The 25-Year-Old Changing the Trajectory of Lives on JFK Redevelopment Project
Rachelle Antoine hails from Haiti, specifically City Soleil, and began her journey to America at the age of 9 with her family. Now, at 25, she’s making significant strides in reshaping lives through her involvement in the JFK Redevelopment Program. How did she get here?
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Antoine attributes her success to her relentless determination and willingness to explore diverse opportunities, qualities instilled in her by her macro social work background. After completing her Bachelor’s in Social Work, she ventured into entrepreneurship, driving for Uber (much to chagrin of her Caribbean parents, we suspect), for a year. This unconventional move granted her the freedom to contemplate her next steps and fostered a newfound sense of independence.
Her next step was pursuing a Master’s at Columbia University which paved the way for her current role as Manager of External Affairs and Community Outreach for the JFK Redevelopment Program. In this capacity, she is responsible for communications, community engagement, and diversity outreach initiatives related to the historic $20B redevelopment of JFK Airport. In addition, she operates the Project Community Outreach Office opened to the public, serving as the central resource for job and contracting opportunities, training, business development, and access to educational opportunities for residents. One of her key areas of focus is working with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion in the development, management, and oversight of the 30% Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) goals of projects associated with the program.
Drawing from her prior experiences as Budget Director for a New York State Assemblyman and roles in the New York City Public Advocate’s Office, Antoine possesses a deep understanding of government operations and community advocacy.
“Everything is interconnected,” she says. From her volunteerism at church to the roles she previously served in, Antoine was destined to take up this task.
She acknowledges the challenges of her current position but embraces them as opportunities for growth and learning within a new industry. Amidst her hectic schedule, Antoine remains driven by the potential impact of this ‘legacy project’ , particularly its ability to uplift minority-owned firms and transform the lives of families.
As she navigates her journey during Women’s History Month, Antoine reflects on her goals and strives to find balance amidst the myriad opportunities before her.
The Doctor Advocating for Women’s Health
In her childhood, Dr. Sophia’s bond with her grandmother and visits to extended family in Haiti fostered a deep connection to community. As she pursued her medical studies, she returned to Haiti for medical missions, particularly after the 2010 earthquake, providing vital medical assistance on multiple occasions.
Unlike many Haitian parents’ aspirations for their children to pursue careers in medicine or law, Dr. Sophia’s parents allowed her to follow her own path. From the age of 11, she harbored a steadfast ambition to become a doctor. However, when she became a young mother after college, she temporarily shifted gears, becoming a licensed New York City teacher to balance motherhood with her passion for giving back. Despite finding fulfillment in teaching, her dream of becoming a doctor persisted, leading her back to medical school while continuing her volunteer work.
Driven by a holistic approach to women’s health, Dr. Sophia recognizes the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and societal factors. Observing the profound impact of self-confidence on overall well-being, she delved into aesthetic medicine to empower women in embracing their bodies and enhancing their self-esteem. Moreover, her dedication to sexual wellness stems from recognizing its pivotal role in women’s lives and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women.
Central to Dr. Sophia’s practice is her advocacy for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the multitude of symptoms associated with this stage of life, ensuring women receive timely and appropriate care to navigate these transitions effectively. She shares that there is a typical trajectory for women with first symptoms of perimenopause. First, they go to their primary doctor who says, you need to see your OB-GYN, then you go to the OB-GYN who then says your numbers are fine because they’ve done lab work and it looks fine and they say, you need to see a Neurologist. Your neurologist says no your memory is fine, you should see a Psychiatrist because you’re feeling depressed and having mood symptoms and the psychiatrist puts you on antidepressants. Then you go see a Rheumatologist because you’re having joint pain until finally somebody figures it out – maybe you’re in perimenopause!
She is currently practicing at Symphony Medical in Yonkers, and serves as the medical director My Wellness Solutions in Harlem, a detox spa where they really support you in a journey to cleanse the body by doing things like colonics, nutrition plans and weight loss, menopause and hormone balancing. Through her podcast, Dr. Sophia, ObGyn and medical practice, Dr. Sophia endeavors to educate and empower women, encouraging them to embrace their bodies and advocate for their health with confidence and knowledge.
