Advertise on podcast: Making It Here

When Kasumi Quinlan joined Lemontree, she wasn’t starting something new, she was stepping into a vision first created by Alex Godin, who set out to make finding free food as simple and human as possible. Kasumi found a model grounded in empathy and human connection, and the opportunity to grow it into something larger. Under her leadership, Lemontree has become a nationwide service helping people navigate food insecurity with dignity. Through simple text and chat, trained advocates connect neighbors to nearby pantries and meal programs in minutes. No judgment, no hoops to jump through. Today, I sit down with Kasumi to talk about her path into this work, what she’s learned from listening to thousands of neighbors, and how thoughtful design can turn a moment of need into one of care. https://www.foodhelpline.org/donate  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Glenelys Jimenez became a new mom in early 2020, she started thinking about all the things she wished she’d learned sooner. As the oldest daughter of Dominican immigrants, she’d spent years teaching herself how to navigate student loans, taxes, workplace culture, and mortgages… not just for herself, but for her family and friends, too. When the world shut down, Glenelys decided to build what she wished had existed all along: a space for people to learn and rise together. That idea became Levanto Collective, a community filling in the life skills and support systems traditional education leaves out. Through workshops on financial wellness, mental health, reproductive health, and career growth, Levanto helps members “unlearn what doesn’t serve them and learn what will.” Today, I sit down with Glenelys to talk about building Levanto with her own savings, staying rooted in purpose, and how she’s evolved her original idea… from an app into a community built to help others rise. https://vialevanto.com/  https://www.instagram.com/levantocollective/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City Señoras started as two friends looking for connection… a walk in the park, a cup of coffee, a space to slow down. But what began as a small gathering in Brooklyn has since grown into a self-care social club spanning New York and Los Angeles. Co-founders Alexis Mendias and Jaqueline Padilla have built something special: a place where women, especially Latinas and women of color, can show up fully as themselves. Their meetups (often featuring movement, journaling, or just meaningful conversation) have drawn crowds of over eighty people, all searching for the same thing: belonging. In this episode we sit down with Alexis and Jacqueline to hear about what it takes to build a community from scratch, and the lessons they’ve learned from balancing growth with intention. https://www.citysenoras.com/about-us  https://www.instagram.com/citysenoras/   https://www.tiktok.com/@citysenoras See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The art world can feel intimidating, even elitist. But for Karen Vidangos, it’s also been a space to challenge those barriers and open doors for others. She built the Latinx Art Collective, a free, searchable database that helps curators, collectors, and fans discover artists across the U.S. She also created Latina in Museums, an online platform that documents her candid journey navigating a field where Latinx voices are often underrepresented. Today, Karen shares how financial setbacks nearly took her off the path entirely, why community support is essential for anyone building a platform, and how she’s learned to give imposter syndrome just five minutes before moving forward. https://www.instagram.com/latinxartcollective/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/latinainmuseums/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re turning the mic inward, and sharing a couple of highlights from a recent conversation I had with Epicenter Co-founder and publisher Mitra Kalita on Los Herederos Radio. First, we discuss a sari exhibit that Epicenter has helped bring to life… reframing the sari as a cultural and artistic object, one that carries stories of migration, memory, identity, and resistance. We also cover the launch of Epicenter Foundation’s latest AI cohort. The program brings together small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and other community voices to learn how artificial intelligence can be used in practical, accessible ways. It’s part of Epicenter’s ongoing effort to ensure that the communities we serve aren’t left behind as new technologies develop. And before we wrap up, we’ll share a quick preview of what else is coming later this October. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lucy opened Yu & Me Books in December of 2021, bringing to life an idea she’d carried since childhood. After leaving a career in chemical engineering, she finally built the kind of space she’d always imagined: a community hub grounded in three pillars: championing writers of color, uplifting debut authors, and offering a welcoming third place.  The store quickly found its audience, drawing both national attention and strong local support. Then came the July 4th, 2023 fire that devastated the store and forced Lucy to start over. Eight months later, Yu & Me reopened, but the recovery took a personal toll. Today, Lucy speaks with Epicenter-NYC reporter Ambar Castillo openly about burnout, a mental health crisis, and what it means to rebuild both a business and a sense of self… reflecting on how she’s learning to balance entrepreneurship and self-care. She also shares how her background in chemical engineering helped her turn a lifelong dream into a reality. Editor’s note: This conversation includes discussion of mental health and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cindy Castro New York is a sustainable luxury brand, producing locally in the city with responsible fabrics and a commitment to garment workers’ rights. The company was founded by Cindy Castro, who grew up in Ecuador and came to the U.S. as an au pair before putting herself through design school. She went on to break into New York’s fashion world, taking risks and building a label that reflects both her values and her vision. Today, she’s running her own brand, navigating the realities of entrepreneurship, and celebrating recognition as one of Vogue Business’s “100 Innovators.” In this episode, we sit down with Cindy to learn more about the risks she took to invest in herself, how she centers sustainability, and the importance of kindness in an industry that often thrives on competition. If you’d like to learn more about Cindy’s work, follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/cindycastro_nyc/ or visit cindycastro.com/. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brothers Van and Sumit Sharma launched Rupee Beer about six years ago. The idea grew out of their family’s long history in the Indian restaurant business, their parents opened the first Indian restaurants in Maine after immigrating from the UK, and Van saw early on the challenges of finding a consistent supply of Indian beer in the U.S. Rupee Beer set out to fill that gap with recipes designed to pair with Indian food, using ingredients like basmati rice. The company started by contract brewing in Boston and has since expanded, now distributing in 20 states and selling through major retailers like Costco. Its lineup now includes a rice lager, an India pale ale, a mango wheat ale, and an upcoming non-alcoholic beer. In this episode Epicenter-NYC Co-Founder and Publisher, S. Mitra Kalita, sits down with Van to learn more about the story behind Rupee, navigating the alcohol distribution system, expanding into new markets, and building a business rooted in community. https://rupeebeer.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the height of Covid-19 In 2020, as storefronts across the city went vacant, some New Yorkers saw an opportunity. Art on the Ave NYC began filling empty windows with curated exhibitions, each paired with a QR code that let viewers hear directly from the artist. Since then, nearly a hundred spaces, from Columbus Avenue to Washington Heights, Bed-Stuy, and the Oculus, have been reimagined as public galleries. At the center of it is Barbara Anderson, who co-founded the nonprofit with her daughter, Jackie Graham. As a middle school teacher at the time, Barbara had been using art to help students process the pandemic, George Floyd’s murder, and rising Asian hate. That classroom work became the spark for a citywide initiative… one that continues to give artists visibility, connect neighborhoods, and transform how New Yorkers experience their streets. Today, Barbara shares more about how Art on the Ave got started, how it’s grown, and what it takes to turn empty space into something that brings a community together. Learn more: https://www.artontheavenyc.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food often carries more than taste. It can bring back memories of family, traditions, and familiar places. That’s the response many people have to the dessert at the center of today’s episode. That dessert is Heritage Bread Pudding, the creation of Tiffany Campos. In less than a year, she has taken her Puerto Rican family recipe and built it into a growing business, appearing at church fundraisers, pop-ups, the Grand Central holiday market, and soon, Latin Food Fest. Today, Tiffany talks about the realities of building something from the ground up. From long nights in the kitchen to questions of scale, and what it means to honor her grandmother’s legacy along the way. Learn more or order: heritagebreadpudding.com Latin Food Fest: thelatinfoodfest.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hard seltzer is one of the fastest-growing areas of the beverage industry. But within that, there’s still room for brands that bring something new to the table. Lunar does this with flavors like yuzu, lychee, and Korean plum, and with packaging that makes its Asian roots impossible to miss. The company was founded by Sean Ro and Kevin Wong, who built the business with a lean team and a clear vision. And now, Lunar’s award winning drinks can be found in places like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Target. In this episode Sean shares the realities of fundraising, the importance of staying authentic, and the lessons he carried from working in tech into the beverage world. Learn more: https://www.drinklunar.com/  Find Lunar near you: https://www.drinklunar.com/pages/find-in-store  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pollinators play a critical role in our food system, but their decline has immediate consequences for food security, public health, and the resilience of ecosystems. The Bee Conservancy was created in response to that reality. What started as a grassroots effort has grown into programs that bring pollinator gardens across the city, provide seeds and support to urban farmers, and engage residents in community science to track bee populations.  Today, I’m joined by The Bee Conservancy’s Rebecca Louie, to hear about how the organization has expanded since she joined in 2019, the partnerships that have brought unexpected resources to the table, and the importance of asking for help. Her perspective offers lessons for anyone starting out in the nonprofit world, or simply looking for meaningful ways to contribute. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been just about a year since a once-empty storefront in the 74th Street Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Jackson Heights, became a space for retelling stories. It now houses Los Herederos, a nonprofit blending radio, archives, and public programs to document communities across Queens.The idea took shape in 2015 with a bilingual multimedia project, but the team quickly realized the need for something larger. They built Los Herederos to serve the whole of Queens through film, photography, radio, and exhibitions to tell stories across communities, and to create an archive that would preserve those histories long term. Today, Naomi Sturm, Founding Executive Director, shares lessons on starting small, defining your mission, and navigating the reality of shrinking arts funding. Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/a-radio-station-inside-the-jackson-heights-subway-station-turns-1-year-old/   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opening a brick-and-mortar business in New York City takes more than just a good idea. It takes funding, strategy, establishing connections and a clear sense of purpose. That’s what Adrian Cepeda brought when he founded The World’s Borough Bookshop in Jackson Heights two years ago. His mission? To highlight BIPOC, immigrant, and first-gen authors, who represent the diverse voices of his neighborhood. With the help of a $20,000 grant from the “Queens Tech and Innovation Challenge” and momentum from his TikTok account, BookPapi, the shop has become more than a place to buy books. It’s a community hub, hosting story-times, open mics, and workshops. Today, Adrian shares what it really takes to launch a business, how public funding and digital platforms like tiktok helped him get it off the ground, and why representation and community are at the center. Check out our event: Making It Here: How to enter and navigate the ever-changing workplace Learn more about The World's Borough Bookshop Find Bookpapi on TikTok See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In New York City, the cost of access often determines who gets to step into the spotlight. Dance classes can run hundreds or even thousands of dollars, pricing out kids who could benefit from them most. That’s where Cultured Movement comes in. It’s a low-cost, culturally rooted dance program that centers confidence, and connection… not perfection. Founded by Sherema Fleming, a Bronx-born nurse, dancer, and baker who’s spent more than a decade making stages feel within reach for kids across the city. Today, we sit down with Sherema to learn more about how she’s working to make dance more accessible, and how a vegan pastry hustle helps keep it all going. Read more: https://epicenter-nyc.com/you-wont-pay-1000-for-a-dance-class-here/ The youth summer dance program will culminate in a showcase on Aug. 23 at the Ailey Studios on 405 W. 55th Street from 3 to 5 p.m. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.