Sophia Michel

Roslindale

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Sophia Michel, a volunteer at ABCD’s Roslindale and Mattapan Food Pop-Ups, describes her work as being about “unity and meeting people where they are.” Michel, who grew up in Dorchester and Roslindale and now lives in Hyde Park, first got involved in food security work during the pandemic. Working with the Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative (NFAC) to bring food to elders and homebound individuals in Roslindale, she ended up learning about ABCD through an ABCD collaboration with NFAC and began volunteering at various food pop-ups shortly after.

 

A breast cancer survivor, Michel describes herself as “an overcomer” and regularly brings her two kids to the pop-ups to help distribute food. “It’s all about being together with your family,” she says. Michel is also fluent in Haitian Creole and is able to help out with translating and answering questions for people in the community. “If we have someone who can’t read the signs, I’ll go to them and get on their level,” she says. “It works much better than someone just coming up to them and giving them a flyer.”

 

Michel is keenly aware that food insecurity remains a big issue in her community and is determined to continue helping to improve access to healthy food. “My goal when it comes to food insecurity is closing the gap,” she says. “It takes a community and a village.”