My name is Maira Quintanilla, and I am currently the Store Manager at the Village Market Place (VMP). I was born and raised in South Central and going from Crenshaw to UCLA I know firsthand the struggle some families face when trying to access healthy options. When people walk into the market, seeing the positive reactions from community members when they see they have direct access to “good” food at accessible prices makes our work rewarding because I know the power of food. As I worked to regain my strength and stamina after overcoming illness, I realized the importance of food and its capacity to heal and empower. My work managing the day-to-day operations of the VMP is directly influenced by customer input. When shoppers often come in looking for healthier alternatives to better their lives or make requests for items they’d like to use for their medicinal purposes, I take it to heart. I enjoy my work because when families come in, I know we are working to change their lives and make a very real impact within our community.
