By Philip Haldiman
Mail | X: @PhilipHaldiman

When Stephanie Vasquez started fighting to bring awareness to the gender pay gap about 10 years ago, she didn’t think it would pave a path leading her entrepreneurial spirit to Peoria.

But after speaking about Equal Pay Day in Peoria in 2014, it sparked a relationship with the mayor and other city officials who fostered a pop-up market with Vasquez that evolved into Amor Collective, a brick and mortar incubator that opened in Park West in August 2023 dedicated to providing a unique space exclusively designed for Latina-owned businesses.

Since then, Amor Collective has helped three businesses go from incubator to storefront and is now home to 37 small businesses.

“The city has been so kind and made doing business so simple,” said Vasquez, Amor Collective founder and CEO. “When you are a small business owner, keeping it simple is important, and the city has helped us do that.”

For their service to the community, Amor Collective has been named the 2024 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Entrepreneur category.

The Hometown Hero Awards are a celebration of individuals who live or teach in the city, and Peoria businesses for their achievements and distinguished contributions to the community and beyond.

Amor Collective will be honored at an awards luncheon next year. The fourth annual Hometown Heroes luncheon will honor those nominated in 2024.

Vasquez has already had much experience in the local business world as the owner of Free Trade Cafe, the longest-standing sustainable coffee shop in downtown Phoenix.

Vasquez has long been dedicated to empowering others and uplifting her community, notably through her nonprofit, E.L.L.A. (Empowering Latina Leaders in Arizona), which she successfully brought from concept to reality.

Through E.L.L.A., Vasquez has launched three flagship programs: Mujeres Mercado, Amor Collective, and Amor Amigas, each designed to support and elevate Latina entrepreneurs and community leaders.

Peoria city officials say Amor Collective, located in Park West, is an innovative business incubator and retail space that caters to Latina entrepreneurs.

Vasquez said that through personalized mentoring, coaching, and a nurturing environment, she aims to recognize and support the exceptional talents and innovative ideas of women entrepreneurs.

Amor Collective creates a better pathway for small businesses and empowers Latina-owned businesses to flourish and create a lasting impact on communities and the world, she said.

“I’ve journeyed through all of it and I know how difficult it is to start your own business. So what we can do is create a better pathway for small businesses,” she said.

Going into their second year at Amor Collective, Vasquez said the wait list to get in is long.

“We need a larger footprint. My goal is growth and a larger expansion on all levels,” she said.

Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on X @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.

Philip Haldiman
Senior News Editor | Peoria

phaldiman@iniusa.org

Meet Philip
Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.

Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.

Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater. 

Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.

Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.