told her mother about it. Without hesitation, Silivia enrolled. She says that being a part of this program has helped her tremendously with starting her business. One of the program’s highlights included field trips for participants to observe and learn from other food entrepreneurs. During our visit to a farmer’s market, Silivia spotted a vendor selling tacos from their tent. In that very moment, she envisioned herself setting up her own booth and offering her pupusas to customers. This ignited her determination to become a food vendor at a local farmers market.
In addition to these insightful field trips, participants were encouraged to apply for a mini-grant. Silivia’s grant approval was one of the biggest blessings she’d received since moving to the United States. It allowed her to cover essential expenses including permits, business name banners, and securing a rental space at a commercial kitchen.
The journey of starting a business comes with challenges, and for Silvia stress was one of her biggest difficulties. After the loss of her mother and brother, Silivia was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. During the course of the program, there were moments when Silivia suffered panic attacks and doubted her ability to run her own business. However, with the support and encouragement of her loving family and our devoted staff, she built the self-assurance required to achieve her dream.
You can find Silivia and her daughter making fresh, home-made pupusas at several farmers’ market throughout the week. Their journey from dreamers to accomplished food vendors is a testament to the power of determination and the invaluable support that programs like Eastside Grown provide to aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Princeton Plaza Farmer Market (1375 Blossom Hill Rd.) on Wednesdays and Sundays from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Skyport Farmers’ Market (1721 Technology Dr.) on Fridays from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
- Cambrian Park Farmers’ Market (14900 Camden Ave.) on Saturdays from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm