The Pan y Paz Baker’s Collective, organized by non-profit Via International, is represented by a collective of women-owned, home-based baker businesses.  During Covid, when homemade sourdough bread had reached a heightened demand, this collective came together with a shared vision of reigniting a bakery at the Bread & Salt building by establishing a workers-owned bakers co-op that is aligned with the cultural identity of Barrio Logan.

To kick things off, the collective launched four bi-weekly outdoor markets in November and December of 2021 at Mujeres Brew House, a tenant of Bread & Salt in Barrio Logan.  The bakers developed a collaborative homemade bread menu, offering some specialty holiday breads and other food products that pair well with bread.  

Over the past few years, while Via International is simultaneously working through the process of capital fundraising, design and permitting of our future cooperative bakery, the Pan y Paz Collective has collaborated on marketing tools, a business plan, menu development and community engagement, which included a free 16 week culinary training course in partnership with the Sherman Heights Community Center.  

By supporting residents within the surrounding community to grow their food based businesses, our efforts to ignite community building have become a foundational tool for how the Pan y Paz Collective aims to contribute a positive impact on our well-being, local economy and environment through wholesome, artisanal, community-driven business practices.