Yana Dessev assists seniors with navigating systems that affect their health and everyday lives. She attends Hudson Valley Gay Soccer, volunteers at the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network health committee and loves going to Upstate Midtown and on walks around Sojourner Truth State Park. She is also exploring the world of papier mâché mask-making. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Kingston Wire: How did you or your family come to Kingston?

Yana Dessev: On a hunch. I spent a long time in New Orleans and I had someone who lives here who I share a best friend with. I came to visit this person and I felt a spiritual draw to Kingston. My hunch couldn’t have been more right. That was a question when I first moved to Kingston – so many people asked me and I felt really nervous to answer because I thought I needed a really grandiose reason to move my life across the country. But I realized that the answer to other people doesn’t really matter and I just needed to trust my gut that this was the right decision.

KW: What do you like about Kingston?

YD: I like the interconnectedness that I easily tapped into. It’s kind of like an older way of connecting here with your neighbors and friends and it feels supportive, it feels like I’m a part of the city rather than just living here. I feel like I can contribute and affect change and that’s what makes it meaningful. It’s meaningful because we believe it’s meaningful.

KW: What would you change about Kingston?

YD: More late-night grub! And more places to go dancing.

KW: How do you think Kingston will be different in 10 years?

YD: I don’t know. I don’t think that feels like an important question to me. I’d rather live in the moment because I’m going to spiral if I ask myself that question, so I guess no comment.