Michelle Vallejo is a small business owner, community leader, and advocate for women’s economic empowerment. For almost 25 years, her family has managed Los Portales, which serves thousands of people weekly and helps dozens of working-class entrepreneurs start and run their businesses. Vallejo was recruited to run for Congress by LUPE Votes, a community organization that uses grassroots organizing to push for the interests of underrepresented and neglected people.