Evelyn Hernandez: Empowering Southeast Los Angeles Through Business and Community

Evelyn Hernandez, a proud native of Southeast LA’s Huntington Park, is not just a small business owner; she's an advocate for her community's prosperity. As the owner of Vigne Direct, an import and export wine distribution company, she brings her entrepreneurial spirit to the very neighborhood that shaped her upbringing.

Evelyn's journey is rooted in her family's legacy. The child of parents who owned recycling centers, she spent her early years working in her family's business. This experience not only provided her with an understanding of sustainable practices but also showed her the impact recycling centers can have on underserved communities. These centers weren't just about processing waste; they were lifelines for low-income individuals and families like hers, offering them a source of employment and supplementary income through the sale of recyclables.

However, in Los Angeles and across California, the number of these centers has been dwindling, deepening existing social and environmental disparities. Over the past decade, the count of beverage recycling centers has plummeted by 31% in Los Angeles and a staggering 46% statewide.

Evelyn was determined to reverse this trend, and drawing upon her lifelong experience, she set her sights on opening up her own center. She sought to do more than simply lease the commercial property for this new venture; she aimed to own it outright. But, like many small business owners of color, the traditional route to securing capital from a bank proved to be a roadblock.

That's where LISC LA's Asset Building for Communities of Color (ABC) program came into play. This transformative initiative, with generous support from Wells Fargo, made it possible for Evelyn to purchase commercial property to operate Sunshine Recycling Center symbiotically with Vigne’s existing import and export operations. The recycling center is awaiting additional permits and is slated to open its doors later this year. This shift from leasing to ownership is a game-changer for diverse-owned small businesses like Evelyn's, allowing them to build a more stable and secure future. 

The ABC program is at the forefront of investing in businesses operating in communities of color, empowering them to thrive and create wealth within their communities. By eliminating the barriers that often limit access to traditional loans and capital, ABC is actively working to bridge the racial wealth gap.

Evelyn herself acknowledges the invaluable assistance she received from the ABC program: "As a young, Latina entrepreneur, I faced challenges in obtaining assistance and capital from the bank due to my limited financial history. The ABC program provided the advice, consulting, and funding that I was unable to find elsewhere. It truly relieved the financial burden of not knowing how or where to begin as a woman of color."

With the investment from ABC, Evelyn also intends to hire more employees from disadvantaged backgrounds and offer livable wages. She is not just a business owner; she's a beacon of hope and a testament to the positive change one person can bring to their community. Through her dedication and the support of programs like ABC, she is reshaping Southeast Los Angeles, one business venture at a time.