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The New Jersey Business Immigration Coalition is accepting nominations for the 2023 New Jersey Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards.

There is no fee to enter, and nominations close on June 1. Awards will be given in these categories: Growth, Advocacy, Innovation, Sustainability, Leadership, Nonprofit Entrepreneurship, and Entrepreneur of the Year.

Go to https://njbusinessimmigration.org/nominations/ to nominate an entrepreneur.

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To cap Bronx Week, Borough President Vanessa Gibson and partners hosted their first-ever prom dress and suit giveaway last Friday at Bronx Borough Hall. Hundreds of Black and brown teens lined up around the block to get gear-and-glammed out for free.

“This is a wonderful time to celebrate young people,” said Gibson. “Many families face hardships and can’t afford to go hard at prom for their kids, especially if they have more than one kid. It brings such joy to my heart to see these kings and queens. I want them to look and feel beautiful.” 

Inside the borough hall, about 2,000 prom dresses and hundreds of young men’s suits hung on racks along the walls. Down the middle of the space were tables adorned with free jewelry, shoes, and accessories. Adjacent to that was a huge red carpet runway lined with festive balloons. In the back, volunteers led students to changing rooms where they could try on the donated outfits.

District Attorney Darcel Clarke’s office donated about 300 dresses and more than 100 suits to the event. She said everyone from staff to vendors and community members was eager to donate outfits. From a public safety angle, Clarke said that the giveaway gets teens engaged during a crucial time for them.

RELATED: Sen. Kevin Parker hosts 12th annual Prom Dress Giveaway

“They want to look their best—to be encouraged and valued,” said Clarke. “It’s empowering for them.” 

Every student who found an ensemble they liked got the chance to be introduced in the outfit to the buzzing crowd, strut down the runway, and be crowned as they posed for pictures. The event had a giddy energy that blended seamlessly with the vibrant dance music. Wide smiles were in abundance.

Rahmatu Sulley, 20, was the first person to find a dress she liked. She skipped down the runway and then hugged volunteers before searching for matching shoes. According to her aunt, who accompanied her, Sulley is autistic and her mother had died.

“I’m going to cry,” said Sulley’s aunt. 

Destini Nixon, 17, a student at the Bronx High School of Business, modeled a long black gown with her white braids pinned up. She laughed and waved at the cameras on the carpet when it was her turn to walk. “Black is my favorite color,” she said about why she chose the dress.

Lesly Calixto, 18, is a student at Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics. She came to the giveaway with her father, who chose a bright-magenta dress for her. She said he’s been choosing her clothes all her life and she trusts his fashion sense.

Barbers offered free haircuts and a beauty glam van parked outside offered free makeovers, lashes, and henna tattoos. 

The event was sponsored by Gibson and community partners, and mainly coordinated by Not On My Watch Executive Director Pamela Damon. 

Damon said she’s been working in prom impact and nonprofit events centered around youth empowerment for more than 10 years. She began organizing her first prom dress giveaway with a girls’ group in Queens. It grew so much in popularity that eventually the NYPD assisted in sponsoring and hosting with her. When she moved to the Bronx, she continued her work at the girls’ empowerment center. 

Eustace Collens, an over-50 male model and former correctional officer, was assisting on the boys’ side. He said he turned to mentorship because he feels nobody is teaching and listening to kids. 

Someone who has not had much feels left out, Collens. “I didn’t have name brands and kids laughed at me, but with a new dress or a suit, you can just feel like a new person.” 
Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.

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Nestled within the nation’s capital, the historic Howard University stands, its hallowed halls echoing with the pulsating hopes and dreams of a generation eager to carve out their niche in the world. This illustrious institution, a historically Black university, has always been a beacon, a lighthouse guiding ambitious, capable minds to the shores of success. In its classrooms, future engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and industry titans are forged, eager to script their unique narratives in the annals of American history.

When President Biden took to the podium at Howard’s 2023 commencement, one would have reasonably expected him to inspire, to offer words soaked in wisdom and insight, to breathe life into visions of a future shimmering with promise. But the president chose a different path, deciding to dwell on race—a significant, yet singular aspect of our shared experience as a nation.

There is no denying that race forms an integral part of our national tapestry, but it is not the whole picture. The young men and women at Howard are not just “Black” students. They are, first and foremost, individuals—each with a distinct set of aspirations, a unique set of challenges to overcome, and a personal catalog of triumphs. They are America’s next generation of leaders, a diverse cohort whose interests and concerns span far beyond the confines of race. 

As such, their graduation ceremony shouldn’t be about race; it should not be marred by the president of the United States declaring “white supremacy” as the “most dangerous terrorist threat” to the nation. Remarks that categorize individuals as threats based on their race, ethnicity, or beliefs are not suitable for a graduation event—a time meant for rejoicing in accomplishments, rather than delving into divisive topics.

By placing such an unwavering focus on race, we risk minimizing these young people to a single facet of their identity. We subtly imply that their most pressing concern should be the color of their skin, rather than the weight of their thoughts, the grandeur of their dreams, and the potential impact of their actions. We seem to forget the variety of subjects that could, and should, be addressed: economic policy, global diplomacy, technological advancements, climate change. These are the challenges and opportunities of their era—the real concerns that need addressing.

Let us not forget, it is 2023, not 1963. The world around us continues to transform, and our conversations need to reflect this evolution. We must acknowledge the complexity and diversity of thought that exists within the African American community, and not confine them within the walls of an oversimplified narrative that fixates on their race.

As we step into the future, our demands from our leaders must grow. We must demand an acknowledgment and appreciation of the full range of our experiences, the richness of our dreams, and the diversity of our identities. We must strive for a discourse that values us not just for the color of our skin but for the quality of our ideas, the depth of our character, and the breadth of our potential.

The horizon is just opening up for the Class of 2023. Each one of them is embarking on a journey that is unique, challenging, and filled with promise. To them, I say: You are more than a label. You are more than the color of your skin. You are the embodiment of the American Dream. This Dream is as varied, as complex, and as wonderfully unique as each one of you.

Each one of you carries within you the power to effect change, the potential to shape the future, and the capacity to redefine the narrative. And that narrative should not be one that is confined by the color of your skin. It should be a narrative that is shaped by the breadth of your ideas, the depth of your insights, and the strength of your resolve.

The world is waiting to hear your stories, so go out there, challenge the status quo, break the stereotypes, and rewrite the narrative. Show the world that you are more than just a label, that you are a force to be reckoned with. 

In doing so, remember that your journey is not defined by your race, but by the power of your intellect, the tenacity of your spirit, and the purity of your ambition. It’s not your color that determines your value, but your values themselves, your commitment to excellence, and your willingness to stand for what is right.

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* This article was originally published here