Palmer Trinity School

MEE T MINER VA A C O S TA , who ensures that every dish is served with a smile. With her warm and kind disposition, she is known as the heart of the kitchen. SAGE Chef Mauricio Jaramillo refers to her as "the main wheel of the kitchen, bringing everyone to work together." DO YOU FEEL A C CEP T ED IN T HE PA L MER T R INI T Y C OMMUNI T Y ? I do feel accepted in the Palmer Trinity community. I've been working here for various years in the kitchen for all the members of PTS, and it feels like a family. We always receive everyone with a smile in the kitchen and with lots of love. HOW L ONG H AV E YOU BEEN AT P T S ? 15 years going on 16. It's my home. W H AT ' S YOUR FAVOR I T E T HING A B OU T W OR K ING HER E AT PA L MER T R INI T Y ? I love the kitchen. I love what I do; I do it with love. I like seeing people being satisfied with what I create with my hands. W HER E A R E YOU FROM ? I'm Cuban. I got here in 1988. I started working in kitchens two years after I got here, then I got to Palmer Trinity— the rest is history. I feel very proud of my roots. The Cuban community at Palmer Trinity is great. They are so loving and welcoming. W H AT ' S S OME T HING A B OU T YOUR SEL F T H AT YOU ' D L IK E T O SH A R E ? I like to be with my family above all. I love my family more than anything. I try to spend every second of my life with my people. I enjoy my family, my friendships, and I live my life. W H AT A R E YOUR PL A NS F OR T HE F U T UR E ? My future is Palmer Trinity. I'd like to work here until I retire. I love my job here. I love creating recipes and dishes and seeing people satisfied with my work. MEE T JO SE VA L L A DA R E S , a core member of PTS' Maintenance crew. Though he graduated with a degree in accounting–which he practiced for about 25 years—he considers himself a perpetual learner. Here, Jose shares about the things that matter most to him. HOW L ONG H AV E YOU BEEN W OR K ING AT PA L MER T R INI T Y ? Between two different companies, I've worked at Palmer Trinity for six years. I have been working directly for the school for a year and a half, when I was promoted to assistant manager. DO YOU FEEL A C CEP T ED IN T HE PA L MER T R INI T Y C OMMUNI T Y ? Of course. I feel very content here. It's a beautiful place and I enjoy working at the school. I've worked in other places before, but this has been the most welcoming environment. W HER E A R E YOU FROM ? I come from Cuba. There's a big community of us here. We all have a lot of solidarity. Before coming to the U.S., I worked as an accountant from the time I graduated university in '81 until moving here 16 years ago. W H AT A R E YOUR HOBBIE S ? Whenever I'm not working, I'm at home with my family. I have two daughters and a wife. I also enjoy listening to music in my time off—I love pop, rock and of course, salsa. I spend a lot of time reading as well. I like to keep informed by reading the news and continue to learn about my trade. Right now I've been reading about electronics. W H AT DO YOU VA L UE MO S T ? Family above all. I adore my family. I value this country a lot. I was lucky to come here when many can't. I lived in Cuba for 44 years. This school, this country, Miami…they all feel like a second home to me. W H AT A R E YOUR PL A NS F OR T HE F U T UR E ? For the moment, it's to keep working here. Dedicate my best work and my professionalism to the school. I'd like to stay here in Miami when I retire, but for now, my future is at Palmer Trinity. INTERVIEWS BY ALEJANDR A MOR A ORTEGA '23 B T S @ P T S 23

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