By SBA Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses. They announced the expansion of the SBA’s Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) network with 14 new awards. These awards aim to enhance the reach and impact of the SBA’s support…
By HWM The shisha experience is a unique blend of tradition and social interaction. Rooted in centuries-old customs, it has evolved from a simple smoking practice to a widely shared activity in many cultures. Whether enjoyed for relaxation or as a communal ritual, shisha brings people together, creating memorable moments. In the sections that follow,…
Representative Adriano Espaillat introduced the bipartisan Roberto Clemente Commemorative Coin Act earlier this Congress to honor the legacy of the altruistic Major League Baseball (MLB) star Roberto Clemente. The bill, to date, has garnered tremendous support in the U.S. House of Representatives and is near the necessary 290 cosponsors needed to bring the legislation to the House floor for consideration. “Roberto…
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Vegandale NYC 2024 recently marked another celebration of veganism outside Citi Field in Queens. NYC’s festival stop starred nearly 200 food and non-food vendors, as well as art and musical entertainment. Vegandale’s number one hype guy, Scott “Burnhard” Bernard, along with their official DJ, kept the crowd’s energy high. Aside from very long lines and some cranky attendees, the event attracted hundreds of visitors.
The vegan experience, started in 2015 by Hellenic Vincent De Paul, captivated people like Will Perrymon. Traveling across the country from Los Angeles, Perrymon witnessed the evolution of the festival, and believes Randall’s Island, last year’s location, was a better setting instead of a concrete parking lot. Perrymon advocates for tasty vegan food at his company, Lettuce Feast. The sauce used on their “Hot Honey ‘Chicken’ Sandwich” conveys the importance of flavor. Perrymon has been a vendor at Vegandale since 2018. “We noticed in 2017 there was a lack of vegan food in L.A.,” said Perrymon. “We wanted to provide an option to the community that’s quality — a lot of the stuff previously out there was pretty bad.”
Perrymon’s motto is “good food makes people happy.” “It’s an emotional feeling when you have good food,” said Perrymon. He described Lettuce Feast’s food as “nostalgic” for people who have enjoyed eating their sandwiches over the past five years. On-site revenue was a plus for Perrymon’s brand, especially with their double-fried patties and fried mushroom sandwiches.
Mushrooms are used as protein and meat substitutes for plenty of vegans. However, others love “meat-like” textures without using mushrooms. Jaime Randle, owner of Coco Bred, found a creative way to make “lobster” rolls using hearts of palm without sacrificing yummy seasonings. “When I think of vegan food, and when I have vegan food, people usually default to mushrooms and jackfruit,” said Randle. “I can’t do either of those — I must do something different.” Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Randle moved to the U.S. at two months old. “Coco Bred is definitely a mix of my birth country and New York, the place that raised me,” said Randle. Her Black woman-owned business, only four months old, will benefit from Vegandale with increased brand awareness, visibility, and name recognition.
Randle found out about Vegandale via word-of-mouth. “Everyone knows about Vegandale — it’s become so big,” said Randle. Her festival team included close friends and her young daughter. “Having my daughter here with me is incredible because what I want for her is to see that any dream she has is possible as long as you bust your butt to make it happen,” said Randle. While working hard and enjoying her first time as a vendor, Randle was also excited to visit her fellow vendors and network with other businesses. She personally shared with Amsterdam News readers to please, “Eat Coco Bred!”
Besides yummy food, vegan non-food businesses were on site, including Kultivated Hair Care. Established in 2021 by Gregory Shepherd, he created a Black-owned hair care line from a Black man’s perspective. Shepherd expressed that Black people deserve better hair care without chemicals and ingredients which may cause cancer. “I wanted to be different, I wanted to set standards, a diamond standard of hair care,” shared Shepherd. He thought the name “Kultivated,” purposely misspelled and inspired from his fraternity line, was perfect. “It was my mantra when I started my business,” said Shepherd. “I want people’s hair to grow and flourish, that’s also what ‘Kultivated’ means.” According to Shepherd, his products are 100% chemical free, and he adds healthy ingredients like vitamin E to all his oils. The ingredients in his shampoos, conditioners and other hair products are all visible on each front label.
Kultivated Hair Care also sells bonnets, edge wraps, and pillowcases. Shepherd voiced his happiness attending the festival for the first time. His sister and cousin were assisting him with sales and brand showcasing. “[Vegandale] is about exposure and customer retention,” said Shepherd. “I have the best products in the world and more people need to know about it.”
Vegandale attendee Gabrielle Hamilton, who has a shaved head, embraces her baldness. During their prolonged interaction and conversation on homemade oils, Shepherd said, “I would love for Gabrielle to use the hair oil infused with vitamin E. It will make her skin super smooth, super shiny — she’s going to love it.”
“I actually make my homemade oils, so everything that he has in this oil, I [already] use myself,” said Hamiliton. “I want someone to make it for me who is trusted and a Black beautiful human being — I’m absolutely going to be purchasing.”
Shepherd appeared very authentic and thoughtful with his products. “I’m thankful for this interview,” said Shepherd. “I’m proud to be a Black business owner.” Vegandale returns to NYC in September 2025.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Louis A. Molina today made an announcement. They announced that 100 percent of the city’s 12,500 heavy-duty and off-road vehicles have completed the transition to renewable diesel, making New York City the first major East Coast city to implement this green technology at such a large scale. The transition will…
Luxury and private villas are incomparable to anything else when it comes to privacy and relaxation. Whether it is a romantic vacation or a fun-filled holiday with family and friends, these beautiful residences create memories worth cherishing. Being equipped with good architectural designs, luxurious features, and wonderful places, the meaning of holidaying is changed with…
Local business and community leaders, joined by JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, met in Harlem to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the bank’s Harlem Community Center branch. The celebration featured a roundtable discussion of the branch’s progress thus far and what further work needs to be done.
“We’re celebrating the five year anniversary of the initiative that started in Harlem, like many other things in black culture,” said Jason Patton, northeast division head of community and business development at JP Morgan Chase. “Our community is telling us it’s working, and we listen to our community.”
The branch, launched in 2019, was Chase’s first community center in the U.S. Since then, 18 more community branches have been established nationwide. This spring, a new community center branch opened on Grand Concourse in the Bronx. The newest addition in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood opened Wednesday afternoon after the roundtable.
Harlem was chosen as the location of the first community center branch due to its proximity to JP Morgan Chase’s headquarters on 270 Park Avenue, said Diedra Porche, national head of community and business development, consumer banking. The branch was designed to help build community trust in financial institutions.
Jianna Smith photos
JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon joined local community leaders at the roundtable. Photo credit: Jiana Smith.
Local community leaders celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Harlem Community Center branch with a roundtable discussion on the location’s impact and future. Photo credit: Jiana Smith.
Art at the Chase’s Harlem Community Center branch. The branch aims to be a welcoming space for the community to improve financial literacy and wellness. Photo credit: Jiana Smith.
Local restaurateur Melba Wilson and Diedra Porche, national head of community and business development, consumer banking at JP Morgan Chase, at the roundtable event. Photo credit: Jiana Smith.
JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon joined local community leaders at the roundtable. Photo credit: Jiana Smith.
Porché told the AmNews that the branch represented partnership.
“When we started this initiative, it was really about us going out into the community and inviting people back in,” Porché said. “From there, we partnered with [key community leaders and stakeholders] to figure out what a space for a community center would look like.”
Porché said that Chase aimed to provide community members with an inviting space to learn financial literacy and work towards financial stability. This involves creating programming such as Credit Journey, which helps clients improve their credit, and their Coaching for Impact program for entrepreneurs.
“We help small businesses grow and consumers get access to the services they need to buy homes and build wealth,” Porché said during the roundtable. “That’s really what it’s all about.”
The Harlem community branch has seen the highest increase of secure checking accounts of all Central Harlem Chase locations since it opened, according to a report made available at the event. Around 125 entrepreneurs have completed its Coaching for Impact program, and its business deposit customers have grown by around 51 percent since its opening in September 2019 according to Chase.
During the roundtable, led by Nichol King, executive director of community banking at Chase, participants discussed the branch’s impact on their businesses, organizations and the wider Harlem community.
Sharene Wood, founder of Harlem Haberdashery and a Coaching for Impact program alumnus, said that the Harlem Community Branch has not only offered entrepreneurs capital but also the resources and network opportunities to scale their businesses.
“Those are going to be what helps the community and other entrepreneurs grow,” said Wood. “Not just access to capital, but access to strategy and strategic partners that help them thrive, not just survive.”
“We have a lot of people that come into this community, and they make withdrawals,” said Melba Wilson, Harlem restaurateur and TV personality. “Chase makes deposits.”
Wilson said that while the Harlem Community Branch has helped the community, it could be more proactive about making sure entrepreneurs of color are approved for loans.
She said she started her restaurant Melba in 2005 with around $312,000 stored under her mattress. She was told by a bank she would have difficulty getting a loan as a restaurant owner.
According to a report from Stanford’s Institute for Economic Policy Research, black entrepreneurs are less likely to apply for bank loans than white entrepreneurs because they fear rejection.
When they do apply, black entrepreneurs are also three times less likely to be approved or fully approved.
“People are afraid to come into a bank,” Wilson said. “How do we reach out to those people that still have a dream that has not been realized?”
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase, encouraged the continued growth of the Harlem branch.
“We’re not just doing it for JP Morgan,” Dimon said at the roundtable. “We’re doing it to lift up society, which I think is a very important thing that people do.”
