My name is Evelyn Estrada, and I’m the Los Angeles Program Manager for Support+Feed. I started in January 2023 as an urban farm educator, and now I coordinate free farmers markets, food deliveries, fire relief events, and other activations all over the city, in partnership with our amazing community organizations and restaurants.
This work is meaningful to me for several reasons. I love the diversity of cultures in LA – the pockets of communities that share spaces, cuisines and traditions make my heart happy. But we’re currently witnessing numerous injustices here, including highly aggressive immigration enforcement actions. I’m deeply concerned about the targeting of vulnerable communities – it’s unacceptable that so many individuals live in fear, unable to go about their daily lives such as shopping or working without concern for their safety.
But when I’m feeling discouraged, I just think about the events we’ve been able to organize that reflect the resilience of this city and everything else I love about it. For instance, earlier this month we supported the 10th annual Back to School event, hosted by Sisters of Watts, by recruiting 25 volunteers, registering over 300 families, distributing more than 1,400 backpacks, and providing 700 plant-based meals prepared by plant-based Mexican restaurant Cena Vegan. This event was organized by the community for the community. We appreciate the trust that Sisters of Watts placed in the S+F team to collaborate within their community for this initiative.
Another source of my passion for this work is related to health. According to the CDC, heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death within the Latino community. The Latino Center for Health reports that 75% of Latinos are overweight or obese. I’m aware that multiple factors contribute to these health issues, including limited access to healthier food options in many Latino communities. I am grateful for the work I do, as it supports my community by providing complimentary fresh produce. Our offerings include nutritious AND delicious Mexican cuisine like Cena, which features high protein and fiber content while avoiding the high cholesterol and fats associated with meat. I’ve been eating plant-based for eight years, and it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made. And by the way, if you’re looking for some inspiration in the kitchen, I highly recommend checking out the recipe section of our website – the sweet potato brownies are my personal favorite :).
Thanks for allowing me to share my story, and for being a part of our community! And if you live in one of our 11 anchor cities around the country (LA, NYC, Atlanta, Chicago, DC, Detroit, Minneapolis, Nashville, Virginia Beach, New Orleans, and Philly), I hope you’ll consider volunteering with us!