The Hoboken Girl Team 
Whether it be through a non-profit, an artistic project, or the launch of their own businesses, residents of Hoboken and Jersey City consistently do great things in the area. Every month, The Hoboken Girl highlights 10 individuals making a positive impact. It’s August 1st, and you know what that means: it’s time to celebrate another round of local changemakers. Read on for Hoboken + Jersey City people to watch for August 2025.
Alessia Aron | Founder of Beyond the Plate Food Tours
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Alessia Aron, a resident of the Hamilton Park neighborhood in Jersey City, is the founder of Beyond the Plate Food Tours, a company that curates walking food tours and custom events, bringing the community together over bites, sips, and great local stories. As the creative mind behind the Taste of Downtown Jersey City Food Tour, she believes that everything is centered around community. “I love being able to walk down the street and wave to people I know in town and genuinely be happy to see my friends or neighbors, or going to have a drink at the bar because I know my favorite bartender is working,” Alessia told The Hoboken Girl.
She has run her company for the past 12 years, and over time, it has expanded to other neighborhoods and cities, including Red Bank, Somerville, and now Kearny. Alessia also creates unique food and drink events for companies such as Johnson + Johnson, L’Oréal, and many others. When she’s not hosting events, she’s spending part of the year living and working in Colombia, and when she’s not traveling, she’s advocating for her own and others’ mental health through therapy, meditation, and reading/listening to podcasts.
Alessia’s local favorites: The Archer, Perquin, + Andco
Keep up with Alessia on her website, business Instagram, and personal Instagram.
Read More: This Jersey City Resident is the Autism Consultant on Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum
La-Trenda Ross | CEO + Founder of Trending Into A New Life
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Jersey City resident La-Trenda Ross is a multifaceted entrepreneur whose life’s work is grounded in service and empowerment. A proud native of Hoboken and now a resident of Jersey City, she is the founder + CEO of Trending Into A New Life, a coaching business rooted in transformation, resilience, and purpose. With over 30 years of experience in human and social services, she currently manages a program for elderly and disabled adults at the Hudson County Department of Family Services + Reintegration. La-Trenda is also Chairperson of the Hudson County Food + Shelter Coalition, President of the Hudson County Community College Alumni Association, and Committeewoman for Jersey City’s Ward E – District 16.
In January 2026, La-Trenda will launch The R.E.L.L.E Legacy Foundation, inspired by her breast cancer journey following a triple-negative diagnosis she discovered during a self-exam. Choosing courage over fear, she now shares her journey weekly on social media, raising awareness and providing support to others facing similar battles. Residents can expect wellness resources, care packages, food deliveries, financial assistance, virtual + in-person workshops, an annual gala, and wellness retreats, all to empower individuals and families impacted by breast cancer. A GoFundMe campaign has been created by friends to support La-Trenda’s treatment and to help launch her foundation, allowing her to continue the work she was called to do. Her inspiring story has been featured in Stephanie Clark’s Life As A Single Mom: It Isn’t Easy or Is It. La-Trenda is also the author of How To Begin A New Life, a guide to overcoming adversity and embracing new beginnings.
La-Trenda’s local favorites: Brightside Tavern, East LA, Thrifted by J&D
Keep up with La-Trenda and her work on her website, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Elliot Appel | Artist
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Ellio Appel is a Bayonne-based painter with over 30 years of experience as an artist. His art style depicts NYC area cityscapes and storefronts, and the history behind them. Through his work, which has been selected for exhibition by prestigious groups, including the National Oil + Acrylics Painters Society, Pro Arts Jersey City, and Manhattan Arts International, Elliot shares his perspective on the world. “I like to share what I believe is my unique way of looking at and capturing things I see in everyday life that others may take for granted,” he shared with HG.
Elliot has exhibited his art pieces at The Painting Center in Chelsea, Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island, the Monmouth Museum, and the Ridgewood Art League, with one-person shows at the Hoboken Historical Museum + the Watchung Arts Center in New Jersey.
Whether it be through fine art or foodie creations, creativity runs in the Appel family, as Elliot is also the father of Pompeii Pizza owner Alexandra Appel.
Elliot’s local favorites: Pompeii Pizza, The Light Horse Tavern, + Edward’s Streak House
Keep up with Elliot and his paintings on his website and Instagram.
Chris Dalla Riva | Musician, Author, + Content Creator
Photo Credit: Evan P. Raftes
Hoboken resident Chris Dalla Riva is a musician and content creator whose work surrounds all things music and online data. With 100k+ TikTok followers and 8k+ newsletter subscribers, his work has been featured in The Economist, Business Insider, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, and the London School of Economics, among many other publications. Chris is also the author of Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves, a book about the data-driven history of popular music. It was written after years of listening to every song to top the Billboard Hot 100. “That’s over 1,100 number-one hits between 1958 and 2025,” Chris said.
“I’ve always been inspired by music. Ultimately, it’s what has moved me to work in the field that I do,” Chris told HG. “I hope my work makes people realize that while you can view popular songs as silly creations for young people, they often tell us much deeper things about ourselves and impact society in unseen ways.”
Chris’s local favorites: Mamoun’s, Mulligans, + Little City Books
Keep up with Chris and his content on his website, TikTok, Instagram, and subscribe to his newsletter.
Stephanie Kleiman | Event Planner + Founder of EventJoy
Photo Credit: Gillian Lee
Stephanie Kleiman, founder of EventJoy, is an event planner with over seven years of experience in the industry. With a Type A personality and a hyper-fixation on making things the best they can be, her goal in her line of business is to relieve the stress of planning a special event. “My line of work is inspired by bringing people together for the biggest milestones in their lives,” she said. “I pride myself on being a couple’s ‘right-hand gal’ leading up to and the day of their wedding. I want to take away any stress they feel so they can enjoy their special day.”
When she’s not planning a wedding or another special occasion, she’s spending time with her husband, Evan, attending concerts and sporting events, and, of course, planning fun get-togethers for herself and her friends.
Stephanie’s local favorites: Cafe Michelina, The Chique Collective, [solidcore], SoulCycle, Carpe Diem, Alessio’s, Evolve, + Alfafa
Keep up with Stephanie and her business on her Instagram and website.
Carole Alexander | Founder of Alexander by Design, Inc
Carole J Alexander has worked in the women’s fashion industry for over 30 years, designing and curating women’s fashion collections for stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Neiman Marcus. Carole has also developed private label collections for various other esteemed outlets.
The launch of her label, Alexander by Design, began during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she found herself increasingly bored and yearning to channel her creativity. One day at home, she stumbled upon an old farmer’s market basket, pulled out fabric swatches and trims, and began attaching them. The fabric depicted the Amalfi Coast, and inspiration struck. As the world reopened, someone asked to buy the bag before she even left her building, her first order. More compliments followed, including from a boutique owner who offered to sell her bags. After research confirmed no similar product existed, her business was born.
With a fresh approach to fun and luxury, her brand’s debut collection focuses on handbags that embody her unique vision. With the motto, “Wear it with Luxury,” fashion enthusiasts can anticipate many seasons of innovative and exquisite designs.
Carole’s local favorites: Leo’s, Vito’s Deli, Fiore’s, Madison Bar + Grill, Elysian Cafe
Keep up with Carole and her work on her website and Instagram.
Kristina Victoratos Gardenier | Founder of Guiding Light Doula + Fertility Coaching
Photo Credit: Steven Gardenier
Hudson County resident Kristina Victoratos Gardenier is a birth doula and certified fertility coach whose goal is to support women in the area from the beginning of their fertility journeys through childbirth and beyond. After 12 years in the adtech space in NYC, Kristina decided to follow her heart and pursue something she’s always felt passionate about: supporting women. That passion led to the launch of Guiding Light Doula + Fertilify Services.
With her business, Kristina educates women on every aspect of childbirth, from informed consent and bodily autonomy to self-advocacy throughout the birthing experience. “Standing and supporting a woman physically during labor is a beautiful way to foster community and ensure that she is supported when feeling her most vulnerable,” Kristina told HG.
“When a client learns anything from me that makes them feel more empowered in giving birth, that sets forth such a beautiful and positive ripple effect,” she said. “Giving birth is something that women tend to remember in detail for the rest of their lives, so being even a tiny part of making it a more peaceful, empowered experience will affect generations to come!”
Kristina’s local favorites: The Cuban, Schmitty’s, + Zero Otto Uno
Keep up with Kristina and her doula practice on her website and Instagram.
Parker Foster | Writer, Director, + Filmmaker
Photo Credit: Kevin Kim
Parker Foster is a writer and director based in Hoboken. He directs commercials, short films, and documentaries. Parker has gone on to win several awards, including Dallas Filmmaker of the Year and a Webby for Mental Health Film of the Year when he was just 18. What inspires Parker most is curiosity, the kind that stirs questions deep within about life, purpose, and what it means to be human. Filmmaking has become his way of exploring those questions, a lens through which he seeks understanding and meaning.
If he could inspire someone in just one way, it would be this: to believe in who they are and take a chance on the dream that keeps them up at night. Too many people reach the end of their journey with a quiet regret, saying, “I wish I had done that one thing.” Parker wants to be a voice that says, “Go for it. Chase it. Even if you stumble, there’s power in trying, and freedom in knowing you gave your dream a shot.”
Since moving from Brooklyn, a place buzzing with creative energy and surrounded by peers, he didn’t expect to feel so grounded somewhere new. But Hoboken surprised him. “There’s a warmth here, a quiet beauty in its streets, and a sense of belonging that runs deeper than he imagined. It feels like home in a way Brooklyn never quite did,” Parker said. He wants others to feel that too, to be part of something creative and meaningful in a place that welcomes newcomers with open arms.
Parker’s local favorites: Sweven + Antique 112
Keep up with Parker and his projects on his website and Instagram.
Mara Alessi | Alessea by Mara
Mara Alessi is a proud New Jerseyan, born and raised in North Caldwell. She had friends all throughout Northern New Jersey, and after attending a party in Hoboken, Mara fell in love with the Mile Square, where she has now called home for the last eight years. Mara loves the Hoboken community, where she spends time supporting fellow small businesses and being a dog mom to her pup, Shaggy.
Mara is a creative who takes pride in fitness and wellness. Her passions sparked the creation of her business, which was inspired by her beach runs. Whenever Mara would go for a run, she would get distracted by the unique seashells and seaglass she’d come across along the way. Mara shared that the seaglass “was just too pretty and needed to be honored,” which led to her vast collections of seashells and the creation of her shop. Ever since Mara was a child, she has had a knack for creating things out of simple materials, like making flip-flops out of paper. Now, Mara’s customers get to proudly wear her seaglass creations.
Mara has previously spent time blending her passions together, spending several years working as Social Media Director at SHAPE, where she gained inspiration from fellow marketers and creatives. Currently, Mara continues to make seaglass jewelry while also writing in the fitness and wellness space as a freelance writer and brand consultant.
Keep up with Mara + her jewelry creations on Instagram and Etsy.
See More: 5 Montclair Locals to Watch This July
Vanessa Berentsen + Michaela Rubin | Co-Founders of The Loop
Photo Credit: Vanessa Berentsen + Michaela Rubin
Vanessa Berentsen and Michaela Rubin are the friends and founders behind The Loop, “a passion project born from countless closet cleanouts and conversations over wine about wanting a better, more sustainable way to shop and sell locally,” the duo shared. Through sales and various pop-up events, The Loop aims to reduce waste, make it easier for locals to sell their clothes + refresh their wardrobe, and bring the community together in the process. Vanessa + Michaela plan to host their first pop-up soon.
“We’re inspired by the belief that small, simple shifts—like cleaning out your closet or choosing to shop secondhand—can make a meaningful impact,” Vanessa and Michaela said. “There’s something uniquely satisfying about decluttering, earning a little extra cash without much effort, and knowing your once-loved pieces are getting a second life in someone else’s wardrobe. It’s a win for your wallet, your wardrobe, and the planet.”
Vanessa + Michaela’s local favorites: CycleBar, Mess Method, Hidden Grounds, + The Hive
Keep up with Vanessa, Michaela, and The Loop on Instagram and sign up to hear about their first event here.
