I’m currently studying Environmental Science at Binghamton University in upstate New York. In 2023 I graduated from LaGuardia high school as a fine arts major. I love painting, digital art and photography. Aside from art, my other hobbies include gardening, hiking, and cooking.

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Most excited about: I’m looking forward to exploring different parts of the city and working hands-on with plants. I also love going to the Greenmarket so I am excited to experience it as a worker.

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Why food is important to me: Growing up in a multicultural family in NYC has exposed me to a variety of flavors and cuisines. Whether dining out with friends, cooking with my family, or sharing meals with others, food has been a source of joy and connection for me.

Hi! My name is Angel, and I’m an 18 year old from Queens! I’ll be going to Stony Brook University in the fall to major in marine vertebrate biology, with hopes of becoming a marine biologist. I love to bake, listen to music (Beyoncé and Ariana Grande are my favs), and paint landscapes. I also love watching TV and movies with my family, and one of my favorite movies is The Little Mermaid. My number one bucket list item is to see the Great Barrier Reef, whether I’m there for work trying to save it or just on vacation!​

Why food is important to me: My earliest memories with my family surround eating good food. Whether my dad made my favorite pasta (fettuccine alfredo) or we were at my grandma’s house  for Thanksgiving. When I think of food I think of giving love, and that’s what I try to accomplish when I bake for my friends and family. 

Hi! My name is Emma Jewel and I’m a rising sophomore at Tufts University majoring in Environmental Science and Biology. I’ve lived in New York City my whole life and I’m very passionate about conservation and urban ecology, as well as the fieldwork that comes with it. In my free time, I love to go hiking, take care of my plants, and find new gluten free food places around the city. 

Most excited about: Getting to make a real difference in the city by helping it become more sustainable and accessible for all groups of people. 

Why food is important to me: To me, food is the best way to connect with people. You can share and cook food with the people you love and also build relationships with people of different backgrounds by learning recipes or trying new cuisines. 

Hi! My name is Ada. I’m originally from Vermont, but have been lucky enough to study/live in Thailand, and now here in NYC, where I’m majoring in Urban Studies at The New School. Agriculture and food systems have always been a central part of my life, but up until now that’s always existed in a more rural, and socially homogeneous form. I’m really happy to be able to see a different version of agricultural practice with GrowNYC this summer! When I can, I love to mix visual arts into my life and my learning, and will never say no to trying a new food.

Most excited about: I’ve interacted with GrowNYC at my local Greenmarket in Queens, and I can imagine the amount of care and effort that gets put into making resources like this work. I’m looking forward to learning about the behind the scenes efforts that go into this community and environment centered work.

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Why food is important to me: Food is such a critical part of culture, socializing, livelihood, and because of this it's also sometimes an indicator of struggle. When I get to try a new cuisine or dish, it is a meal, but it's also a chance to learn and rethink, and be grateful for the opportunity to do so.

Hey! I’m Tuli, and I’m from Brooklyn, NY. I’ve always had a love for plants, and I attended the Children’s Garden summer camp at the BBG for quite a few summers in my childhood. I hope to major in Botany or the Biochemistry of Plant Systems in the future! I’m a rising senior art student at Edward R. Murrow High School, and I love being creative and doing things with my hands. I’m hoping that the opportunity to work in greenspaces will further my love for plants and that the experiences I share with my fellow interns will too!

Most excited about: Horticulture time in the Teaching Garden. 

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Why food is important to me: As a biracial child, it sometimes becomes difficult to feel connected with my two cultures. Food is a way for me to feel at home, whether it be a simple stir fry over rice or a nice hearty pot roast. I love the community fostered by shared foods in each cultural group. 

Hi, my name is Karelyn Bautista. I’m 17 years old and a rising senior. I am Dominican and I have lived in The Bronx my whole life. I love art, I am a writer, and want to be in the entertainment industry in the future. I love NYC and want to see it become a more green place.

Most excited about: Gardening, meeting new people, and getting to work with the GrowNYC community!

Why food is important to me: Food is important to me because it is a human right and everyone deserves access to fresh and good quality food. Food is what connects us and so many cultures have different food but overwhelmingly many of our foods are very similar. 

Hi my name is kenneth. I'm seventeen and  a rising senior at Dewit Clinton Highschool. My major hobbies include reading and writing.I have lived in the bronx for the past five years.I want to see it became a more greener space.

Most excited about: learning more about plants, techniques to care for farms or gardens, and the impact it has on the environment.

Why food is important to me: Food is a way to share in culture and tradition.Food is a way to come together as a community.Food is an essential part of life. It is what keeps us alive.

Hi! My name is Maggie Handelman. I’m 17 years old and going into my senior year at LaGuardia High School. I’ve lived in Brooklyn my entire life. Outside of school I work with a climate education organization, the Climate and Resilience Education Task Force, and an educational justice organization, IntegrateNYC. I also love to work with children and do a lot of babysitting and volunteering with young kids.

Most excited about: Getting to know everyone and learning about how GrowNYC operates!

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Why food is important to me: Food is one of the main ways that I connect with my family and friends! I think cooking and coming together to appreciate food is a beautiful way to create community.

Hi! My name is Frank and I am a Workforce Development Intern at GrowNYC. I will be a freshman this fall at Rutgers University and will be majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering. I am devoted to working with environmental organizations to expand my own knowledge of the environment and how to intersect sustainability and public advocacy with the growing reliance on technology seen in the modern world. In my free time I enjoy cooking new recipes, playing video games, going to the gym, and learning anything new!

Why food is important to me: In a world where there is a growing amount of information, people need to be educated on what they are putting in their bodies, as well as how to obtain quality and sustainably sourced food. This also has to be balanced with the cultural influences food has. Food is important to me because it is a common aspect of our lives, yet so many people do not have access to food in general or access to harmful foods, both to oneself and to the grander environment we live in. Plus, who doesn't love a good, healthy meal?

My name is Michael, I'm a sophomore in Brooklyn College. I was born in Brooklyn. I'm an athlete on the swim and tennis teams, and besides that I play some instruments and bike everywhere.

Most excited about: gardening and cooking!

Why Food is important to me: The type of food we eat has a strong influence on our health. I want to live a long and healthy life, and I understand that food is a critical factor to achieving that. I hope to help the people I care about achieve this as well.

Hi, my name is Ciara. I'm 19, I'm a Mexican-American and a student at Ithaca College. I'm a double major in Public Health and Environmental Science. I was born and raised in the Bronx, outside of school I like to spend time with my family, go on walks around the park and love to watch movies. My favorite movie is Coraline!

Most excited about: Getting to travel around NYC and meeting new people.

Why food is important to me: Food is important because we need it in order for our body to function properly and without food in our system it would be difficult for us to concentrate and go throughout our day. Just having a fruit or a snack can make us feel better.

Hi, my name is Kaliyah and I am a workforce development intern. I was born in Manhattan to a large family of Caribbeans before moving to grow up in Queens for most of my life. Plants and gardening have always been something we had in our homes as a family and I wanted to bring that to my daily life more than just at home. I enjoy my other hobbies of writing, drawing, crocheting and especially reading, as well as sharing these hobbies with my friends

Hello! My name is Ulises, I’m 19 years old, and I am currently a sophomore studying Latin American Caribbean studies and Japanese studies at the University of Albany in New York’s capital region. I am back in New York City for the summer and it’s been great so far! I was born and raised in the Bronx, and I’m a second generation Mexican-American. Environmental and sustainability work has always been a passion of mine, and I spent as many Fridays as I could in highschool working in my school’s garden. I consider myself an activist for a variety of causes, and I love meeting others who are passionate about activism, or just about anything! My interests include writing, going to museums, thrifting, arts and crafts, casual gaming, music, and learning new languages!

Most excited about: Learning from one another and making new connections and friends!

Why food is important to me: I feel strongly that relationships to land and food are embedded in culture on many scales. Whether that be the culture around how far away from you your food is being produced within your neighborhood, or whether your relatives back home are on the frontlines of climate change’s impact on food production processes and local livelihoods, I find it important to think as a collective about how food access impacts communities in more ways than one. Seeing inaccessibility to food in my own borough, as well as many direct ways for members of my community to empower themselves through a relationship with producing their own food or learning about how to, I want to take this opportunity to learn more about as well as be involved in efforts to empower communities through food access. Especially as a person of color and Mexican-American, I find that often food is such a major component of culture, and to not be able to empower ourselves through our relationship to food is a threat to culture and quality of life, and we must refuse to be bystanders. 

Hello! My name is Christopher Pilar, I am 19 years old and grew up in Queens my whole life. I currently attend Queens College for Computer Science. I enjoy playing video games with friends, and going to the gym. I'm excited to work this summer and I look forward to my time at GrowNYC.

Most excited about: Im excited to go see new places and to network with different people.

Why food is important to me: Food is what fuels the body. Without it, our bodies won't function. Its something we can share with eachother and it brings us all closer together. 

Hi! My name is Niha Roy. I am 18 years old and just finished my freshman year of college. I am currently a student at SUNY Stony Brook pursuing a bachelors of science in biology. I was born and raised in Queens and hope to learn more about my city through this opportunity that GrowNYC is giving me. I enjoy playing badminton, gardening, and watching movies in my free time. I hope to pursue a career in the healthcare field so I can interact with people all the time.

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Most excited about: Meeting new people and exploring the city every week

Why food is important to me:  Food is important to me because it is a representation of my culture as a Bengali. My parents and grandmother used many fruits and vegetables to craft new dishes almost every day for my family. Seeing food as an expression of care from my family makes food eternally important to me.

Hi, my name is Gaspard and I am 16 years old. I go to school at Brooklyn Prospect High school, and live in Brooklyn but I love to go to other boroughs and explore with friends. I like to play soccer and draw. I also like fashion and mostly baggy style so i think if you have cool style we could get along great! I want to be a civil engineer when I am out of college, and start a career in cities infrastructure and other cool things like that. I love the outdoors so I am very excited to work this summer for GrowNYC!

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Most excited about: I am most excited to learn about how agriculture in the city works and how you can care for the environment well in such a big city. I hope to gain some great knowledge on how I can care for my community as well so that I can apply it to my future life.

Why learning is important to me: I love food like anyone else, but on top of that I love the variety of foods you can see in such a diverse place. Food is a way to express yourself and your cultural heritage.

Hello! My name is Skylar Ng, and I am a Workforce Development Intern this summer. I am 16 years old and I grew up in Manhattan, New York. I've been recently interested in the environment, raising awareness about environmental justice, and learning about gardening. I enjoy playing video games with my friends, reading comics, and drawing with pen and paper. 

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Most excited about: Exploring new places with field trips and working on gardening.

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Why food is important to me: Food is important to me because there are many people in need without access to this necessity. I want to help spread food within our community so that everyone can have a more sustainable life without having to worry about food. 

Hello my name is Samuel. My friends and family calls me Sam. I was born and raised in Brooklyn NY.  I attend a great school in Manhattan. I have learned a lot from my school about the outdoors and nature. In my free time, I’m either in the Gym, Playing Basketball, Video Games or spending time with family and friends.

Most excited about: I’m very excited for this chapter in my life. To learn more about our food sources, meeting new interns and staff members. Also becoming more knowledgeable about Grow NYC.

Why food is important to me:  Food is extremely important to me for more than one reason. For starters my Mother was a Chef/ Food Caterer. My love of food comes natural. We love the holidays and special occasions how it brings family and friends together, we have so many special memories. Food is a love language. I’m so grateful for my Mom and her knowledge of cooking and the ability to teach me.

Hi! My name is Emely, I attended John Dewey High School where I learned about building up a school garden about both fruitation and symbolism of peace. I’ll be attending Stony Brook University this fall as a nursing major. I hope to join the gardening project on the campus and begin a new chapter of familiarizing myself with the new garden while letting my old school peers know how they could improve theirs. 

Most excited about: Taking care of my tomato plant to bring to college and of as many plants in the program as possible!

Why food is important to me: I care a lot about the source of the food I consume everyday, and to appreciate their unedited flavor as they are. I also want to learn how to cook for people I love.