"Carmen Nava-Najera, known as 'Ms. Nava,' has been selling tamales in Little Village and Hermosa for 22 years. She is now the first member of the Street Vendors Association of Chicago to be legally licensed to operate. Ms. Nava makes 220 tamales daily, including her famous Oaxacan tamales with pork and salsa wrapped in a banana leaf, and they constantly sell out. With the new license, she can now use the association’s shared kitchen in North Lawndale, equipped with a stand mixer that makes her job easier." - Ashok Selvam
