Michelle Angela Ortiz was born in South Philadelphia and grew up working in the 9th Street Italian Market.And now she's giving back. She's using her artistic talents to help transform the nation's oldest outdoor market and allow it to show its true colors.
Her project is about supporting and shining a light on vendors, business owners and neighbors. The project also provides information to help them with issues such as gentrification, racism, displacement and erasure. John Gargano can trace his family's roots to selling on 9th Street back to the 1800s. Gargano's Produce was in operation when there was just horse and buggies rambling along the street.
His old wooden produce stands were replaced with new brightly colored metal stands with hand-painted art emblazoned on them with pictures of relatives and inspirational sayings.