Episode #4
Do We Need to Walk Around With Our Passports? — Grace Bonilla on Fear in New York
For the first time in her life, Grace Bonilla and her family found themselves discussing whether they needed to walk around New York City with their passports. Bonilla, president and CEO of United Way of New York City and the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants, says that fear is transforming daily life across immigrant communities. This is the fourth interview in Season 3’s “New Yorkers on a Changing America” series. Subscribe on YouTube and follow the show on Substack, Spotify and Apple Podcasts now so you don’t miss the rest of the series. Bonilla explains why food-pantry lines suddenly grew shorter—not because the need disappeared, but because some families were afraid to leave home. She describes New Yorkers learning that they have lost SNAP benefits only when their EBT cards stop working, the coming changes to Medicaid and the administrative maze separating eligible families from essential assistance. A Drawing on her experience leading New York City’s Human Resources Administration, Bonilla discusses what government insiders understand that advocates often don’t, why people may trust community organizations more than government agencies and how United Way’s United for Benefits Access initiative is helping New Yorkers navigate the changing rules. She also reflects on raising three sons during an affordability crisis, the future of New York’s public-health system and the Queens places that remind her why she still believes in the city. Also, some advice for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. ABOUT GRACE BONILLA Grace Bonilla — United Way of New York City https://unitedwaynyc.org/board/grace/ United Way of New York City https://unitedwaynyc.org/ HELP AND RESOURCES MENTIONED United for Benefits Access https://unitedwaynyc.org/uba/ United for Benefits Access — SNAP Resources Hub https://unitedwaynyc.org/uba/snap/ NYC Human Resources Administration — SNAP information https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/snap-benefits-food-program.page Find a New York City food pantry or community kitchen https://finder.nyc.gov/foodhelp/ Official information about upcoming Medicaid eligibility changes https://www.medicaid.gov/renew-info WHAT SHE’S READING “Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism” — Stephen Breyer https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Reading-the-Constitution/Stephen-Breyer/9781668021545 PLACES SHE MENTIONS Rufus King Park in Jamaica, Queens https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/rufus-king-park Queens County Farm Museum https://www.queensfarm.org/ “Juan Manuel Benítez Wants to Know” — Season 3: New Yorkers on a Changing America. Subscribe on YouTube and follow on Substack, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
