Growing up with strong West Indian roots, Naomi Lake’s love for cooking began in her grandmother's kitchen in the Bronx, where she learned to create the rich flavors that connected her to her heritage. Then, during the pandemic, she made a bold decision to leave her teaching career behind and turn her culinary skills into a community-focused business. Enter Kathy's Kitchen BX.

Through her business, Naomi aims to educate her community on healthy eating with vegan recipes, while also promoting eco-friendly living with sustainable containers. Her journey has brought people together, proving that good food can nourish both the body and the soul.

Read our full story

Follow Kathy’s Kitchen BX on Instagram

Visit the Kathy’s Kitchen BX website

Growing up with strong West Indian roots, Naomi Lake’s love for cooking began in her grandmother's kitchen in the Bronx, where she learned to create the rich flavors that connected her to her heritage. Then, during the pandemic, she made a bold decision to leave her teaching career behind and turn her culinary skills into a community-focused business. Enter Kathy's Kitchen BX.
Through her business, Naomi aims to educate her community on healthy eating with vegan recipes, while also promoting eco-friendly living with sustainable containers. Her journey has brought people together, proving that good food can nourish both the body and the soul.
<hr>
<a href="https://epicenter-nyc.com/from-naomis-classroom-to-kathys-kitchen-in-the-east-bronx/">Read our full story</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kathyskitchenbx/?locale=zh_CN&amp;hl=ar">Follow Kathy’s Kitchen BX on Instagram</a>
<a href="https://www.kathyskitchenbx.com/">Visit the Kathy’s Kitchen BX website</a>

Powered by Epicenter NYC, Making It Here shares the real stories behind entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and business leaders forging their own path. In each episode we’ll explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons learned that will inspire you and even help shape your own journey. You’ll hear from a diverse range of voices—those shaping the future through resilience, creativity, and grit––who are Making It Here. For more stories like this visit us at https://epicenter-nyc.com/.

Production: https://www.pirateaudio.co/ 

Powered by Epicenter NYC, Making It Here shares the real stories behind entrepreneurs, artists, creators, and business leaders forging their own path. In each episode we&rsquo;ll explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and lessons learned that will inspire you and even help shape your own journey. You&rsquo;ll hear from a diverse range of voices&mdash;those shaping the future through resilience, creativity, and grit&ndash;&ndash;who are Making It Here. For more stories like this visit us at <a href="https://epicenter-nyc.com/">https://epicenter-nyc.com/</a>.
Production: <a href="https://www.pirateaudio.co/">https://www.pirateaudio.co/</a>&nbsp;

Making It Here

From Naomi’s Classroom to Kathy’s Kitchen in the East Bronx

When Kasumi Quinlan joined Lemontree, she wasn’t starting something new, she was stepping into a vision first created by Alex Godin, who set out to make finding free food as simple and human as possible.

Kasumi found a model grounded in empathy and human connection, and the opportunity to grow it into something larger. Under her leadership, Lemontree has become a nationwide service helping people navigate food insecurity with dignity. Through simple text and chat, trained advocates connect neighbors to nearby pantries and meal programs in minutes. No judgment, no hoops to jump through.

Today, I sit down with Kasumi to talk about her path into this work, what she’s learned from listening to thousands of neighbors, and how thoughtful design can turn a moment of need into one of care.

https://www.foodhelpline.org/donate 

When Kasumi Quinlan joined Lemontree, she wasn&rsquo;t starting something new, she was stepping into a vision first created by Alex Godin, who set out to make finding free food as simple and human as possible.
Kasumi found a model grounded in empathy and human connection, and the opportunity to grow it into something larger. Under her leadership, Lemontree has become a nationwide service helping people navigate food insecurity with dignity. Through simple text and chat, trained advocates connect neighbors to nearby pantries and meal programs in minutes. No judgment, no hoops to jump through.
Today, I sit down with Kasumi to talk about her path into this work, what she&rsquo;s learned from listening to thousands of neighbors, and how thoughtful design can turn a moment of need into one of care.
<a href="https://www.foodhelpline.org/donate">https://www.foodhelpline.org/donate</a>&nbsp;

Kasumi Quinlan of Lemontree on Building a Better System for Food Access

When Glenelys Jimenez became a new mom in early 2020, she started thinking about all the things she wished she’d learned sooner. As the oldest daughter of Dominican immigrants, she’d spent years teaching herself how to navigate student loans, taxes, workplace culture, and mortgages… not just for herself, but for her family and friends, too.

When the world shut down, Glenelys decided to build what she wished had existed all along: a space for people to learn and rise together. That idea became Levanto Collective, a community filling in the life skills and support systems traditional education leaves out. Through workshops on financial wellness, mental health, reproductive health, and career growth, Levanto helps members “unlearn what doesn’t serve them and learn what will.”

Today, I sit down with Glenelys to talk about building Levanto with her own savings, staying rooted in purpose, and how she’s evolved her original idea… from an app into a community built to help others rise.

https://vialevanto.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/levantocollective/

When Glenelys Jimenez became a new mom in early 2020, she started thinking about all the things she wished she&rsquo;d learned sooner. As the oldest daughter of Dominican immigrants, she&rsquo;d spent years teaching herself how to navigate student loans, taxes, workplace culture, and mortgages&hellip; not just for herself, but for her family and friends, too.
When the world shut down, Glenelys decided to build what she wished had existed all along: a space for people to learn and rise together.&nbsp;That idea became Levanto Collective, a community filling in the life skills and support systems traditional education leaves out. Through workshops on financial wellness, mental health, reproductive health, and career growth, Levanto helps members &ldquo;unlearn what doesn&rsquo;t serve them and learn what will.&rdquo;
Today, I sit down with Glenelys to talk about building Levanto with her own savings, staying rooted in purpose, and how she&rsquo;s evolved her original idea&hellip; from an app into a community built to help others rise.
<a href="https://vialevanto.com/">https://vialevanto.com/</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/levantocollective/">https://www.instagram.com/levantocollective/</a>

Glenelys Jimenez is rewriting the rules of learning with Levanto Collective

City Señoras started as two friends looking for connection… a walk in the park, a cup of coffee, a space to slow down. But what began as a small gathering in Brooklyn has since grown into a self-care social club spanning New York and Los Angeles.

Co-founders Alexis Mendias and Jaqueline Padilla have built something special: a place where women, especially Latinas and women of color, can show up fully as themselves. Their meetups (often featuring movement, journaling, or just meaningful conversation) have drawn crowds of over eighty people, all searching for the same thing: belonging.

In this episode we sit down with Alexis and Jacqueline to hear about what it takes to build a community from scratch, and the lessons they’ve learned from balancing growth with intention.

https://www.citysenoras.com/about-us 

https://www.instagram.com/citysenoras/  

https://www.tiktok.com/@citysenoras

City Se&ntilde;oras started as two friends looking for connection&hellip; a walk in the park, a cup of coffee, a space to slow down. But what began as a small gathering in Brooklyn has since grown into a self-care social club spanning New York and Los Angeles.
Co-founders Alexis Mendias and Jaqueline Padilla have built something special: a place where women, especially Latinas and women of color, can show up fully as themselves. Their meetups (often featuring movement, journaling, or just meaningful conversation) have drawn crowds of over eighty people, all searching for the same thing: belonging.
In this episode we sit down with Alexis and Jacqueline to hear about what it takes to build a community from scratch, and the lessons they&rsquo;ve learned from balancing growth with intention.
<a href="https://www.citysenoras.com/about-us">https://www.citysenoras.com/about-us</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/citysenoras/">https://www.instagram.com/citysenoras/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@citysenoras">https://www.tiktok.com/@citysenoras</a>

From Naomi’s Classroom to Kathy’s Kitchen in the East Bronx

Making It Here

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