Kenia Haro: CSULB Alumna Gives Back to Street Vendors

Artisan products sold at Angel City Market during Dia de Los Muertos event.

From the back of the line leading up to Frescas Signature Flavors, the numerous five-gallon jugs filled with aguas frescas were visible; each getting emptier with every passing order.

“You guys are like Thanos and his different colored stones... uh, but just the Mexican version,” said a customer, to founder Rene Pulido. “We are!” said Pulido, as he looked at his array of unique flavors, ranging from pumpkin horchata to Purple Macha Chai Tea with chia seeds.

Accompanying Pulido and his aguas Frescas that night were over 35 other vendors, each camped out under their respective tents and selling their own unique product at Havana Nights, a street festival sponsored by the city of Downey, California. Responsible for finding and coordinating the street vending for the festival was Cal State Long Beach alumna, Kenia Haro.

Kenia Haro.

CSULB alumna, founder of Angel City Market.

Instagram: Angel City Market, Inc.

Haro, who received her B.S. in psychology in 2016 from CSULB, gathered an eclectic collection of vendors selling a variety of things. Thanks to Haro, people at the Havana Nights festival were just as easily able to buy a churro as they were able to take a picture with tarantula. As you can expect, coordinating with various street vendors takes its toll.

“I have a tight schedule,” said Haro as the Havana Nights Festival approached. “I have a lot going on.”

ACM hosted in La Feria Restaurant, , 10903 S. Inglewood, Avenue, Lennox, CA

Contacting vendors has become an art form for Haro. Haro is the founder of a bi-monthly pop-up named Angel City Market that occurs in her hometown of Inglewood, California. Angel City Market gives Los Angeles area vendors a safe haven to sell without the fear of harassment. Angel City Market holds its events within the gated confines of La Feria, helping to keep the event secure.

According to Crosstown.LA, Los Angeles watchdog organization, crimes against Los Angeles street vendors have spiked since the 2016 presidential elections. In fact, within the first 6 months of this year, over 150 street vendor attacks have been reported for Los Angeles.

“We try to give the community something they can do as a family. A lot of the vendors are from the area and we can show each other support,” said Haro.

In addition to giving food vendors a safe place to sell, Latinx vendors get much-needed exposure when selling their niche products. Boosted by themed nights and live music that bring in new customers, such as Selena Nights, Dia de Los Muertos or Mean Girls, many small business vendors get a wave of new customers at every event.

Lex Bedo selling Raised by Immigrants clothing at Havana Nights Festival in Downey

Raised by Immigrants is a clothing apparel started by Lex Bedo in 2020. Contacted by Haro, Bedo has found a place to reach his target audience.

“My parents are from Mexico and came to this country. I wanted to do something to honor them“, said Bedo after selling a shirt of a cactus wearing a Dodgers’ hat and a mustache, comicly resembling Cheech Marin.

Rene Pulido selling aguas frescas at the Fresca Signature Flavor tent.

Angel City Market coordinators say that they are hoping to expand into other Latinx communities.

“We are looking into having something similar in Long Beach,” said an event coordinator. “We are having a problem finding a place with a fence, but somewhere off of Anaheim is where we are hoping.

Whether Angel City Market ultimately expands into other communities or maintains in Inglewood, Haro is determined to give back to the Latinx street vendor culture, and the Latinx community as a whole.

Event photographer with one of Angel City Market's motto on the shirt.

“I want them to know that this is being done by somebody who grew up here and is being done with respect,” said Haro.