Paola Velez

Paola Velez is a pastry chef and social justice activist known for her work at Milk Bar and Maydan in Washington, D.C. Born on December 16, 1990, in New York, Velez grew up in The Bronx and was exposed to the culinary world through her mother's work at a Tex-Mex restaurant. She developed a passion for fresh produce and cooking during her summers in the Dominican Republic. Velez studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando, Florida, and trained under renowned chocolatier Jacques Torres. In 2020, she co-founded the organization Bakers Against Racism and opened the donut pop-up shop Doña Dona. Velez currently resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband.