How I found My Joy, Again!

Publisher's Notes

This issue took a moment to publish. The disconnect stemmed from contemplating what the right time was to publish, and if it was safe enough? Then I told myself, “Linda.. it’ s time to glue, stomp, and tattoo ”, SO HERE WE GO!

This issue commemorates our fifth year of celebrating and empowering women and working towards closing the gap of resources for both women and minority owned businesses.

In 2016, I was determined to find a space for women and businesses to have a voice. From creating awareness and visibility to educating our women businesses through the lens of equity and empowerment.

2018, was the year I turned my hobby into a business with projections to go fully non-profit in mid 2020 to roll out business services in an incubator space thus combining efforts to support with the State of Illinois to open a Women & Minority Business Center. In 2019, Northwestern University, Hagerty Consulting, and Heart Automotive sponsored the 'Empowering Women ’ s Conference ' in support of the Illinois office of the SBA, women owned businesses and experts in our community. Then COVID hit… the reality of opening EWM Business Center became more and more unlikely to happen.

After becoming the second Hispanic member of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. I have realized you can only get out from any organization what you put in it. What never crossed my professional scope, was how my privilege as a white passing Latina would allow me to gain resources until I’ m the minority in the room. During my membership I learned about the impact of nepotism, racism, and found myself in rooms where I was the only minority woman. I began to ask myself deeper questions; “ why did God allow me to move to Evanston? Why do I care so damn much about a community I had no residual ties to, and finally.. if this is my reality, how can I be of service?

Business Development Events

Shira Piven, (Actress), Linda Del Bosque, (Publisher) Brianna Riza (Linda's Daughter)

I continued to explore identity issues of being a white passing Latina in a predominantly white community. Where Black / Brown business owners stayed in their neighbors to do business and white businesses who had more resources established in White high end communities. I was approached by a Northwestern student researching for a thesis paper on being a Latina in a predominately White institution. After reading her completed thesis she reflected about our conversation “She didn ’t even know she was Latina until she moved to Evanston

“ what was that supposed to mean?” I asked myself.. then I encountered a professional in Evanston who to this day has hidden from everyone that she is a Latina in fear of slowing the growth of her professional career if anyone knew the truth. At this point, I am identity issues they have to do with so many variables in a 7.8 mile radius, with educated and talented locals who often call themselves progressive. Then it hit me one day. I finally realized after becoming aware of the socio-economic-geographic structures that govern Evanston merchants which created segregation; and cut off resources and opportunity that promote growth and sustenance. As the Redlining was a by-product of institutional racism, the businesses within the same redlined districts inherited the same obstacles as community members that live within the Redlining. Addressing these issues at city council meetings, and AdHoc groups, and most recently a new FB group.

For over 20 years in our local business sector systematic oppression continues. And will continue until our community members begin to learn about how gatekeepers in the business sector of Evanston have been keeping resources away to sustain businesses in certain parts of Evanston. The progressive locals are not business owners, they are civic advocates. So I asked myself, how are local governments and supporting small businesses parallel to one another? After learning about SSA’ s (Special Service Area)l and how the business process to rent a A brick and mortar all are funneled through the local government.

Now 2020 presented our community with the biggest task, how to sustain during a worldwide pandemic. I was already having conversations with a local “Evanston Woman ” about her interest in purchasing Evanston Woman Magazine. At this point I had already encountered obstacles in getting more support from business leaders. I began advocating to dismantle SSAs and create a more inclusive space for ALL businesses to receive the resources. The more I advocated, I stumbled across the reality where pockets of local Government became unaccountable to support small businesses, and I was being closed out of rooms where I was once welcomed. I had become a nuisance, a bitch , and argumentative.

Because of the resilience that I had gained from moving to Evanston in 2015 to open a business venture, I lost all my money and found myself homeless for 9 months in 2016. I worked as a maid at night while I built Evanston Woman Magazine during the day with no car or home. Though I proved to myself my faith and love for my God is stronger than any season of life. My service in Evanston is not about me.. it’ s about the community members of today and of the future. It’ s about the emerging adults, and families who are working to ensure their businesses are sustained.

I have been finding joy again when I decided to provide complimentary advertising to small businesses to help them grow and a new passion to find a solution to create equity for ALL businesses in Evanston through the Evanston Tax Levy Fund while dismantling the redlining and Business districts, SSAs.

I fought two lawsuits against two large White owned companies, and a private school, called out racism within business organizations and found peace with who I am all in the past five years in Evanston.

This year, I am honored to be a recipient of "Who ' s

Who

' s Top Business Latinx Professional in Suburb of Chicago by Negocios Now. I’ m excited to join efforts and lockarms with community advocates to support their initiatives, and create awareness to unify all businesses in Evanston. We are currently working on opening the doors to Evanston Women ’ s Minority Business Center, and continuing philanthropy to close the disparity gap for women and minority owned businesses through Evanston Woman Magazine and the Evanston Womens Minority Women ' s Business Center.

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