My name is Alexander, and I’m a 16-year-old Latino photographer based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, NYC. I work every day to perfect my craft and give my community a voice to help young black and brown people like me make sure we have a say in our future.  I invest heavily in food justice and work with a collective of youth members to spread awareness that exists in food justice. For the past year and a half, I’ve been studying food justice and the rise of food deserts within communities with my mentor Yonette Fleming at Hattie Carthan Community Farmer’s market located in Bedford Stuyvesant.  

Significant bodies of water surrounded what is now known as modern Mexico City, before the Spanish colonization.  The loss of crops that the Aztecs harvested to feed their warriors, such as  Maize, beans and squash were decimated by the Spanish. The Spanish created a significant food desert after they took over with the Spanish flu and enslaved my people; Nahuatl-speaking people were the most technologically advanced civilization in the western hemisphere.  

We still see the same things happening in our communities in this day and age akin to that which occurred thousands of years ago. It’s just that now the new colonizers are showing up as gentrification. The process occurs when wealthier people move into poor urban areas and changes the face of the community. Food is being overlooked, prior to gentrification food deserts exist because people in the urban areas could not afford organic fresh food products. Supermarkets did not sell these items because of their cost.  Post gentrification presents the problem that the Supermarkets are now carrying organic fresh food products that the old residents can not afford to purchase.  The people of the Aztec Empire had the most technologically advanced civilization in the western hemisphere.

As we conclude each year it signifies the close or end of something more valuable than time…The ability to move forward. Then it’s like we hit the reset button, we have a fresh start. The messages that I chose to portray in these documents of light signify my work as a photographer, an artist, a person of color, and a firm believer in food justice in my community. My work will continue to help raise awareness about the rise of food deserts in black and brown communities like Bedford Stuyvesant. As you walk through Bed-Stuy, there’s little to no organic fresh food product coming into our City. Obesity and food insecurity are major issues in New York City: These descriptions apply to 56% of the population. As a result, more than half of the population is at risk for various health problems linked to poor weight and diet. Hattie Carthan Community Farmers market STRIVES to Provide all community members with access to locally farmed fresh food, farm culture, and intergenerational agricultural education in a “fresh food desert” neighborhood. My Artistry has been presented throughout this community through cultural events linked to Hattie Carthan, With my first project being “seeing green.” And it showcases my photos throughout the year of different foods and vegetables, activities including harvesting, and events. The market achieves its objectives through supporting community-based cultural activities and initiatives that promote human potential and cooperative economics,  according to hattiecarthancommunitymarket.com. I plan to envision and show a community where collared people can access fresh, healthy foods. I want the people of Bed-Stuy to be aware that the Hattie Carthan community farmers market plans to provide the medicine this community needs.