Yolanda Perez, originally from Dominican Republic has always found herself returning to Long Island for its rich diversity and and wide range of social and cultural influences. She defines herself as strongly Hispanic and Dominican and to her that means a strong family bond and a family that is always coming together to have a good time. She describes her new community as not very close and independent from one another and has not yet wanted to involve herself in it. She believes that food is the one unifier between all of people. She wishes that all would have access to and transition to a healthier food selection. Though she recognizes the difficulty of pricing and some not being able to afford healthier foods, she hopes to change that and aid these families in better selection. She notices that people in lower income families spend their money on processed and cheap food and she believes that with the right tools it is possible to change that. She chose to plant an eggplant because it is a close family food and something that means a lot to her.
