Announcement
View of Bronx Farm and Stewards learning from New Roots
Photo: IRC in NY
With food insecurity in New York anticipated to stretch to over 500,000 additional residents across the Bronx and Queens as a result of the $186 billion cut to SNAP payments announced in July, combined with residents of the South Bronx and Northwest Queens facing a slew of food market closures, New Roots' mission is more important than ever. With over 300 community members attending our farm and garden each year, the New Roots team is working hard to keep our farm and garden flourishing to meet this high demand. In spite of the scale and progress of our mission, our teams’ capacity is dependent on our funding, and the next year’s winter season ahead makes maintenance activities all the more critical for us to be able to sustain.
Every seed that’s planted, every workshop that’s led, and every community member that’s assisted, is made possible through their efforts and determination. So, who are these individuals at the roots of New Roots?
SHERYLL: New Roots Food & Agriculture Coordinator (Bronx / Queens)
Following a 20-year career in corporate and institutional marketing, Sheryll opted to pursue her passion for food justice in urban environments, formerly serving as a Design Trust fellow for the Farming Concrete project and having also been a member of the 2019-2020 HEAL school of Political Leadership cohort. She now uses her knowledge to assist with local gardening initiatives in urban housing developments—an experience that fuels New Roots’ operations and continued success. Sheryll also leads workshops and gives talks on behalf of key organizations involved in urban agricultural justice. With New Roots in New York, there is a special quality that Sheryll honors:
“Instead of having a program like in other US cities where individual asylees or refugees can have a piece of land to grow their own food for food security, our [New Roots] program is one where we farm and garden as a community.”
DK: Food, Agriculture, and Community Engagement Liaison (Bronx / Queens)
With a strong background in program facilitation, agricultural education, and culinary instruction, she's been an avid, knowledgeable, and fantastic member of the team since Winter 2020. DK is passionate about developing and delivering programs that provide inclusive and positive representation for communities that are frequently underserved and misrepresented. As a native New Yorker, with roots in Washington Heights spanning generations, her expertise in leading community outreach and inclusion has led to New Roots' success in promoting wellbeing and community. She notes how the diverse nature of the New Roots’ community inspires mutual learning and growth:
“The New Roots program is a green space program for immigrants, refugees, and asylees and New Americans who have come to the Bronx and Queens to have peace and green space to grow crops of origin, to teach us about crops of origin, and just to teach us about climate change, education, and more.”
JESS: Senior Economic Empowerment (EE) Manager (Bronx / Queens)
Jess has worked in the EE field for over 20 years. Jess joined the IRC in NY 2 years ago and, in addition to New Roots, oversees our workforce and career development, and financial coaching initiatives. She also supports our New Roots project management, data analysis, evaluation, reporting, and coordination with partners and other IRC programs. As a vegan who has dedicated her career to financially empowering communities with low incomes, Jess is thrilled to contribute to New Roots’ mission of providing and promoting access to healthy produce to combat food insecurity.
“These aren't your run of the mill community gardens – we provide green space for neighborhoods to act as healing sanctuaries, where sustainable horticulture not only feeds local communities and makes them healthier but also mitigates the effects of climate change. We also deliver a bevy of programming ranging from farmer’s markets and CSA with food from BIPOC, LGBTQI, and indigenous farmers sold at discounted rates, mutual aid free food distribution, and a plethora of workshops teaching urban agriculture like composting, beekeeping, and cover cropping, but just as importantly, we lead workshops practicing mental health and wellbeing.”
JAMIR: Food & Agriculture Specialist (Queens)
Born and raised in the Bronx, Jamir Muñoz-Sanchez is an environmental steward supporting public parks and community gardens across NYC for over 15 years. Jamir recently began working with IRC in August 2025 and has been a tremendous addition to the team. He started his career in urban agriculture as an AmeriCorps member in Knoxville, TN, distributing free produce citywide. Jamir’s passion for food security stems in part from his upbringing in the Bronx, where there is little access to fresh food. He is intent on making sure that everybody, regardless of class or race or immigration status, has access to proper nutrition and cares deeply about connecting people through the food cultivation and the peace and empowerment that comes with gardening. It is Jamir’s belief that food is something that:
"Everyone can find joy, comfort, and community in, and that through food, we all share a common language that has the power to bring people together from all backgrounds."
Abundant Harvest coordinated by our New Roots staff
Photo: IRC in NY
MESSAGE FROM NEW ROOTS
Congratulations are in order for our very own Sheryll Durrant for being awarded the Urban Farmer Award at the Women in Agriculture Awards presented at The Great New York State Fair. This award is testimony to how our New Roots program is spearheaded by individuals who work diligently and admirably cultivate safe, and welcoming green spaces in communities where fresh produce is limited, and community is valued.
We have an important ask of you. Please consider donating here to help us replenish funding to support our staffing as well as operations. To learn more about our active campaign, please reach out to Malin Evertsz Mendez at malin.evertszmendez@rescue.org
Article written by Adam Smith, Workforce Development Intern and Development Manager, Malin Evertsz Mendez