Angelica Velasquez – West Michigan 25 most influential Latinos
Angelica Velasquez
Owner
La Casa de la Cobija
Velasquez, originally from Mexico, came to Grand Rapids in 1998.
She was soon given the opportunity to purchase a meat department business for small Latino restaurants throughout the Grand Rapids area.
She then decided she wanted to do something different. She decided to get into selling blankets wholesale. She also had the opportunity to buy this business and had great success at the time.
Vazquez tells us that some time later she moved her business to a larger space (2355 South Division), a location that she felt was the right place to be closer to her community.
As an entrepreneur and business owner, she had the opportunity to support the field workers who came here and passed here. She also supported immigrants who came to work and didn’t have family here. By organizing kermesse and donations in collaboration with members of the Latin community, they were able to send the remains of each of them to their place of birth. It was a very good initiative.
Angelica tells us that after that, many more needs arose when the pandemic began. In the area, there were no places where people could get help, so they began to distribute basic needs to those who needed it.. They connected with organizations to attract more help and be able to supply the need at that time.
Vazquez is very happy for the acceptance and credibility that her business has had, not only as a business, but as a place of resources.
Vazquez’s dream is that her business, La casa de la Cobija, becomes a “Community Center” to continue supporting her Latin community and she has faith that God will make this a reality.
