NEW YORK CITY

Meet your chapter leader: Catherine Rodriguez Torres, she/her/ella

Brooklyn born Puerto Rican woman. I’m always out and about. If I can walk there, then I usually do. You can easily find me soaking in the Vitamin D, splashing in puddles, and basking in the city energy. Body liberation to me means not having to talk about body liberation. It means not having to justify why I belong outside. Body liberation is all about how I feel, not how I look, my size, my ability, or speed. I want to celebrate all the different ways our diverse bodies exist, especially in an urban setting, which doesn’t obviously lend itself to natural escapes, but is so full of opportunities to enjoy nature. Our urban hikes around the five boroughs will include paved paths, walkways, greenways, trails, parks, and beaches. All will be accessible by public transportation. And, we will have a totally chill vibe, without the typical rush of having to get through swarms of pedestrian traffic when we're on the go. 

Our goal for this adventure together is not just to explore our concrete jungle, but to revel in the joy of movement—intentionally, authentically, and unapologetically. 

Favorite book? One of my recent favorite reads is The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin, in which the 5 boroughs of NYC are represented by human avatars. It’s so spot on and made me fall in love with NYC even more.