‘I felt that like somebody took my brain and dropped it on the floor. The thoughts weren’t stopping.’

Christina Labrador, Babylon

“I was always surrounded by music. My dad taught himself to play guitar and sing. My mom taught herself to sing listening to Karen Carpenter. As a kid, I grew up with my parents always practicing in the living room. Because of them, I knew a lot of the oldies, doo-wop and ’60s music. And my brothers, they each had their own flavor of music that they liked, too. My family is Puerto Rican, and that’s one of the things we love to do, go to parties and play.

“I loved freestyle music. ’KTU used to play it all the time, but I was also into funk music and R&B. At that time, Copiague High School was one of the best schools for music because they had such a robust program.

“My chorus teacher was Mr. Wurtzel. He was also the ‘madrigal director,’ which is a special form of the choir. He was just a wonderful teacher. He was like a dad to all of us, always making sure we were doing the right thing and helping us like just be our best. He introduced us to different forms of classical music and everything.

“At Copiague, I got my first role in ‘Godspell.’ I remember in the audition, I learned my 16 bars for ‘Turn Back Old Man.’ I did my thing and they loved it. I got the part of Mary Magdalene. And the night before the show opened, I got laryngitis. I was so upset, but the raspy voice actually worked for the character. It added to the performance. I felt so confident after that, and I realized this is what I wanted to be doing. I continued to do other shows and found more confidence and more love for performing. But my dad passed away my senior year from surgery complications, and I began processing a lot of grief.

“I then attended Hofstra University and fell in love with working at the radio station. I was the urban music director, and I was the first person to hold that position. It also was around that time that I developed OCD symptoms. I felt that like somebody took my brain and dropped it on the floor. The thoughts weren’t stopping. I didn’t know what to do.”

I continued to take lessons with singers who were amazing. I wanted to be surrounded by people better than me.

“I started seeing counselors [for my OCD], and they gave me tools, which were very helpful in the moment, but of course, the thoughts keep coming back at you. I realized that I was hyping myself up a lot because otherwise I was going to be really depressed and sad that my dad was gone. You know?

“I literally think I played head games with myself on my freshman year just so I could survive.

“That was the root of it. I got better at not judging the thoughts and just letting them go. I gave myself a time frame. I said in 10 years, I don’t know how, but I’m going to make gains. I am going to make traction.

“Around 30 [years old], I started to think about my patterns and think about how toxic I was to myself. I was affording others the respect, but none for myself. I could feel myself getting lighter and even my voice, it wasn’t as stressed or straining. Everything just started to change in that aspect.

“I really began to see that everyone has their own issues. It wasn’t just me who was quirky. It’s everyone. And everyone struggles.

“I continued to take lessons with singers who were amazing. I wanted to be surrounded by people better than me. They taught me so much about vocal technique. I began to train my voice to sing through anything. I learned to sing through it all.

“I started doing more shows and then took over a wedding band. I became like the first Latina in the agency within the 40-year history to lead a band. I also began working with the guys from Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, which was a huge group in the ’80s and ’90s. My friend recommended me. They were originally looking for a tribute act, but I forwarded my original music to them, and we began working together. I do all the shows with them now.

“I now work as a vocal teacher, too. I help kids learn same vocal techniques that I learned so they don’t hurt their voices. I hope they all see how great they are. I believe in them so much. I know that they can do it. I know how much they’re capable of. I try to meet them where they’re at., I’ll be like, ‘Oh, see right there what you did there? Yeah, let’s do more of that.’”

Interviewed by Maggie Rose Melito

‘Each piece of clothing has a past, and they are ready to be passed on to someone else to start a new chapter.’

Tiana Schwenker, Babylon

“I guess you can say I have always been an old soul because of my dad, who has always been my inspiration. My dad has been an antique collector for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a little girl, he would bring me to antique shops and flea markets, which is where my fascination for antiquing began.

“I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, where I learned about the modern fashion industry. I remember my first time stepping into a vintage clothing store, and it was at that moment that I knew that I wanted to do something different, not work in modern fashion, but vintage.

“In January of 2020, my junior year of college, I started curating a collection, and that’s when my journey as an online vintage seller began. I started traveling all around the United States and growing my inventory, which then led me to vend at vintage shows in both Manhattan and the Hamptons.

Each piece has a past, and they are ready to be passed on to someone else to start a new chapter.

“Before I knew it, I was planning to open up my very own vintage shop in my hometown, Babylon Village. In April of 2022, my dad and I began renovating the 100-year-old space and making it my own. By removing the modern walls that were built over the years, my dad was able to reveal the original brick walls and wood-plank ceiling, giving its true vintage feel. My dad and I had a vision, and he brought it to life.

“When I see a luxurious 1930s old Hollywood glamour gown or an Edwardian lace cotton voile lawn dress, I am always in awe. The construction, silhouette, material and quality of these garments are always impeccable.

“Learning about the origin of these pieces of clothing, as well as connecting with the original owners, will always be inspiring. Each piece has a past, and they are ready to be passed on to someone else to start a new chapter.

“Opening up my store has allowed me to connect with new people that have similar interests and learn about past experiences. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity, and I hope that more and more people will appreciate vintage and its true authenticity in the same way that I do.”

Interviewed by Maggie Rose Melito

‘I think skateboarding is honestly all about pushing yourself to the limit physically and mentally.’

Jacqueline Testa, Babylon

“I grew up with an older brother that skated, and I thought he was the coolest. I wanted to be like him in any way possible, but I really didn’t start skating until after high school, when all my friends left for school and I didn’t really know what to do with myself.

“I think skateboarding is honestly all about pushing yourself to the limit physically and mentally. When you’re with people that do that all the time, you are forced to build deeper connections. If you’re willing to go out there every day, slam on concrete 50 times a day just in hopes to land a trick, you kind of have to be a different type of person. It’s easier to connect with those type of people for me.

If I saw myself now as a kid, I would be so happy and so proud and just so excited that I stuck with it, and it all came full circle.

“Everyone in the skate realm magically has another talent, so we had had this group of friends that were not only talented skaters, but talented just people in general. We began making all our art under the name ‘Sixth Cents,’ and it’s become an outlet to do all the things we love. We’ve been able to pursue passion through this name. That’s kind of just been the craziest and magical thing, seeing all your friends do what they love and be proud of it.

“We spent about two years filming ‘While I’m Here,’ which was a skate film. It was just filled with like almost every weekend going on trips with each other to go filming. Then the night of the premiere, it was so crazy to see the final product of something that we’d worked on for so long. The skateboarding community really showed up for us, and everyone had such kind words to share.

“It’s so easy to think now and say, ‘I wish I just would’ve gone to the skate park sooner’ because I wanted to, but I was so terrified. I think back then when I was younger, it was a little bit different, but the community on Long Island has changed so much and is extremely welcoming.

“I don’t know if the art we put out is special to other people, but it’s special to me because I’m recording the memories of my friends, and I always want to remember this. If I saw myself now as a kid, I would be so happy and so proud and just so excited that I stuck with it, and it all came full circle. I just am so grateful to know all these people, and I don’t take it for granted.”

Interviewed by Maggie Rose Melito

‘A lesson that I’ve learned since being here in New York is that when you care and love people, those people care about and love you.’

Babylon

“I moved here from Italy about seven years ago. My mother was born in Brooklyn, but my grandfather moved back to Sicily when she was at a very young age.

“My parents and I used to come visit relatives and visit New York City and Long Island. During these visits, we fell in love with New York, and that’s why we eventually decided to move here.

I feel the Long Islanders I’ve met have had an immense impact on my life, and together, we seem to all work very well.

“I found my job as a wine-bar manager after moving here, pretty much right away, and have been working very hard almost every day since.

“A lesson that I’ve learned since being here in New York is that when you care and love people, those people care about and love you. I encounter so many people here daily and being that I became an adult here in New York, I’ve developed as a person and have grown to realize this.

“So many Long Islanders are so welcoming and just appreciative in general. I’m accepted here as who I am, and I love working within this community.

“If there is one thing I miss the most from Italy, it’s my grandmother’s unconditional love. It’s something that is hard to articulate, as it’s just a feeling. The way my grandma loves and treats me is incomparable.

“I feel the Long Islanders I’ve met have had an immense impact on my life, and together, we seem to all work very well. I am hopeful for the future. My main hope is that people who care and spread love will prevail over people who exploit others. I don’t know if this sounds naive, but one of the biggest dreams I have is to wake up every morning with a smile on my face.”

Interviewed by Maggie Melito

‘My book lets people know that you can find ways to celebrate the people you lost in an honest way for children.’

Babylon

“I was devastated when I lost my grandfather in the sixth grade. I didn’t handle his death well. Now that I teach sixth grade, I realize that it’s confusing if no one is talking to you about the process. I lost my other grandfather when I was in 10th grade and I wasn’t sent to his funeral; I had no closure.

“When I was 19, my grandmother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She helped raise me because my mom had Guillain-Barre syndrome and was crippled. My grandmother changed my thoughts on death.

“She said, ‘This is my time, and I’m not scared because I know I’m going to a better place.’ I was in college and had lost one of the people closest in the world to me. I remember her saying, ‘Someday you’re going to tell your story.’ She planted a seed.

“When my mom passed, I had two young children, and my older daughter had questions. Many books on grieving use metaphors, but children don’t understand metaphors. I was simple and honest with them.

“Later on, I thought I’d therapeutically write my story for my family. I was connected with an illustrator, but I knew it was going to be difficult to get a publisher. I thought I’d self-publish. It took us a long time. There came a point where I gave up.

“In the height of COVID, I checked my email by chance, and there was a note from Amazon saying, ‘Your book has been published!’ A colleague caught on at school and ‘Little Lucy May’s Loss’ got even bigger.

“Now I have sold copies in Europe and the U.K., which is surreal. Sometimes as adults we want to fix everything. It’s OK to react because emotions are normal. I’ve learned that we need to teach children to feel all the feels, but you can’t hold on to feelings forever. I’m finding that these small wounds shape who we are and how we react as we get older.

“It’s important to let children know that it’s OK to be sad. My story goes through talking about the person to keep them in your memory. The book lets people know that you can find ways to celebrate the people you lost in an honest way for children.

“No matter how big or small your grief, it doesn’t need to be compared to anybody else’s. Everybody’s heart is different. It’s also important to listen to kids. They have big things to say.”

Interviewed by Iris Wiener

‘It’s all about digging deep and going in emotionally and figuring out what’s working in your life, what’s not working and how to navigate getting where you want to go.’

Babylon

“I was teaching for 10 years at different schools, trying to find that niche, that place for me. But I always ran into the same issue where I was always told, ‘You don’t have enough experience,’ or they would have me sub, and then it was always a promise to lead to something else, but then it never did. I have six certifications, and I’m certified in children’s yoga. I was always trying to figure out what I could do better and change. I just kept hitting a dead end.

“I was at a really low point in my life and really down on myself. Then I went to emotional intelligence leadership training in 2019, and that was the start of everything that changed for me. It’s all about digging deep and going in emotionally and figuring out what’s working in your life, what’s not working and how to navigate getting where you want to go or even figuring out where you want to go. I had wanted to teach for so long, but I realized that maybe my desire to leave a footprint in a child’s life could look different. It could be through creating an experience for them. That training had me do a 180. It was major self-reflection and realizing I’m more than what I’m allowing myself to be. I’m keeping myself small, and I don’t need to listen to the ‘no.’

The doors just started opening, and the opportunities were there.

“I’ve always been a creative person. I have a side business; I sell makeup and skin care. So now I do live videos and show tips and tricks. I made a YouTube channel for children’s yoga and read stories. I really just expanded and brought in my horizons in a way that was true to me, and it felt so good. I thrived being able to finally just slow down and actually see the path. I don’t have to overextend myself. And then, I had my son eight months ago, and that was another lesson to show me that things I thought were important are just not that important.

“My happiness is important so I could be the best version of myself for him and for our little family. Everything shifted completely. Once I opened my eyes to the possibilities and stopped keeping my mind in lack and keeping myself small, was the minute I opened up and realized, I’m capable. And this can happen. And that can happen. The doors just started opening, and the opportunities were there.”

Interviewed by Liza Burby

‘I walked with my 30-pound bag until the skin was coming off my feet when I decided to rest…I walked into the woods, grabbed a bunch of branches, and made a kind-of hut.’

Babylon

“I think it was where I grew up that made me ready for what happened. I was born in the Dominican Republic, where we had a house in the country. There were cows and goats, and sometimes electricity; that’s just how it was at the time.

“After moving to Queens, things got bad. It all started in 2017, when I lost everything due to a scam someone pulled on me. I lost $40,000 and all my forms of identification. I was going to school and had an apartment, but without money and ID, I lost it all. I contacted a friend who said she was living in a house in Baiting Hollow. I asked if I could stay with her until I got back on my feet. She said yes, so the journey starts May 30 with a train ride to Riverhead around 11 o’clock at night. I arrived at the Ronkonkoma station and was told the trains to Riverhead had stopped for the night. I called my friend to come get me, but she never showed up, so I slept there overnight.

“In the morning my phone was dead, and I had no money in my pocket, so I started heading toward Riverhead on foot. I walked and I walked. I tried to flag people down, but nobody stopped to help me. I walked, carrying my 30-pound bag, until the skin was coming off my feet when I decided to stop to rest. I’m country, so I walked into the woods and grabbed a bunch of branches and made a kind of hut. I ate some wild berries, and found some blueberries, but I went two days without drinking water, and I was attacked by animals in the woods. My Abba Kadosh sustained me.

“Once I started walking again, I ran into people working at a vineyard, and I asked for a few grapes but they told me they weren’t allowed. At this point, I was hallucinating, imagining I could see rivers of water.

“Eventually I made it to Sound Avenue and found an abandoned house. I saw there was a hose, and when I unscrewed it, water came out! I felt like the heavens opened up for me. I found a working socket and charged my phone. I finally made my way to my friend’s home in Baiting Hollow, and stayed there for about five days, but then the real owner arrived—my friend said it was her home, but it wasn’t—and the owner told us we had to go.”

I’m not going to question God and ask why all these things happened, but even though I’m still traumatized, I survived.

“I reached out to social services, and they placed me in a shelter. I’m a trans woman, and they tried to stick me with a bunch of men, and anyone who sees me knows I am not a man. I got a lot of stress in the shelter when they found out, and it was tense. At the same time, things outside were dangerous too, like gangs and stuff all around. I remember one time a bunch of guys came up to me on the street and told me they were going to take me! I ran and they chased me, I found a farm and I hid. I was convinced my platinum hair was going to give me away, but after hiding for about 45 minutes, they gave up and I got away.

“Things at the shelter finally got out of hand when somebody slapped me. I defended myself, fought back and ended up banned for 30 days, so I went back to the woods again. I was lucky though, as after three days someone from social services found me and the ban on me was lifted. I was brought back, only this time not the shelter but more of a house-like scenario, and that was where things took off with my partner.

“We had known each other for a long time at that point, but honestly I never paid him any mind, as I wasn’t ready before and neither was he, but by this time he was settled down and working. We got to know each other, and after I was able to get back some of the money stolen from me, he helped me learn to handle and invest my money. We have been together now for three years since July, and we live together in our home in Babylon Village. I’m now back in school studying radiology and working.

“Sometimes I can’t believe what happened to me, but I realize that everything happens for a reason. If I had never went to that girl in Baiting Hollow, I would never have met my partner. I’m where I am now because I took a risk, and even with all the bad things that happened, I succeeded. I’m not going to question God and ask why all these things happened, but even though I’m still traumatized, I survived. There are people who’ve had it worse than me, and I guess God found mercy for me. At the same time, wherever I go I shake the trees, take the coconuts, and then go. I’m a survivor.”

Interviewed by Ian J. Stark

‘We learn math and science in school so I would love to see a course on self-esteem and self-worth. Learning to love ourselves just makes for a kinder world.’

Babylon

“I thought perhaps my story could help someone out there who’s grieving. I lost my brother to suicide 10 years ago. One of my brother’s legacies is definitely his uniqueness. He was so fun and just an amazing person.

“The reason I wrote my memoir, “Worthy,” is that during my grieving process, I realized that my brother and I weren’t all that different. I had my own struggles around worthiness. I want people to know that they matter, and if I could somehow heal myself, which I have, and live my best life, that would be the best way to honor my brother.

“It took me many years to get to this point — 10 years to finish the book – and I have done a lot of the work that other people are doing right now. We are all worthy of an extraordinary life. When everything falls apart, we have the opportunity to redefine ourselves if we choose. Our mindset is such a powerful tool, and we can live from the perspective that life happens for us and not to us.

We need to be able to talk about the difficult things and be able to say when we’re not okay.

“When bad things happen, what are you going to do with it and how are you going to make the world better? I think it’s really important in this day and age to have these types of conversations. We need to be able to talk about the difficult things and be able to say when we’re not okay.

“This World Suicide Prevention Day and National Suicide Prevention Month are so timely and important this year because people are suffering. People have lost jobs; people have lost people and people are uncertain.

“Giving more education in schools around worthiness and value and inclusivity is something that we need. We learn math and science in school so I would love to see a course on self-esteem and self-worth. Learning to love ourselves just makes for a kinder world.”

‘My childhood in Babylon Village was a process of self-discovery, and I didn’t even know what being queer looked like.’

Babylon

“When I was growing up, being open and yourself was not always accepted. My childhood in Babylon Village was a process of self-discovery, and I didn’t even know what being queer looked like. I knew I was different but didn’t understand what that meant. There weren’t many, if any, open LGBTQA+ people here that I could look to when I was a child discovering my sexuality and identity.

“I moved to Southern California around age 13, where I started to semi-understand who I was, but even after many positive experiences as a teen I felt that my growth was done there. I wanted to come back home.

“Things were different in Babylon Village when I returned in my 20s. It was heartwarming to see my hometown evolved into being more open minded and respectful toward local LGBTQA+ people, but even with all this development, I still saw a need for something more in Babylon, for the showing of acceptance, appreciation and acknowledgement of our queer community. There was a need to mark progress and visibility, and that was beginning of what now has become Babylon Pride!

My pride journey is far from over, and I don’t know where the finish line is, but I’m excited to educate and evoke positive change along the way.

“Bob, a Babylon Village resident, and I got together and made it happen for the first time in 2020 during the pandemic. We went to the mayor’s office, and they agreed, saying our village needs a little uplifting, as the world was a heavy place at the time. We reached out to businesses and residents to make it happen, mainly by word of mouth, and pulled it together in seven days.

“I was in the last car to turn the corner onto the 2020 parade route. It was such a feeling of acceptance and love. A whole town coming together to support the LGBTQA+ community, tears came down my face.

“From last year to this year, the parade attendance doubled, which is kind of surreal for me. My pride journey is far from over, and I don’t know where the finish line is, but I’m excited to educate and evoke positive change along the way. We need to create change where we see and most desire it. I wanted to show that Babylon and Long Island can embrace our LGBTQA+ community and let that be known to our queer youth! Having acceptance in our own backyard speaks volumes.”

Interviewed by Ian J. Stark

‘Don’t be cocky; be confident. There’s a really big difference in that.’

Sal DiBenedetto, Babylon

“At 14, I got into the restaurant business. I started as a dishwasher, moved my way to a busboy, and eventually became a waiter. I fell in love with the industry and guiding people through the dining experience. That was the inspiration for my blog, @TheGrubfather. Instagram gave me an opportunity to be a waiter to the world. It’s the most followed food blog on Long Island. I present people with unique dishes and tell them about them. It feels like I am continuing with that spirit of the industry in a way that evolved with the times.

“There’s something beautiful about the dining experience and coming together for food. Now, I am a content creator, an entrepreneur, a writer and a photographer. I’m always looking for dishes that have a ‘Wow!’ factor, that make people excited and evoke feelings. Food is the ultimate storyteller, whether it’s about someone’s heritage or a crazy idea they had when they were drunk. I try to bring that to life with the blog. It has shaped a lot about who I am, and now I’ve opened a restaurant called The Grub Shop in Huntington Village. It takes the different things I’ve learned about the world, businesses, restaurants and the Long Island community, and it brings it into one hub.

There’s something beautiful about the dining experience and coming together for food.

“I was inspired by Anthony Bourdain. I stumbled onto his show, Parts Unknown, and it changed my life. I booked a flight to Thailand, Paris and Hawaii right after I finished the third episode. It kickstarted my blog and everything that I have now. At the Grub Shop, I am honoring his legacy with a huge mural done by Andaluz, a local artist. I’ve started to invest in the idea that I can do anything I put my mind to, especially the things I am passionate about.

“Many people have fantastic ideas and everybody has what it takes to see them through. People get lost due to a lack in confidence. You’ll be successful once you get that inner desire to chase your dreams and turn them into goals. You have to look on the inside of yourself and use that to shape how the world sees you. Don’t be cocky; be confident. There’s a really big difference in that. It’s all about your attitude, humbleness, and appreciation for the people who get you where you are.”

Interviewed by Iris Wiener