50 for 50: Clara Monroe

"When I came to Queens from the South, I brought with me a love for the land and a belief that good food brings people together. I grew up farming — learning how to grow vegetables, share them with neighbors, and care for the earth.

In the mid-1980s, I settled in Pomonok. I saw families in the neighborhood working hard but struggling to find fresh, healthy food. In 2010, I started talking with Amy from Queens Community House, who was then a director at the Pomonok Community Center. Together, we dreamed up a farmers market right here in the neighborhood.

We started small — a little garden behind PS 201Q, where kids could plant seeds and learn about food. It quickly grew into a true community market. Week by week, more neighbors joined in, helping organize and spreading the word until the whole community was part of it. On market days, the courtyard was full of laughter, learning, and good food.

For me, it was never just about vegetables. It was about health, pride, and connection. Having faced breast cancer myself, I knew how powerful it is to nourish your body and community. I loved teaching families how to cook the produce we sold — helping them discover that healthy meals could be joyful too.

Over time, the farmers market inspired the Pomonok Food Pantry, ensuring no family went hungry. The pantry still serves hundreds of households today, carrying forward the same spirit of care and community we first planted with the farmers market.

I’ve always believed that when you give back to your community, you help it grow stronger — and that’s the kind of growth that lasts for generations."

— Clara Monroe