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✨ TRIBECA ✨
Tuesday, May 20, 6:00 - 8:30 PM Special Guests:
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✨ NORTH SHORE ✨
Wednesday, June 4, 6:30 - 9:00 PM Special Guest: 
Richard Rosenfeld, MD, MPH, MBA, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
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Craig Zalvan, MD, ENT and Allergy Associates
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Elizabeth Helzner, PhD, SUNY Downstate School of Public Health
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SHERIKA STERLING
Sherika Sterling found PPMNY when she and her sister attended classes we presented at a library in New Jersey. Motivated by a family history of high blood pressure and diabetes, Sherika took the leap to participate in our 21-day Jumpstart program in Fall 2024, which led her to shed 15 pounds and resolve a chronic pain in her knee. Not long after, she joined our volunteer network, attended our training events, and has helped to plan a Health Freedom Walk and a Plant Powered Plates dinner social, and to support our Jumpstart project for Kings County Hospital residents.
“I was so grateful for the changes in my health after joining the Jumpstart that, as a form of gratitude, I wanted to volunteer to help spread PPMNY’s mission. I previously subscribed to Weight Watchers and struggled to lose 5 pounds in 2 months. Now, I am no longer at risk for fatty liver disease, my blood pressure is no longer high. I am also more knowledgeable about food and its impact on my health and those around me. My family and friends are becoming more health conscious since I have transitioned to whole food, plant-based nutrition. I am confident in my new lifestyle, and PPMNY helped me build that confidence. PPMNY changed the trajectory of my life.” 
AIFRA RUIZ
In 2018, when Aifra's son met Lianna Levine Reisner's son on the playground, they found they had a mutual passion for plant-based nutrition. Now, after more than six years working as a volunteer, contracted educator, and project manager for PPMNY, Aifra has done it all, and she has made all of our work with the Hispanic community possible. She leads outreach, builds relationships with community organizations and healthcare professionals, mentors, facilitates, gives food demos, plans and organizes like a champ, and even uses AI tools to optimize her work.
“When I transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle, my health improved dramatically; I had more energy, better digestion, lower cholesterol, and a deeper connection to my well-being. I felt a strong calling to share this healing message, especially with the Hispanic community where chronic illness is common yet preventable. PPMNY gave me the space and the tools to do that, backed by science, heart, and community. “Running the Reto Salud program has been one of the most impactful experiences. I’ve had the chance to coordinate this program since it started as a 10-day challenge, then 14, and now 21 days of education and transformation. It is priceless to watch someone arrive with health concerns or uncertainty and leave with confidence, healthier habits, and a glowing smile. Several participants have shared that “this was the best decision I’ve ever made.” It fills me up to hear things like, “Now I feel like I have control over my health.” These people have become living proof of the power of plant-based eating, and I love building a community with them. “I’ve always been involved in community work, but my time with PPMNY has confirmed that service is not just something nice we do — it’s a responsibility. I now see community service as a powerful tool for social change. Sharing knowledge with empathy can not only improve lives but also save them and empower entire generations. This experience has deepened my commitment to health activism. Volunteering with PPMNY means being part of a movement of love, health, and justice. Here, we don’t just educate — we transform. If you’ve ever wanted to make a difference in your community, this is the place to do it, surrounded by passionate people dedicated to collective well-being.” 
MAGDA SLAWECKA
Brooklyn-based Magda Slawecka is celebrating 5 years of volunteering for PPMNY. In her 30s, she had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and was told she would have to be on medication for the rest of her life. She says, “At the same time I started taking synthroid, I also went plant-based. I stayed on medication only for a year and a half,” and then no longer needed it.
While her true love is outreach and tabling, and she has led our Health Freedom Walks in Brooklyn, Magda has also been a frequent peer mentor. She will always remember one of her mentees — an older woman from the Bronx who was suffering from high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and glaucoma. Dietary change was tricky because she was very slim and couldn't afford to lose weight. With Magda's care and support, her mentee got off of medication, didn't lose weight, and even her glaucoma got better! Working with PPMNY, “I learned that my way of living and eating speaks more for this lifestyle than my words. I love representing the plant-based community and shocking omnivores with the way I look.” |
CHRYSTL LINDO-BRIDGEFORTH
Based in Gaithersburg, MD, and originally from the Bronx, Chrystl Lindo-Bridgeforth has been a force for good after reversing joint pain, severe seasonal allergies, and a sugar addiction with plant-powered nutrition. She has served as a mentor in our Jumpstart programs since January 2022, participated in our Affordability Action Group, and facilitated a Lifestyle Support Circle for graduates of our programs.
“We can all take charge of overturning these chronic health conditions that plague us, such as diabetes and heart disease, just by eating healthier. I had to transition my lifestyle by trial and error, so when I discovered PPMNY I wanted to be a resource to those transitioning — and PPMNY has the vast resources to assist. My particular interest is providing education and support to the African American community to enjoy the many positive health benefits of adopting a plant-based lifestyle. I’m able to lead by example and lend real and tangible insight from the success and challenges of my own life experiences.” 
BRYANT MEYTHALER
Coming up on five years of volunteering with PPMNY this fall, Bryant Meythaler is a dynamo. A pre-med student who has a deep and nuanced understanding of nutrition and health, Bryant has taken on diverse roles including as a peer mentor in both our Jumpstart and Reto Salud programs and for our Lifestyle Support Circles, an assistant in our Food for Life classes, and an ambassador tabling at events and fairs.
“It has been quite fulfilling to see participants transform their health with whole food, plant-based nutrition! My mentees in the Jumpstart programs were able to drastically improve their health, reverse disease, decrease medication dosages or even get off them completely, lose weight, and so much more. All of these stories make me feel incredibly grateful to be in this position to impact the lives of so many people! We have such a profound impact on the health and well-being of so many different communities, especially underserved communities that suffer from chronic diseases the most. We also have an impact on the environmental and ethical aspects and will continue to do our best to raise awareness about this.” 
SHERI ABRAHAMS
Hailing from South Florida, Sheri Abrahams has served as a peer mentor since 2023, supporting participants of PPMNY’s Jumpstart programs and facilitating Lifestyle Support Circles. She also started a new group in South Florida that mirrors PPMNY’s efforts in the metro NY area. As an educator, Sheri says that volunteering with PPMNY “checks the boxes” for her, providing the opportunity to educate and motivate others.
“We have a critical message that needs to be shared. So many people can be healthier if they have the knowledge and support they need. I was completely surprised and honored when a lifestyle support group participant made a donation in my honor to PPMNY as a thank you for our time together in the group. I'm so happy that she found the support she needed to truly commit to her well-being. Everyone has the right to know how to care for themselves through the lifestyle choices they make. Through PPMNY they can gain the knowledge and support to make the choice for a healthier and happier life.” 
ELLIE HSU
NYU undergrad Ellie Hsu has been an intern for PPMNY for the better part of a year. As a student of nutrition and public health with great skills in data analysis and writing, Ellie has prepared impact reports and visualized our data, organized our Lifestyle Support Circles, supported Food for Life classes, and explored new tech platforms that can help us work smarter.
“Plant-based nutrition has been a long-time interest of mine, and I admire how PPMNY makes this way of eating more accessible and practical for the community. A particularly memorable experience was attending a training for community health workers. It was very insightful to observe how nutrition information can be presented in a way that is both engaging and approachable. Seeing the participants actively involved, asking thoughtful questions, and expressing excitement about incorporating more whole plant foods into their lives left me feeling incredibly inspired.” |
