Hi! My name is Israth Tayiba and I am a junior at the Bronx High School of Science. I am 16 years old and a junior intern in the Youth Development Workforce Internship at Grow NYC. I am a born and raised New Yorker and am very excited to get more hands-on learning experience through this internship as well as the ability to develop my communication skills. A fun fact about me is that I have 3 other siblings, two older sisters and a younger brother.

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Most excited about: I am very excited about the internship in general but I love the fact that I am able to gain more knowledge regarding the environment and plants as well as the ability to meet new people.

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Why food is important to me: Food is very important to me because it is a sustenance that everyone needs to survive and is a method of connection. People eat foods from other cultures and through this food is a factor that can connect different people from different backgrounds. In addition, I find myself and others guilty of not acknowledging the hard work it takes to bring this food onto the table like the farmers who work in difficult climates and environments to harvest and grow this food for us.

Hello! My name is Sai Diaz, and I’m an intern at GrowNYC where I’m learning
Workforce Development. I grew up in New York and had an interest in Urban agriculture
Because I wanted to know where my food comes from. In my free time I enjoy Reading,
Exercising and playing games. 

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Most excited about: Learning the process of growing food.

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Why food is important to me: Food is important to me because eating healthy food is essential in having a healthy body. Its production also has piqued my interest about where
we get our food from.

My name is Jasper Curphey, and I’m a Sophomore at Lehigh University pursuing a BS in Earth and Environmental Science. As a born-and-raised New Yorker, I’m fascinated by the challenge of integrating sustainable farming and green spaces into dense urban environments like my hometown. When I’m not studying, I work as a carpenter—a hands-on trade that fuels my appreciation for practical, eco-conscious solutions. In my free time I train jiu-jitsu and enjoy reading.​

 

Most excited about: I am most excited about getting the opportunity to see the diverse range of solutions to the problems of limited space in greenspaces.

Hey everyone! My name is Laila, I’m currently a rising sophomore at NYU where I'm studying environmental biology. I have been involved in nature and green spaces in NYC since I was a sophomore in high school and work at the New York Botanical Garden! I’m really interested in marine science and conservation but I’m also really interested in intertwining and relating it to agriculture.

 

Most excited about: I’m super excited about working on governors island and bonding with the other interns!

 

Why food is important to me: I live in the Bronx and I’m fortunate to live in a house, have running water and access to food. However, I know it’s not like that everywhere in the Bronx. The lack of healthy food in my borough is scary and it feels like the system is setting my community up for failure.

I’m Mia, a rising sophomore at Case Western Reserve University studying Civil Engineering. I have lived in New York City my entire life, and I currently reside in Brooklyn. Outside of school, I enjoy playing and watching soccer, exploring different cities on foot, baking, watching movies, and occasionally drawing. One of my favorite movies is Party Girl (1995).

 

Most excited about: Learning more about different urban agriculture practices and spending the next six weeks making new connections.

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Why food is important to me: Humans are part of nature, so our overall wellbeing is fundamentally intertwined with the wellbeing of the environment. Beyond this fact, the environment is also the source of some of the greatest experiences of joy that we can experience in life. It is in all of our best interests to ensure that as many people as possible get to enjoy the full beauty of nature in the present as well as for generations to come!

Hi, I’m Samia. I’m a high school intern with GrowNYC’s Workforce Development program, and I’m from Brooklyn. I joined this program because I want to learn more about food access and how I can be part of creating change. I’m hoping to pursue a career in environmental engineering or something related to sustainability and equity, especially in communities that are underserved or overlooked. Fun facts: I have two cats named Max and Luna, and my favorite season is autumn. Really anything below 60 degrees is great!

 

Most excited about: I’m most excited to visit different sites around NYC and discover new places I haven’t been to before. I also can’t wait to work at the greenmarket and get more comfortable talking to people in a professional setting.

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Why food is important to me: The environment matters to me not just locally, but globally. There are many regions around the world that are struggling with limited resources due to long-term inequality and environmental harm. I want to learn how to address these issues, even if it’s just regionally for now, and be part of creating more access where it’s needed most.

Hi! My name is Sojourner, and I’m currently a rising senior at Brooklyn Technical High School. I’ve lived in New York City my whole life, a place with not enough greenery, which has had an impact on my love for nature and my appreciation for the importance that it offers. The past two summers, I’ve worked for Glacial Ridge Growers in Minnesota. This allowed me to learn more about farming and grow my knowledge on it.  In my free time, I really enjoy baking, hanging out with friends, going to the beach, and spending time outdoors.

 

Most excited about: I’m most excited about working outside and meeting new people!

 

Why food is important to me: Food is important to me because I feel it’s a great way to bring people together. Whether that’s growing food together, preparing food together, or eating together, it allows people to connect and enjoy each other's company.

Hello! My name is Sylvie Turner and I have lived in Brooklyn my whole  life. I am sixteen years old and I am a workforce development intern at GrowNYC. I love exploring new parts of the city and backpacking all around the world with my mom to explore new cultures. I also love animals and I have a dog who inspires me to help animals.

 

Most excited about: Understanding where our food comes from in New York City and how the process of producing food adapts to the diverse cultures here. I’m also excited to learn about local farmers and how they produce their foods compared to bigger companies where food is mass produced.

 

Why food is important to me: Food is what brings humans together. It is what shapes culture and community and allows us to share and bond. In my family, Italian and Jewish food always put me in a state of comfort. I also think that food is the primary way to nourish and support the mind and body. Being able to eat healthy completely changes how I feel and can even change my mood. It is motivating and can prepare one for a healthy life ahead.

Hey I’m Xavier Santiago I'm 18 I am a part of the workforce development program as one of the interns. I'm from Brooklyn and growing up I've always been an outdoors person. Learning about work towards helping the environment in many ways including agriculture has always been an interest to me. Community is very important and just trying new things is something I'm always ready for.

 

Most excited about: Learning different ways to have a helpful impact on the environment.

 

Why food is important to me: Food is important to me because it's something we see and consume every day. What you put in your body is very important. We have to make sure we're consuming food that improves our daily life not drags us down.

Hello, my name is Maggie Landewe and I recently graduated high school at Essex Street Academy and will be attending Temple University in the fall. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY but have spent most of the summers at my grandparents house in New Hampshire where I found my love for nature. I plan on majoring in Criminal Justice which I believe is very intertwined with the environment and the way resources are distributed to people across the country. Some of my favorite activities are making collages, exploring the city with friends, reading, and baking. A fun fact about me is I did synchronized swimming for a year in middle school after watching the olympics and being infatuated with the team's skill and precision.

 

Most excited about: Learning more about sustainable methods and building community within the program. 

 

Why the environment is important to me: Our environments help us grow and evolve over time. Whether we choose to heal or harm the environment can impact our life and teach us valuable lessons