Patricia Bartos-West had never heard of Step Up for Better Living before joining the Board. But she was immediately impressed with how closely Step Up engages with those we serve, and how wide an impact our organization has. As a local landlord, she'd discovered that...
"Your circumstances today don't always determine your tomorrow." That's what our friend and client Fiorella Telles believes, and she would know. Today, she is able to raise her two children in a stable housing situation. But her circumstances have not always been as secure. So how...
In 2004, Jesenia Arias was living in a shelter and relying on food pantries to feed herself and her new son. These days, her life looks very different. As Executive Administrative Assistant here at Step Up, Jesenia is integral to the management of our organization. She's...
For almost 8,000 individuals in the South Bronx this year, Step Up for Better Living was closer than ever. That's because of a series of pop-up food and resource distribution events we co-sponsored this year at different locations around our community! We're always looking for new...
Erinn Mallory Kolp joined the Step Up Board in March of this year...
In March of this year, Covid-19 shut down the South Bronx. Almost everyone was feeling the effects of the pandemic that month. But we knew that many in our community, who were already facing harsh food insecurity, were particularly vulnerable. The increased demand for food was...
2020 is drawing to a close...
Voting. It's fundamental to our democracy. And it's vital that Americans from all walks of life have the opportunity to make their voices heard. But if you live here in the South Bronx, it isn't always as easy as taking a long lunch. With unemployment...
Every family deserves to be able to come together over a turkey and trimmings on Thanksgiving. But here in the South Bronx, too many of our friends and neighbors are facing harsh food insecurity. Almost one third of Bronx residents don't know where their next...
The Bronx is in crisis. According to July labor statistics, unemployment in the Bronx is nearing 25%. This is not only the highest rate in New York City, by far -- with 1 in 4 people in the Bronx out of work, unemployment in the Bronx...