For a year, Diana Burgos (her friends call her India) lived in New York City's shelter system in New York City.

Flash forward to 2015, Diana has been a tenant with Community Access for five years, and an enthusiastic volunteer helping to give back throughout the year. She's built friendships with staff and neighbors in her building and around town who have helped her to improve her health and set goals that she keeps reaching! She lost an amazing 100 pounds through healthy eating and exercise. And now, she has established her next personal goal: to bike 40 miles and raise $1,000 for Community Access as a member of our charity team in the TD Five Boro Bike tour on May 3. Here’s her story.

Diana Burgos

 Tenant

I was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Chicago. I moved to New York when I was 16. Five years ago, I came out of prison and went to a half-way house. I went from a halfway house to a three-quarter house, and from a three-quarter house to a shelter. My experience with the shelter? I kept away from a lot of negative people. I used to stay by myself. Fortunately I had my own room.

Community Access gave me an interview and I got accepted for a shared apartment. I’ve been happy ever since. Everything’s been good at Community Access. They treat me well.

I feel better, I rest better, I look better, everything.

I’m in recovery now. I go to my NA, AA, Recovery Group, and Weight Loss Group. I've kept clean. It’s because I'm willing to change my old ways and move forward.

At Community Access I started doing all sorts of new activities. I’ve been involved with the Good Neighbor Walk and the Community Access bar-b-que. I go to this new Adult Center, as well. It’s good for my mind. We play bingo, we play jeopardy, they take us out to eat... And I get to dance! It’s my favorite hobby. I’m also in school to get my GED. I passed my pre-GED test.

I also adopted a cat with Community Access, through Pet Access. His name is Chico, and he is great therapy for me. He is three years old.

I've been getting into fitness a lot too, which gave me this idea to join the Community Access Bike Tour team. Me and Tiffany, my service coordinator, have been going to the gym together. We meet for an hour every week. I was 300 pounds last year, and I lost 100 pounds! I feel better, I rest better, I look better, everything. I’m feeling a lot of good things about myself.

The Bike Tour is something new, something different. And I'm ready for it. I decided to join because it’s a new challenge, and a way to give back to Community Access.

Raising $1,000 is going to be a big challenge, but I have some ideas already. I’m planning to cook some empanadas, for a dollar each. I’ll have a sign that says I’m fundraising for Community Access.

Community Access has suggested a lot of things like that for me to move forward. I’ve been blessed.

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