Photo by Sana Javeri Kadri
ABOUT Aileen Suzara, MPH
Growing up, Aileen reconnected to her family’s migration stories through nearly-lost recipes. As an educator and chef, she weaves a love of food with a background in sustainable farming, environmental justice, and health advocacy. Sparked by the rise of chronic disease among Filipino American and communities of color, Aileen pursued a Masters in public health nutrition at UC Berkeley, with a focus on reclaiming her community’s foodways for wellness. She launched a food project titled Sariwa ("Fresh”) to lift up the healing strengths of her community’s heritage. Sariwa is a member of La Cocina’s acclaimed incubator, and has offered community workshops, catering, and popup meal projects to audiences across CA and HI. Aileen has engaged students of all ages at dozens of schools, universities, organizations, and hospitals, including Sama Sama Cooperative, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, and UC Berkeley. She was recognized as a Bon Appetit Healthyish Honoree.