Yadira Garcia, a Dominican-American NYU graduate and trained Natural-foods Chef, is the founder of Happy Healthy Latina, INC. She champions food sovereignty and justice, nutrition education, and health equity in NYC. She has an extensive list of clients and has worked with Community-Based Organizations, Nonprofits, Private Universities, NYC Public Schools, Bronx & NYC Urban Farms, and Corporate organizations over the past eight years as a culturally relevant cooking, nutrition education, food justice, educational curriculum, workforce program development, and facilitator. As Head Chef Developer at Loisa, she has launched award-winning spice blends. Her impact extends to online platforms and television, including her cooking show "Naturally Yadi." Continuously partnering with like-minded individuals and organizations, Yadira strives to foster socially conscious programs addressing food access, sovereignty, and social justice.

In this episode of Culinary Medicine Chats, Chef Yadi discusses the profound impact of utilizing food as a vehicle for justice and sovereignty. As the Director of Community Programming and Innovation at Corbin Hill, Yadi shares their team's mission to forge racial equity, nurture food sovereignty, and expand access through community-based partnerships. Their vision extends to building a sustainable network of Black, Indigenous, and Brown farmers, intertwining the food they serve to meet the needs of their community. Through intergenerational programming and a commitment to challenging existing narratives, Corbin Hill fosters knowledge exchange, honors culinary heritage, and champions data sovereignty. By cultivating meaningful partnerships, they provide food as medicine while navigating the complex system with determination.

Resources:

Learn more about the Corbin Hill Food Project: https://corbinhillfoodproject.wpcomstaging.com/

Contact Corbin Hill Food Project: https://corbinhill.localfoodmarketplace.com/Contact

Learn about Loisa, where Chef Yadi is the Head Chef, Educator, & Part Owner: https://loisa.com/