Advisory Council Member (Former)/Supporter

Informal businesses begin out of necessity. They are the most fundamental elements of any economy and the heart of communities and cities the world over.  La Cocina began its journey in the homes of informal entrepreneurs, women mostly, as they hustled to patch income and make ends meet for their family. These are the studios of San Francisco where daughters are waitresses and workers crowd around soccer games to eat the foods they can’t find in restaurants.

These are the shopping carts that precede food trucks in not just selling a product but knowing how to find a customer. They are the timeless and tireless inspiration for small business.  As businesses transition to the formal economy they not only move from income patching to asset generation but also change the opportunity index for entire communities. It is one thing to find the taste of home in a hot box on a corner, but entirely another thing to find it in a restaurant that you admire. And this is the story of so many of the women around you. A story of hustle and grit, of talent and determination, and opportunity executed upon.