Fernando Ruiz spent his childhood summers in Veracruz, Mexico, where he fell in love with fresh tacos … and which inspired him to start Nixtamal, a tortilla business using the traditional nixtamalization process, in 2008 in Corona, Queens.

Despite initial success, expansion challenges and the pandemic caused setbacks. But Fernando persisted, securing opportunities to sell at the U.S. Open, Mets games at Citi Field, and the Queens Night Market.

In this episode Fernando tells us story behind Nixtamal, and how he transformed Queens' food scene with his authentic, heritage-infused tacos.

"Ways of Showing Up" event details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ways-of-showing-up-presented-by-epicenter-nyc-and-dept-of-transformation-tickets-928085989177?aff=oddtdtcreator

Learn more about Nixtamal: https://nixtamal.nyc/

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/discover-the-heritage-infused-tacos-revolutionizing-queens-food-scene/

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Language workers across New York City, and across the globe, are resisting the rise of AI in their field by emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human interpreters and translators.

Julie Tay, the director of Hunter College’s Master of Arts in Translation and Interpreting program, highlights the need to integrate technology in ways that enhance human roles rather than replace them. She also argues for a language services industry that supports diverse communities without forcing assimilation – worrying about the erosion of linguistic diversity.

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/humans-vs-machines-how-language-workers-are-resisting-aihow-language-workers-are-resisting-ai/

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The Sneaker Girls Club started at a school in Bushwick and expanded into a brand with a mission: to help designers and sneaker store owners who are women gain the recognition they deserve — and to help Black and Latina girls and women gain the confidence to design their own shoes.

In this episode we talk to Sneaker Girls Club founder Lauren Rawles’ to to learn more about her vision, the importance of community workshops, and the impact of mentorship.

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-club-helping-black-and-latina-girls-and-women-design-their-own-sneakers/

Sneaker Girls Club: https://www.sneakergirlsclub.com/

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Earlier this year, Epicenter NYC and the Weeksville Heritage Center teamed up to offer our members a special tour of what remains of the historic community. Epicenter’s editorial director Femi Redwood joined the tour. In today’s episode she explains how this once-forgotten community continues to impact our lives today.

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/weeksville-rediscovering-black-history-in-brooklyns-hidden-gem/

Visit or support Weeksville: https://www.weeksvillesociety.org/

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Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/meet-the-esthetician-who-went-from-doing-beauty-services-on-her-front-stoop-to-running-her-own-business/

Growing up, Shondrea Harrod was always fascinated with skincare and beauty. This passion led her to pursue a formal education in esthetics. Now, Shondrea is a licensed esthetician, a talented makeup artist, and an experienced esthetics instructor. She also owns Snatched Pro Studio, which offers makeup, facials, and body treatments.

In this episode, Shondrea talks about her journey to becoming an esthetician, what it’s like running a small business, and how she’s shaping the future of esthetics through education. We'll explore her insights on the latest skincare trends, her top beauty tips, and the challenges and rewards of being an esthetics instructor.

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Despite statistics suggesting that New York remains one of the safest large cities in the U.S., the lived experience for many of us tells a different story. So why is there such a disconnect between the numbers and our feelings of safety?

In this episode S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder and publisher of Epicenter NYC, talks to reporter Felipe De La Hoz, about the current crime landscape.

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/whats-really-going-on-with-nyc-crime/

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Once again, Epicenter NYC is teaming up with the New York Indian Festival as its community media sponsor. The festival will take place from Friday, May 31st to Sunday, June 2nd at the Village East by Angelika.

The New York Indian Film Festival is the oldest film festival of its kind – screening premieres of films made from, of, and about India. The event includes more than just screenings – expect industry panels, post-screening discussions, award ceremonies, nightly networking parties, red carpet galas, and so much more.

This year, Dear Jassi and Mrs are just a few of the South Asian-themed works that are set to captivate audiences across New York City and around the world.

Today - Epicenter Publisher S. Mitra Kalita speaks to New York Indian Film Festival director and film critic Aseem Chhabra about what viewers can expect and the shows you won’t want to miss.

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Cherie Conliffe grew up in Brownsville, where corner stores were filled with junk food and her family’s traditional West Indian foods were hard to find. Living in a food desert, she quickly realized the gaps in nutrition education. This became the jump-off point to a career in wellness.

During the pandemic Cherie started CherVitality, and is now bringing Caribbean nutrition to her community through Moringa and other traditional herbal teas. In this episode we talk to Cherie to learn more about the inspiration behind CherVitality and what’s next.

https://www.chervitality.com/shop

https://earnestfoods.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/earnest-flowers-on-building-a-healthier-community/id1566957004?i=1000654158169

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