Meet Stephanie Cataquet
170 Farm Stand & Food Pantry Coordinator at New Settlement, Grassroots Grocery Food Distributor
Irene Madrigal
Meet Stephanie Cataquet, a community organizer and Mott Haven Fridge Network Food Distributor. Born and raised in the South Bronx, Stephanie has dedicated many years to improving the lives of inner-city youth. Over the years she has worked alongside several non-profits in the environmental and educational sector to help improve the quality of life of her students, their families, and her hometown. At one point, Stephanie taught middle school students through a program that partnered with the NYPD and Bronx River Alliance to conduct restoration work on the Bronx River.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stephanie was inspired to switch gears as she watched her students and their families struggle to secure basic necessities. “The pandemic pulled the curtain back to what a lot of people have been ignoring,” Stephanie explained. “More people are finally seeing that these issues exist, are recognizing that it’s not right, and [that] we need to do something about it.” Seeing the daily struggles of her students, Stephanie decided to move from not just educating students to instead helping to give them the resources they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. “It’s all about equity,” Stephanie said. “Not everyone needs the same things to achieve the same goals.” Now, as a 170 Farm Stand & Food Pantry Coordinator for New Settlement’s Community Food Action Team, she works to bridge the gap between at-risk communities and healthy, sustainable resources.
Food insecurity is a particularly pressing issue within the Bronx. Despite being home to Hunts Point Terminal Market where over half of New York City’s produce passes through, the Bronx is ranked as the unhealthiest county in all of New York State, with many residents being denied access to high-quality and affordable food options. In the Mount Eden neighborhood, over half of the residents are rent-burdened, meaning many are often left to decide between purchasing meals or paying rent. To combat this, New Settlement’s Community Food Action Team operates a year-round choice pantry with produce from Mott Haven Fridge Network, a gardening program, and an afterschool program that provides healthy nutrition workshops. During the summer, they host Farmer’s Market for Kids, which gives children an opportunity to learn about nutrition and cooking. Apart from their programming centered around food insecurity, New Settlement also hosts a wide array of initiatives including a college preparatory program for girls and “CASA” to teach residents about how to defend themselves and their building against predatory landlords.
Though New Settlement aims to provide services that are readily available, they hope for members of the community to eventually no longer need the additional support. “[Our programs are] really helping people get back on their feet because nobody should have to rely on a pantry their entire adult lives,” Stephanie explained. “The goal is to make sure that families, at least when they leave our programs, feel secure and capable of making decisions to be healthy and financially stable.” New Settlement works to accomplish this by directly involving community members to empower and support them. As Stephanie explained, “it’s showing the community that we deserve to be here too. We deserve to thrive. We deserve to be more than just the South Bronx, a food desert.” There [have been so] many great minds that [have come] out of the Bronx. I know there are also a couple of poet laureates and Nobel Prize winners [as well]. Imagine what we can continue to produce if we give everyone in the neighborhood what they need to thrive rather than just living in a state of constantly trying to survive.”
Above all else, for individuals hoping to become more involved in their local community, the best first step to take is to simply make your voice heard, regardless of how insignificant you may believe it to be. As opposed to accepting the status quo as it is, the most important thing anyone can do is bring attention to the issues they are facing. “Community goes a lot deeper than people realize,” Stephanie said. “And it all starts with just speaking up, making your voice heard, and realizing that other people around you have the same opinions. Power does exist in numbers. You won't know that there are more people around you that are going through the same thing, that need the same help, and that want to see the same changes you want until you speak up.”
Learn more about New Settlement!
Make a contribution to Mott Haven Fridge Network to help Stephanie continue her fight against food insecurity!
