Bernadette Ferrara's Biography

Photo courtesy of Bernadette Ferrara

My name is Bernadette Ferrara, born, educated, raised my son and still live in Van Nest, a diverse community in the East Bronx. I am a working middle-class Bronx resident from a family of immigrants, and a single mother with deep roots in my Bronx communities. I’ve served on Community Board 11 representing Van Nest since 2008 and presently Chair the Education, Culture & Youth Services Committee; am a founding member and current President of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance (VNNA) a 501c3 formed in 2010 and sit on the Board of the Morris Park Business Improvement District (MPBID). I am a passionate community leader and fierce advocate for my Van Nest community.

My grandparents immigrated to America from Sicily and Calabria in the early 1900s, and settled in the Van Nest area. My family taught me to express my love for my community, and for my country, through service. My grandfather was a WWI Veteran; during WWII, my father served on the front lines in Germany as a paratrooper; and my older brother, who is a member of the Theodore Korony American Legion Post #253 in the Bronx, served aboard the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War.

Since age three, I’ve been drawing and have won honorable mentions for my paintings. Graduating from St. Dominic’s Grammar School and St. Helena's Business High School, I continued my love of art by attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan and received my Associate of Arts from Parsons School of Design. From 1976 to 1980, my career began as a Graphic Designer in Manhattan. My freelance Computer Graphic Design career developed in 1981 with work on premises and remotely at my home studio. I have also served as an Adjunct Professor at Lehman College and CUNY in the Heights teaching Photoshop.

As a life-long animal advocate, I am committed to making a difference in the lives of animals and their owners and advocated to get the Bronx its own, much needed animal shelter which is scheduled to have its groundbreaking in the Spring of 2023. My first community service started 20+ years ago as a certified TNR (trap-neuter-release) animal rescuer and founded “Animals Saved by God's Grace” on Petfinder, which provides volunteer animal rescue/adoption services.

Over the years, I’ve been awarded numerous Certificates of Merit and Achievement from Bronx elected officials for my outstanding vision, dedication and commitment to community excellence.

June 2011 – Graduated from the 14-week Citizens Police Academy Program.

June 2017 – Selected by The BronxTimes Reporter as one of the 25 Influential Bronx Women.

October 2017 – Honored by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce celebrating its Italian Heritage Luncheon.