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Tatiana Gomez, a Colombian American born in Newark and raised in Colombia until age seven, is the founder of Ceres Market, a small business offering plastic-free, plant-based alternatives to everyday items. She manages everything from branding and inventory to vending and online presence, inspired by the circular economy and her Latin heritage. In the evenings, she supports homeowners at Sunrun by helping them access solar energy assistance, empowering people to take part in sustainable solutions.
What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
To date I have helped sixty-nine homes successfully qualify for solar and get them installed, some even have a battery back-up with their system. It’s crucial to have renewable energy sources so that we don’t continue to rely on fossil fuels and go further into an energy crisis here in America.
Over the lifetime of the systems, the total amount of kilowatts taken off grid are the equivalent impact of:
- Offsetting the number of 2,032 gas-powered passenger vehicles for one year
- Powering 1,813 American homes’ electricity use for one year
- 8,721 acres of US forest that sequesters carbon in one year
What is your greatest personal accomplishment to date?
A monumental achievement to date is being on the TEDx stage to give a TEDx talk about the circular economy and all the small things people can do to live a more sustainable lifestyle that keeps in mind the health of their bodies and planet.
What do you do today to impact your community?
As a bilingual solar representative, I have been able to help the Hispanic community of my town to apply for government solar assistance. By going solar, homeowners can save money, protect themselves from utility rate increases and power outages through the batteries installed.
I also enjoy volunteering for the Belleville Green team where we do local clean ups, host informational events and markets. I’ll set up the Ceres Market tent at local farmers markets, pop-ups and green fairs to educate people on living a sustainable lifestyle.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years I see myself transitioning from the solar industry to go full-time with my business and opening multiple locations for Ceres Market. We look to provide a nostalgic shopping experience similar to buying bulk candy at a candy shop but for healthy food that doesn’t come in plastic packaging.
If there are opportunities for additional projects related to sustainable living, I’d love to partner, invest or create those businesses myself.
From a more personal standpoint, I’d like to have completed my first Ironman and have started my family/having kids that are brought up on a plant-based diet, exercising and meditation.
What is the biggest issue that you want to help solve, and why?
Climate change is a big passion area for me. At the rate we humans are depleting the resources of planet earth, we are bound to face some rough times, especially those generations to come. I believe that there are ways to solve famine, health problems and homelessness with a sustainable spin on it all, we just have to work together to get it done.
What is a moment when you realized the impact of your work?
The moments when customers come up to my tent and tell me they are still using a product they bought from me a year or two ago are when I feel it is all worthwhile continuing to do this work. It’s the amount of plastic and waste we are preventing from getting into the waste management system and into landfills.
Additionally, given utility bills have been on the rise, it’s moments when I see customers bills now and see how much I am going to be able to help them save in addition to those customers who are already saving from going solar.
What advice would 10-year-old you be shocked to hear you followed?
As cliche as it sounds to “eat your veggies,” I truly took that advice and ran with it. I have been plant-based for the past 7 years and my 10-year old self would be shocked that I gave up carne asada and chicharrón. I have dove deep into the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle and have decided to follow it for health, climate change and ethical reasons. Which ties into another type of advice which is to be your true authentic self. Live your life for you and don’t worry what other people think or say. Take pride in who you are and the values you choose to follow.
What’s a cultural tradition that always brings you joy?
El fiambre. In Colombian culture, we will wrap our food in plantain leaves to preserve the food when we are going on a hike or simply having people come over. The final product of the food wrapped is called el fiambre, especially “what will take away the hunger.”
What song do you listen to that motivates you?
“Level Up” by Ciara.
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