Today, we are airing our Tamarindo Live recording at the Goddess Mercado Bazaar—a collective of artists and entrepreneurs dedicated to creativity, culture, and mutual support. We called this event “Latinas Supporting Latinas” featuring the stories of two mission-driven entrepreneurs. You’ll hear from Diana Diaz, the founder of The Goddess Mercado and The Queer Mercado Nonprofit Collective, where folks support each other and cultivate a sanctuary of inclusivity and celebration while promoting entrepreneurship as a vehicle to drive equity. You’ll also hear from Aurora Anaya, the founder of Bloom Wild Bookshop, an LA based mobile bookstore that celebrates culture, ecology, and community through books and activations. Aurora is a proud member of the Goddess Mercado Bazaar Listeners should know that the Goddess Mercado Bazaar is on the historic Whittier Blvd, the cultural heart of East Los Angeles, known for lowriders and historical significance to the Chicano Movement. So you may hear some of the vibrancy of the historic blvd in the recording of this conversation. More about our Guests: Diana Diaz is a single mother born and raised in East Los Angeles, and she is the daughter of Mexican immigrants that introduced her to the world of street vending. These intersectionalities inspired her to create Mexichic Crafts, the first chicana luxury leather brand from East Los Angeles. Diana dared to dream big when she founded The Goddess Mercado and The Queer Mercado Nonprofit Collectives. Its mission is to create safe market spaces for youth to express themselves creatively, gain lucratively, and with the support of the local community and schools. In addition, her organization promotes entrepreneurship to help redress the inequities that underrepresented Latina women, youth, and the LGBTQ community face. Aurora Anaya is the founder of Bloom Wild Bookshop, an LA based mobile bookstore that celebrates culture, ecology, and community through books and activations. With over 20 years of experience curating festivals, public programs, and cultural events, she uplifts BIPOC voices and fosters spaces where literature and community empowerment meet. She is also a proud member of The Goddess Mercado Bazaar in Montebello, a Her work reimagines what a bookstore can be—transforming it into a catalyst for connection, culture, and collective joy. Bloom Wild Bookshop IG: @BloomWildBookshop BloomWildBookshop.com Tamarindo is a lighthearted show hosted by Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval talking about politics, culture, and self-development. We’re here to uplift our community through powerful conversations with changemakers, creatives, and healers. Join us as we delve into discussions on race, gender, representation, and life! You can get in touch with us at www.tamarindopodcast.com Tamarindo’s mission is to use laughter and conversation to inform, inspire and positively impact our community. Learn more at tamarindopodcast.com
