Photos by: Marisa Klug-Morataya

Interview by: Tanya Bermudez

Located at 2540 W. Division St., Torres tells us how good it feels to be a part of a neighborhood determined to keeping its culture. “It has really felt like a homecoming, being on Paseo Boricua. It’s so beautiful to see all of the cultural murals in the neighborhood, to hear the Spanish music playing from the cars and shops, for people to actually greet each other – it feels good to be here.” 

After raising the funds through a GoFundMe to open her brick and mortar shop, Torres shares advice for those who are working to start their own business. “I would say to really lean into your community – ask for advice, ask for help when you need it, ask for feedback. Don’t trick yourself into thinking you have to do it all on your own because your support system is there ready to help you, sometimes you just have to ask.” 

“Another thing that has been very helpful is making connections with other small business owners, even ones that aren’t in the same field as me. You need friends who not only know what you’re going through and can offer advice, on a business level, but also can vent with you about the less glamourous parts of being a business owner. Also, many times other small businesses are open to collaborating or partnering on projects and that’s not only a lot of fun, but also fundamental to your growth.

For Torres, the biggest struggle with sobriety often came at family parties, a common struggle many Latine people in sobriety have had to learn to navigate. “We do come from a big drinking culture and there are times where you’ll say you’re not drinking and they’ll ask a lot of questions, they will sometimes say you’re not being fun or become very negative toward you. But you know yourself and your needs better than anyone else, and if you know that deep down you don’t want to drink (for any reason at all) then you don’t have to.” 
For many, drinking culture is deeply connected to celebratory moments, but Torres believes that providing alternative options helps to shift this narrative and normalize the various reasons why someone may choose not to drink.

“If you want to commit to sobriety, or even to moderation, it can be easy to give in when everyone around you is saying that drinking ‘just one’ is not a big deal. My biggest advice is to stand your ground.”

Torres demonstrates that with community support, intentional spaces can have a big impact. “I would love to see Humboldt Park continue to grow to be a neighborhood that supports members from all marginalized communities and cultural backgrounds. I’d love to see more small businesses owned by community members, and more community-focused events. My hope is that people from the community pour back into the community and help each other when in need.”