Hailing from New York City Kristin is a professional actor, director and producer with over a decade of experience in theatre, film and television. However, in March of 2020, when the entertainment industry closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she refocused her energy on Buddy System MIA, an organization she co-founded and leads.
Buddy System MIA supports over 5,000 people with access to free, healthy food, through three robust programs. Every year, the organization repurposes over 400,000 lbs of rescued food that would otherwise be sent to landfills, with the help of 1,600 volunteers who foster community accountability across Miami. One of the programs is the Community Fridge Initiative, which is a network of public refrigerators in food deserts with the motto, “take what you need, leave what you can.” These community fridges are life-changing for the 800+ weekly visitors who are able walk up 24/7 and find free, healthy food.
Kristin was one of the first fellows on Masa-Volunteers, a program Masa opened at the beginning of the war to allow thousands of Jews from around the world who wanted to come and help, to do it and assist Israel in its most trying times.
MEET KRISTIN:
Tell us about Your Work:
I’m the co-founder and Executive Director/CEO of Buddy System MIA, a grassroots nonprofit working to end food insecurity among low-income, houseless and elderly residents of Miami.
In March of 2020, I was a professional NYC actor, visiting Miami for a few months to star in a new play, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I began to worry about my neighbors in need, especially people who were low-income, elderly and immunocompromised, who couldn’t safely leave their homes to attend food distributions or even go to a grocery store to use their food stamps. After theatres closed due to the pandemic, I used my free time to create a volunteer platform that quickly took off. Within a few days, Buddy System had paired hundreds of volunteers with homebound neighbors who needed a “Buddy” to help them through the pandemic with food, emotional support and neighborly love.
When I first began Buddy System, I expected it to be a little project I would work on for a few weeks, until theaters re-opened, and I could go back to acting. Five years later, Buddy System MIA has grown immensely. We now serve over 5,000 people in Miami with access to free, healthy food by repurposing over 400,000 lbs of “rescued food” that would otherwise be sent to landfills every year. It is now my full-time job, where I serve as Executive Director/CEO and oversee 6 employees and 1,600 volunteers.
What is your proudest achievement?
I’m most proud of our ability to adapt the scope of our work to the needs of our community and the changing realities of the world, while keeping our core principles and values fully intact.
How would you describe the impact of your Masa program on your life and professional path?
I participated in the Masa volunteer program, which helped me identify my own nuanced personal values and worldview, especially in how I want to show up in the world as a Jewish leader and professional community organizer.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself combining my passions for theatre, healing and community into a new artistic-healing modality that allows for soul-level transformation justice.
What is your advice for young Jews around the world who want to make a difference?
First, find your teammates. Nobody does anything alone. And they don’t have to be the “perfect” teammates either; you don’t all have to be on the same page all the time. Find people who are excited by your vision and get started!
And then: show up every day, even when you don’t feel like it. You don’t have to have it all figured out — just make the first move and keep going, even when you don’t know where you’re going! Trust that process. Sometimes not knowing the end goal is helpful. Just keep showing up.
And dare to make mistakes. Nobody’s looking anyway.