NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Joins Open Doors NYC to Showcase a Resident-Centered Food Stories Exhibition on Dignity, Culture, and Care

NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Joins Open Doors NYC to Showcase a Resident-Centered Food Stories Exhibition on Dignity, Culture, and Care

Four nursing home residents share their personal connection to foods like Curry Chicken, Pepperpot, Sancocho, Cou-Cou and Saltfish, and their impact on healing and wellness

May 15, 2026

As part of National Skilled Nursing Care Week, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler and Open Doors NYC co-hosted the Food Stories exhibition featuring storytelling from nursing home residents accompanied by large-scale visual works by artist and community organizer Kevin Nakagawa. The artwork collective portrays how food supports cultural continuity, care, and emotional wellbeing within long-term care environments. The event marks the first public presentation of an ongoing resident-focused initiative centered around food, dignity, memory, and community.

The exhibition shares stories gathered from dozens of Coler residents about meals, traditions, gardens, markets, and relationships that have shaped their lives, demonstrating how profoundly food connects us to our homes, communities, and cultures. The sampling menu included traditional Caribbean-inspired meals like Curry Chicken (Trinidad), Pepperpot (Guyana), Sancocho (Dominican), and Cou-Cou and Saltfish (Barbados).

"We are thrilled to support the Food Stories exhibition, highlighting the unique intersection of nostalgic memories and cultural connection. Our goal at Coler is to provide a holistic environment where our residents feel their identities are honored," said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Chief Executive Officer Nataliya Yakovleva, LNHA, LMSW. "This initiative allows us to showcase the personal histories of our residents and reaffirm our commitment to person-centered care excellence and community engagement."

"Seeing this project grow to where it is and what has become has been a total honor for me to help my fellow residents of Coler in Food Justice," said Open Doors Executive Director Vincent Pierce. "I am looking forward to the future of 'Food Stories' by bringing Sunday Dinners to Coler, gathering like family over the dishes we love and making nursing homes feel more like home, because Nursing Home Lives Matter."

"Food helps us connect with one another, with our cultural heritage, and with our community," said Nisha Agarwal, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. "The Food Stories Exhibition uplifts the stories and dishes so beloved by Coler residents. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see the art in person and meet with some of the residents. With more than 70% of Coler residents being wheelchair users, accessibility cuts across so much of what makes Coler so special including access to culturally relevant foods that offer just a little taste of home."

"In the heart of a vibrant city like New York, where the cultures blend and flavors collide, our continuous ideation of seasonal menus reflect our commitment to nourishment and inclusivity," said Philip DeMaiolo, CEC, AAC, Client Executive and Corporate Chef at Sodexo for NYC Health + Hospitals. "We embrace the diversity of our community by crafting the recipes that not only celebrate health but also honor the rich tapestry of culinary traditions that make our city unique."

"At its core, Coler Food Stories restores visibility to the lives, memories, and cultural histories of residents across long-term care environments. Over months of conversations, residents welcomed me into stories of family kitchens, backyard gardens, and crowded dinner tables, revealing how deeply food carries identity, love, and connection across generations," said Open Doors Artist Kevin Nakagawa. "The exhibition honors these lived experiences not only as memories of the past, but as knowledge capable of shaping more dignified care in the present. I am deeply grateful to Coler residents for welcoming me into their lives."

"It was an honor to join skilled nurses, residents, and staff at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler to celebrate their Food Stories Exhibition. Manhattan's seniors, especially those residing within long-term care environments, deserve to live with dignity," said Manhattan Deputy Borough President Miesha Smith. "I'm grateful to Kevin Nakagawa and the residents of Coler for contributing such impactful pieces of art, highlighting the intense connection between food, cultural continuity, and emotional wellbeing."

"Our Food Stories Exhibit gives us a voice to share who we are. Bringing the tastes and traditions to this memorable event was very special to me," said Coler Resident Council President Francene Benjamin. "Our heritage is our strength, and I am thrilled that we can share these meaningful pieces of our hearts with staff, families and friends."

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CONTACT: Rafael Dominguez, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care, 646-694-4910

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler is an 815-bed skilled nursing facility located in Roosevelt Island, providing comprehensive skilled nursing, medical and rehabilitative care for more than 70 years. Coler is committed to serving New York City and the surrounding communities, while setting an example as a leader in memory care programming and rehabilitation. Rated as a "2026 Best Nursing Home" by Newsweek, with a ranking of 10^th best in New York State and received a rating of "High-Performing" in Long-Term Care by U.S. News & World Report's Best Nursing Homes 2026. The facility earned a Five-Star CMS rating which designates them among the top 10 percent of skilled nursing facilities in the country. The facility also ranks in the top 1st quintile in the New York State Department of Health Nursing Home Quality Pool. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/coler.

About OPEN DOORS NYCOPEN DOORS NYC is a disability-led arts and justice organization based on Roosevelt Island dedicated to investing in the creativity, leadership, and lived experiences of Black and Brown wheelchair users. Founded in 2016 at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, the organization emerged from a group of younger residents seeking purpose, connection, and a platform to share their voices. Through poetry, music, film, exhibitions, storytelling, and public programming, OPEN DOORS works to reduce isolation and build community within long-term care settings while amplifying the perspectives of disabled New Yorkers. Its initiatives, including the Food Stories campaign, transform resident experiences into cultural works and advocacy efforts that advance dignity, creativity, and more responsive systems of care. For more information, visit https://www.opendoorsnyc.org/

About Kevin Nakagawa
Kevin Nakagawa is an artist, designer, and community organizer whose work explores the relationship between storytelling, public space, and collective life. Through drawing, installation, and participatory projects, his practice translates lived experience into layered visual environments that reveal connections between memory, culture, care, and place. Working closely with residents, community organizations, and public institutions, he develops projects that position art not only as representation, but as a tool for dialogue, visibility, and community empowerment. His current work at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler centers on resident stories about food, dignity, and everyday life within long-term care environments, transforming these narratives into large-scale visual works and community-driven initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University.