Empowering Entrepreneurs Through Shared Resources
Our Collective Story
Black Women Vend is a South LA Business Collective powering underrepresented entrepreneurs with the community, knowledge, and tools needed to grow and thrive. Rooted in our beginnings with Black women food vendors, we now support founders across food, retail, creative, and service industries.
We believe in the strength of shared learning and the necessity of economic equity. South LA has long been denied access to the resources that fuel business success — so we create the pathways. Through collaborative learning, personalized support, and real opportunities, we help entrepreneurs build stronger, more sustainable businesses.
Our vision is bold: a thriving South LA where underrepresented founders are resourced, recognized, and unstoppable — and where collective growth transforms the entire community.
JENNIFER LAURENT
Founder
My name is Jenn Laurent, and I’ve called South LA home since 1992. I raised my children here, and now my grandchildren are growing up in the same community that shaped our family. My work is rooted in a deep commitment to expanding access, opportunity, and economic equity for the entrepreneurs who make South LA vibrant.
For more than 20 years, I’ve served this community as a real estate broker, helping families and small businesses build stability and ownership. I also hold a paralegal degree and am registered with Los Angeles County as a Legal Document Assistant experience that allows me to navigate complex systems and support entrepreneurs through processes that are often difficult to access.
In 2020, I began working closely with street vendors as Los Angeles rolled out its permit requirements. I saw firsthand how many talented vendors were excluded simply because they lacked support or information. Since then, I’ve partnered with advocates, including Inclusive Action for the City, and even traveled to Sacramento to help push for state legislation that reshaped street vending rights across California.
Today, my passion is bringing meaningful resources to South LA from contract readiness to business development to help eliminate food deserts, strengthen small businesses, and create real pathways to generational wealth for Black and Brown families. I believe in the power of collective learning and shared opportunity. When we build together, our entire community rises.
