Amy Tam-Liao, market manager
Queens Community House Pomonok Center
Community Involvement: Amy Tam-Liao is the director of community services at the Pomonok Center for the non-profit Queens Community House. She manages the Pomonok community-run farmer’s market.
As director of community services, Tam-Liao organizes workshops and classes, helps with housing assistance, participates in the Pomonok Cancer Action Council, and supports the Senior Center and Youth Services with events.
The Pomonok farmer’s market, currently in its second year, is a project “by the community, for the community.” The goal of the market is to provide access to fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables. The market also supports local family owned farms and the John Bowne High School Agriculture Department by giving out seasonal produce and eggs.
Personal: Tam-Liao is a native of Queens and is married with two children. She enjoys experimenting in the kitchen with healthy recipes. After graduating from Hunter College’s undergraduate program for health education, Tam-Liao decided that her way of giving back was to work with people in their communities. She returned to Hunter for graduate school to become a community organizer.
Inspiration: Her inspiration comes from her own children and children in general because “they are our next generation.”
Challenge: “My challenges are spreading the word about eating well in a society that is used to convenience and processed foods,” said Tam-Liao. She also believes it is “a struggle to get others involved in the community.”
