gogobytes' Story
gogobytes' STORY
The mission glorya Fernandez has accepted is to help & heal herself & others. Airlines instruct us to protect ourselves first when danger is imminent. For glorya the danger manifested in her family, which were assaulted by cancer, diabetes, strokes, sexual & physical abuse, broken hearts & deep depression. Preventative measures were her only course of action. glorya was an eager participant in women’s health groups to fortify her foundation of movement & healing. Resulting in weight loss being supported with therapy, accountability protocols & experimenting with food.
glorya witnessed the disparaging scope of food & health working in food service at a respite facility for folks without permanent housing. She was dismayed at the lack of healing & truly nutritious food offered. Along the way, glorya created recipes for retail items & eventually taught many health-specific classes at Daily Table’s Teaching Kitchen & around Boston.
The interest & eagerness to share food facts produced gogobytes! Becoming an African Health & Heritage Ambassador for Oldways, A Food And Nutrition Nonprofit. gogobytes through NeighborHealth & East Boston’s Farmer’s Market has been captivating the taste buds of folks with fresh produce at East Boston PACE, Maverick Landing & the City of Boston AgeStrong East Boston senior center. gogobytes built successful online programs for Madison Park CDC residents, Urban Farming Institute & recorded webinars on PBNSG.org (Plant-Based Nutrition Support Group), in-person presentations at Bowdoin Street Health Clinic & videos for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s GoFresh program. All along the way glorya has developed encouraging relationships with families from around the city. glorya has given sampling experiences to support groups like Fair Foods, Boston Mayor’s Office of Food Access, NOAHCDC, Codman Square Health Center, Codman Academy, The Food Project, East Boston Farmers Market, Maverick Landing Community Services, Greater Egleston High School, Mattapan Square Main Streets w/ Fresh Truck.
glorya currently holds the position as the inaugural Chef-in-Residence for Boston Public Library. Where she engages & serves the community in the Nutrition Lab
Beyond glorya’s commitment to the bellies of Boston, she invested in the bodies too! She is a water fitness instructor, teaching at locations across the city.