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Queens Chamber of Commerce hosts Business Persons of the Year 2022

Jessica Meditz on December 14, 2022

By Jessica Meditz

jmeditz@queensledger.com

Loycent Gordon, owner of Neir’s Tavern in Woodhaven, with their mascot.

Last Tuesday, some of Queens’ most prominent movers and shakers were honored by the Queens Chamber of Commerce at their 2022 Business Persons of the Year Awards Gala.

Family, friends, partners and sponsors gathered at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park to honor seven influential business people in the borough: Serge Abergel, CEO of Hydro Québec Energy Services; Rachelle Antoine, Manager External Affairs & Community Outreach Manager at Port Authority of New York & New Jersey for the JFK Redevelopment Program; Kevin O’Connor, CEO of DIME Community Bank; Loycent Gordon, owner and proprietor of Neir’s Tavern; Dr. Stacie NC Grant, Community Advisory Council Facilitator for the JFK Redevelopment Program; Peter Kapsalis, CEO and owner of Cine Magic LLC Studios; and Dr. Edwin Simpser, president and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children.

Queens Chamber of Commerce’s President and CEO Tom Grech also took the opportunity to applaud how far Queens has come since the pandemic, bouncing back from many losses in the business community.

Tom Grech, CEO and President of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, took the opportunity to applaud how far Queens has come since the pandemic.

“Queens turned the corner starting in early 2022 with COVID in the rearview mirror and our momentum has only

grown since then,” Grech said in a statement.

“Just over the past few weeks, we have learned about a new soccer stadium, 2,500 deeply affordable housing units, a new hotel and school at Willets Point, a well-deserved final approval of Innovation QNS in Astoria and a signed contract and start to the redevelopment of JFK,” he continued. “All-in, these public and private investments total near $25 billion…and all in Queens.”

Before the seven business people received their awards, the Queens Chamber surprised its Chief Operating Officer, Joanne Persad, with an honorary Business Person of the Year award for her hard work and dedication to keeping all things running smoothly.

The Queens Chamber of Commerce is at the forefront of major projects in Queens, including the massive $18 billion JFK Redevelopment Program — in which honorees Antoine and Grant play major roles in. Both women feel incredibly honored to have received the award.

“It’s humbling to know that others see your efforts in trying to create space for others…Even during COVID, keeping the community encouraged through a very challenging time by offering free resources and using media as a way to connect and to create space for a very confusing time we were all witnessing,” Grant said. “I believe wherever you live, you should also serve — and it’s my honor to serve Queens.”

Dr. Stacie NC Grant

Throughout the evening, attendees and honorees remarked about the beauty of Queens’ diversity, and how every person has their own story to tell.

Kapsalis, of Cine Magic LLC Studios, recalled how his parents emigrated to the U.S. from Greece with just $17 in their pockets, and is proud to now be the owner and CEO of a roughly 100,000-square-foot studio operation in Long Island City.

Neir’s Tavern owner and proprietor, Loycent Gordon, reflected on his experience as an immigrant who arrived in the U.S. at the age of 10, and struggled academically. He went on to preserve the well-loved establishment in the community, after it was at risk of shuttering after an increase in rent.

“I came into Neir’s Tavern seeing that it was going to close. The long forgotten place that was special, just as I felt I was, but wasn’t given the love,” Gordon said. “This was my opportunity to give back. What if I could save one of America’s oldest places as an immigrant, as my service.”

After the awardees delivered heartfelt speeches upon accepting their awards, the energetic crowd of attendees danced the night away, looking forward to the advancements in tech and business to come into the borough they call home.

Fogo de Chão cuts ribbon in Elmhurst

Jessica Meditz on December 7, 2022

Brazilian steakhouse experience comes to Queens

By Jessica Meditz

[email protected]

General manager Katie Calvin cut the ribbon with a Brazilian gaucho knife.

Queens residents are now able to enjoy a Brazilian steakhouse experience without having to travel far.

Fogo de Chão, an internationally renowned restaurant founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, has finally opened its doors in Elmhurst at 92-50 59th Avenue.

The location’s team as well as supporters gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 30 to commemorate the achievement and indulge in a night of fine dining.

Fogo de Chão’s Elmhurst location faced some construction-related delays before it could officially open on Nov. 25. The upscale chain boasts five locations in New York and 67 worldwide.

Katie Calvin, general manager, said she feels proud to hear all the positive feedback from the community, and is excited to welcome more guests to the restaurant.

“I don’t think there’s anything like this in Queens. Some people have said about our bar that they don’t see something like this unless they go to the city,” she said. “It’s been really good feedback. We had around 400 people on Saturday and 200 people on Friday.”

Fogo de Chão is well known for their churrasco experience, which involves continuous tableside service of signature cuts of fire roasted meat. Fraidinha and Picanha are among the variety of meats offered.

They offer a buffet-style market table, which includes fresh charcuterie meats, fruits, salads and more, starting at $15 per person.

Among Fogo de Chão’s variety of options is their market table, including charcuterie meats, fresh fruits and more.

Fogo de Chão also has delectable brunch and lunch options, as well as a full bar complete with small plates, happy hour deals and special cocktails. Caipirinha, the national drink of Brazil made with Silver Cachaça, is a popular favorite on the menu.

Calvin said that 102 employees currently work at the new Fogo de Chão location, and that she could actually hire a few more.

Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, commended Fogo de Chão for bringing so many new job opportunities to the borough, and said that he will continue to support and visit the restaurant.

“We all know that New York City, frankly, has been lagging in the recovery post-COVID. But it’s commitments like these people from Fogo that helped get us back,” he said.

Fogo de Chão continues to show its support to the community. Back in August, the restaurant partnered with Queens Together at First Baptist Church of Elmhurst to provide fresh, high quality meals to over 1,500 locals.

Calvin added that Fogo de Chão donated 10 percent of their opening week sales to Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar’s foundation, where he provides children in Venezuela with baseball materials, opportunities, food and supplies.

The Fogo team is open to more charitable opportunities in the future, and strives to cater to each guest’s dietary needs, making their dining experience unique.

“Our mission is to ignite fire and joy with our team, our guests and our community. We understand that we all lived through the last few years, but what it means to be in a community in our industry is so valuable to us,” said Barry McGowan, CEO of Fogo de Chão.

“Restaurants make up the soul of every community, and we want to be a valued part of that,” he continued. “We are very grateful to be here.”

Calvin cut the ribbon to commemorate the occasion with a Brazilian gaucho sword, paying homage to the unique culture Fogo de Chão will expose so many residents to.

Heritage Kulfi expands market to NYC

webadmin on November 16, 2022

By Stephanie Meditz

[email protected]

Cardamom chai, rosewater and saffron are just a few of the unique flavors sold by Heritage Kulfi.

Heritage Kulfi, a family-owned business with a unique spin on the popular South Asian dessert, continues to spread to markets around the country.

Born in Manhattan to Pakistani parents, Mansoor Ahmed founded Heritage Kulfi in 2020.

After years of experience in the frozen dessert industry, he was inspired to bring his South Asian heritage to a wider audience.

“In 2020, with the onset of COVID and how everything was being impacted, I just had to take a step back and try to create something that was entirely mine and something new and innovative in which I could be creative,” he said.

“It also speaks to my own identity, the foods I grew up with, and something that’s new to the world of frozen desserts.”

Heritage Kulfi founder and CEO Mansoor Ahmed brings something new to the world of ice cream.

Kulfi is a creamy, dense, South Asian frozen dessert that is traditionally served in popsicle form.

By making kulfi into an ice cream-like texture, Ahmed brings something new to the table while still honoring his roots.

He also incorporates ingredients and flavors commonly found in South Asian cuisine, including cardamom chai, rosewater and saffron.

“Our flavors that we offer, you won’t find anywhere else,” Ahmed said. “That’s keeping in line with traditionally what kulfi is, but also being innovative in using these ingredients in a particular way.”

Ahmed ensures that the ice cream is made with authentic ingredients every step of the way.

He sources Alphonso mangoes directly from India to use in his products.

“I find one ingredient that I want to focus on, find the best one and give it that space to breathe and shine,” he said.

“Between all our flavors, you’ll find high butter fat content, which means that they’re very creamy. And we slow-cook all of our ingredients directly into the ice cream mix. What that does is it allows for a very bold, infused flavor profile.”

Heritage Kulfi is on the shelf in various markets in the five boroughs, such as Lincoln Market across Brooklyn, Tariq Halal Meats in Flushing, as well as Key Food Supermarkets and Vitelio’s Marketplace locations throughout Queens, but the company expands its reach daily.

“I’m really excited to make the product available to more and more people…I’m working to add several hundred accounts in the next few months,” Ahmed said. “It’s really about continuously exploring these ingredients and trying to bring something new and exciting to the world of ice cream.”

In addition to several new flavors, Heritage Kulfi will see a line of vegan ice cream early next year.

Based in Princeton, N.J., Ahmed delivers his ice cream to markets around the tri-state area in an ice cream truck of sorts.

“It’s not your traditional ice cream truck, but because of my background in frozen distribution, one of the most exciting parts was being connected to store owners and also getting feedback from actual customers,” he said. “You can find my truck going around and visiting stores, but also keeping in touch.”

Ahmed is thrilled to share his kulfi creations with one of the most diverse cities in the world.

“Kulfi is obviously Queens. Everyone knows about kulfi in a certain way,” he said. “It’s a twist on kulfi…so I hope that people will try it. Even though certain flavors are kind of mainstream, like coconut or vanilla bean, you’ll find that ours has a different style to it. People will often say, ‘This is the best vanilla we’ve ever tasted.’”

To learn more about Heritage Kulfi and where to purchase a 16oz pint, visit their website, https://heritagekulfi.com.

Goldfish Swim School cuts ribbon in Atlas Park

Jessica Meditz on November 9, 2022

By Jessica Meditz

[email protected]

Goldfish Swim School staff, local leaders and community members gathered at the new location to celebrate the ribbon cutting.

Goldfish Swim School commemorated the recent grand opening of its Glendale location inside The Shops at Atlas Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 2.

Staff members, community supporters, local elected officials and even their mascot, Bubbles, joined in on the celebration of the neighborhood’s new addition. The Glendale location marks the third Goldfish Swim School in Queens, with the others located in Astoria and Flushing.

Dedicated to teaching children between the ages of four months and 12 years of age the life-saving skill of swimming, Goldfish Swim School strives to do so in a fun, friendly and safe environment.

Goldfish Swim School’s mascot, Bubbles.

Parents in the community have expressed their need for a local swim school for years, according to Rafael Gonzalez, the location’s general manager.

“We’re very prideful that we’re physically here, to help with the mall and to service the community,” he said. “We’re very happy to fill the need of the community, and hope to continue working with community outreach, our local partners here, and have fun in the water.”

Gonzalez added that Goldfish Swim School operates on a proprietary corporate swim structure, meaning that all swim instructors are taught how to properly teach their swim curriculum.

The team focuses on teaching the Science of SwimPlay®, which involves interactive swim lessons encouraging education and skill-building in a play-based environment.

They offer swim education to children of all experience levels, from parent and child classes to Swim Force, which Gonzalez described as a “mock interpretation of a swim team” for their most advanced swimmers.

Held in partnership with the Queens Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Tom Grech emphasized that the addition of a new business in the borough expands job opportunities for residents and further meets the needs of the community.

Goldfish Swim School currently has 35 employees and seeks to expand to 50.

Atlas Park General Manager Peter DeLucia congratulated them on their opening and noted that Goldfish went through a difficult process before opening on Oct. 6, citing DOB-related issues, construction delays and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s a great team here,” DeLucia said. “I’ve been very impressed with their operations; they’re great partners.”

According to the CDC, more children ages one to four die from drowning than any other cause of death in the U.S.

New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo and Councilman Robert Holden both stressed the importance of water safety for young children, and thanked Goldfish Swim School for the valuable services and skills they provide to the district.

From left to right: Addabbo, Grech, Gonzalez, Holden, DeLucia

“Up in Albany, we have about three pieces of legislation that talk about water safety in terms of saving a life,” Addabbo said. “Somebody could drown in just three inches of water. We’re all about fun, but just as we look at water safety here, you can also be responsible for saving a life.”

Gonzalez said that the swim school sees between 300 and 350 children within a given day, and that enrollment is up to 1,840 memberships, with anticipation to hit 2,000 in the coming weeks.

The facility offers an indoor swimming pool heated year-round, a state-of-the-art water purification system, a viewing area for parents, modern training equipment and tools, a private space for parties and events, an in-house snack bar and shop and a hair drying station, swimsuit dryers and private changing rooms.

Goldfish Swim School’s Atlas Park location is open from 3:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It is located where The Fair used to be, across from HomeGoods and to the left of Ulta Beauty.

Parents can visit their website or call 929-294-7489 to register their young one for classes.

A community of MisFits unite

Jessica Meditz on September 14, 2022

Business owner creates safe space through health, fitness

Anthony Oll-adikankwu Jr. started MisFits Nutrition with the intention of creating a safe space.

By Jessica Meditz

[email protected]

Growing up, Queens Village native Anthony Oll-adikankwu Jr. always felt like he didn’t fit in, or a misfit, if you will.

He has since reclaimed the word and turned it into something positive for himself and others when he opened MisFits Nutrition on Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills.

Although MisFits Nutrition is listed as a vitamin supplement shop online, Oll-adikankwu Jr. said that his business’ mission encompasses so much more.

As a licensed practical nurse since 2012, health has always been important to Oll-adikankwu Jr. While one’s physical health is essential to their state of being, he also emphasizes the importance of mental health and having a life outside of work.

That is a main component of what motivated him to open up his business.

“People on Wall Street are committing suicide. You make tons of money, but your relationship with your child is strange, you’re never there, you can never make practices, you’re never there for your lover. It takes a toll. That’s not the kind of life that I want.” he said.

“It’s not just about making money…there’s plenty of things I could do just to make money,” he emphasized. “It’s about creating a space where people can come. A lot of people are dealing with depression. I’ve had people come in here, not even knowing me, they just come in, they feel good.”

Oll-adikankwu Jr. said that many people have entered his business to purchase an energy drink or snack, and have felt comfortable confiding in him about their hardships, which is exactly what he hoped for when envisioning MisFits.

MisFits Nutrition’s storefront.

The storefront is adorned with a Black-owned business flag and LGBTQ Pride flag, and the interior features a wall of positive affirmations in different languages to symbolize the diversity of Queens.

“I’m creating a space that’s not just a shake spot, but where people can come in and feel better and talk to a stranger in here. In Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, for example, people are very secluded and they just want you out the door,” he said. “People come in here, not knowing each other and they’ll be friendly enough to talk to each other. I’m creating a space, a safe haven, a judgment free zone where people can come to.”

Oll-adikankwu Jr. opened MisFits Nutrition four years ago, and runs the business on his own — along with the support of his family and the community at large.

As an Herbalife nutrition club, MisFits Nutrition offers a variety of healthy consumption options on its menu, including energy teas, shakes, bowls and donuts. Oll-adikankwu Jr. also sells a wide variety of supplements to promote a healthy lifestyle.

As a former personal trainer, Oll-adikankwu Jr. offers dance cardio classes every Tuesday and Saturday to keep the community active.

To contribute to the welcoming atmosphere of MisFits, he also offers various activities for people to take part in, including karaoke, game night and Sip N’ Paint, which is co-hosted by Tahina Marcette, who operates Marcette Studio.

MisFits Nutrition’s decor creates a welcoming vibe for all who enter.

“I wanted to create an outlet that’s family-oriented and not alcohol-centered for people to bring their family, kids and friends to be with one another and talk to other people,” Oll-adikankwu Jr. said.

Reflecting on his time spent donating drinks to healthcare workers at local hospitals, he brought up how the sudden switch up on the “healthcare heroes” trend of the COVID-19 pandemic left a bad taste in his mouth.

“People started appreciating nurses, and the pandemic created this trend of ‘healthcare heroes.’ I was collecting donations to deliver drinks to the hospitals not only to promote the business, but to kind of show that I’m trying to do something as well,” he said.

In fact, Goldman Sachs reached out to him with a proposition to contract him to deliver 100 shakes per day to the hospitals.

This was a challenge due to the fact that MisFits Nutrition is a one-man operation.

“I would always get new customers, but it was stressful,” he continued. “Goldman Sachs then extended the contract for another month, but when COVID numbers started dropping, and they canceled the contract.”

He wishes people on a larger scale would support healthcare workers and appreciate their work without an extenuating circumstance.

However, his customers are extremely supportive and believe in his mission.

“I go to Aesthetic Solutions right here, and I passed the shop. I saw the Black-owned sign and immediately went in. I just started my fitness journey, so I’m looking for all alternatives and not giving up my favorite, good foods and sweets,” said Maddie Felton, a regular customer.

“It’s a part of my routine, coming here. There’s just so many options and it makes it easier to stick to my meal plan without giving up the stuff I love.”

A fitness lover or not, Oll-adikankwu Jr. encourages all who are interested in nutritious drinks and snacks along with fun, interactive activities to stop by.

For updates and more information, follow MisFits Nutrition on social media.

Fogo de Chão partners with Queens Together to feed locals

Jessica Meditz on August 15, 2022

First Queens location to open in Elmhurst later this year

By Jessica Meditz

[email protected]

Fogo de Chão, an internationally renowned restaurant founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, will soon make its Queens debut.

Later this year, the restaurant will open a brand new location next to Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst—marking its first Queens location, fifth in New York and 67th globally.

In preparation and celebration of the upcoming opening, Fogo de Chão partnered with Queens Together, an organization formed during the COVID-19 lockdown to address food insecurity.

Last Friday, the two groups came together at First Baptist Church of Elmhurst to provide fresh, high quality meals to over 1,500 community residents.

Fogo de Chão and volunteers worked together to provide people with meats butchered and prepared on their full-sized mobile churrasco grills.

Folks enjoyed their signature churrasco-style meats—Fraidinha and Picanha—along with mixed greens and their well-loved potato salad.

“Coming to Queens is such an amazing opportunity for us because it’s the most culturally diverse city and borough, and that’s what we love to do at Fogo,” Katie Calvin, general manager of Fogo de Chão, said.

“Especially for people who are from Latino or Hispanic countries, they often don’t have somewhere to go that feels like home,” she continued. “That’s why we love that we’re coming to Queens; we’re really excited.”

In addition to the Queens event, Fogo de Chão is committed to providing for the communities they serve, and arranges for mobile events to take place across the U.S.

Queens Together was also proud of their presence at the event, continuing their mission of empowering, representing and supporting the local restaurant community, as well as Queens residents in need.

We’re just trying to be a forward-facing program. We try to close all the gaps and connect people with food and services, and with restaurants in general, our biggest thing is trying to help them stay in business,” Devin Kloss, media director at Queens Together, said.

“Our goal is just to be somebody that they can call when they have a question, and then either we’ll find out the answer, or we’ll find the person to get them the answer,” he continued. “That’s really our goal.”

Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar helped prepare food at the event.

Also in attendance was third baseman for the Mets, Eduardo Escobar, who is a big fan of the restaurant.

“It was actually a really organic, beautiful connection that was made with Eduardo. He started to eat at Fogo, and we started to hear him saying, ‘Fogo power,’ and ‘I play better after Fogo,’” Calvin said.

“Now we have luckily have a really tight-bonded relationship, and a percentage of our sales go to his foundation, where he provides to kids mostly in Venezuela with baseball materials, opportunities, food and supplies.”

Escobar spoke fondly of Fogo de Chão as he helped prepare the meats that went out into the community, and is happy that the restaurant so close to his heart is now physically close to him, where he plays baseball.

“The food is just so delicious, and I love everything about it. The people are also so nice,” Escobar said.

“Everything they’re doing to help the community is so important and special, and this is an amazing opportunity,” he continued. “God bless this restaurant. The food helps me feel at home.”

Local businesses display their work at QEDC’s Queens Rises Higher

webadmin on June 30, 2022

Creativity and dedication shine through the stories of local business owners

By Juan Arturo Trillo

[email protected]

Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District played host to Queens Rises Higher, a street market by the Queens Economic Development Corporation that allows local creators and business owners to exhibit and sell their passions and products.

Market in Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District

The market occurred on Saturday, June 25 from noon to 5 p.m., and included live music. The businesses encompassed various sectors, including art, food, and others.

Bianca, founder of Bianca’s Design Shop, said “I just aim to support and be inclusive to all.” Through Bianca’s Design Shop, she creates apparel and accessories that are inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community.

Bianca loves the sense of community which can be found in Queens, and hopes that it continues to remain inclusive.

Gisela’s small business, “Scent by Heaven,” is a small candle store that began in Forest Hills in 2019.

Talisa’s setup for Almonte Studios at the fair

However, candle making had been one of her hobbies before she started the business. It is one of her ways of expressing her creativity.

She started the business so that she could spend more time with her son, who has autism.

Now, Gisela loves that she gets to pursue a passion of hers while also dedicating time to her son.

Illustrator Talisa Almonte founded Almonte Studios, a business where she sells various art prints, earrings, stickers, stationery, and “whatever [she] can get [her] work on.”

Because Talisa does not have a brick-and-mortar store, she appreciates that the fair allows her to connect with the Queens community and other local businesses.

“There’s really no place like Queens,” Talisa said.

NYC Comptroller visits Flushing businesses

Jessica Meditz on May 18, 2022

Lander connects local business owners to city resources

As part of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander ventured out into the streets of downtown Flushing last week to visit with Asian-owned small businesses.

Lander met with Flushing BID Director Dian Yu to speak with businesses in Downtown Flushing.

Dian Yu, executive director of Flushing’s Business Improvement District, met with Lander, intent on engaging in dialogue with entrepreneurs, learning more about their day-to-day lives, hearing their concerns, and connecting them with the appropriate city resources to best meet their needs.

“Asian American small businesses are such an important part of New York City. Many of them had a hard time during the pandemic; from the very beginning, they were some of the first businesses that were hit,” Lander said.

“But if we’re going to have the recovery that brings the city back and brings people opportunities to start businesses and get them jobs to thrive in New York City, it’s going to run through businesses like this.”

Lander’s first stop was to meet with Robert Cheng, the owner of Golden Shopping Mall on Main Street.

The mall was forced to shut down as the result of a fire, but Cheng renovated his property and brought in new tenants.

Cheng’s chief complaint was the fact that a few of his tenants could not open up their businesses due to delays in getting permits approved and securing fire inspections.

“We have to open,” Cheng said. “My tenant is frustrated.”

“Everyone is ready to go and we’re just waiting,” he continued. “Once the inspection is done, they can finalize and open, because nobody wants to dump money in here to sit here for months.”

Lander supported the various businesses he visited, including Tong Ren Tang, a Chinese herbal shop.

In response, Lander called Laura Kavanagh, the FDNY fire commissioner. She acknowledged that the department is understaffed and facing time-related issues, and said that a multi-point plan to expedite the process has been brought to the attention of Mayor Eric Adams.

“The more that we can tell businesses that we’re hearing them and we’re working on this, the better for everyone,” Kavanagh said. “We want to be a part of the city’s recovery,” she continued. “So even though we’re underwater as many people are, we think the city’s recovery is as much our responsibility as anyone else’s.”

In addition to addressing the needs of businesses in Flushing, Lander also paid visits to business owners who gave back to the community during the height of the pandemic.

Maxi Lau of Maxi’s Noodle was presented with a commendation from Lander for her community service.

He presented Maxi Lau, owner of Maxi’s Noodle on 38th Avenue, and Young Jin Gee, who owns Korean beauty store Aritaum on Union Street, with commendations for their efforts.

Lau opened up her business mid-pandemic, and despite just getting started, she and her father visited local hospitals each week to donate authentic, handmade wontons to healthcare workers.

Gee, who’s been in business for over 20 years, committed herself to handing out PPE to other businesses on Union Street.

“It’s really encouraging. What we need to bring New York City back is the energy of entrepreneurs like the ones we see in Flushing today,” Lander said.
“We have to think about what the city can do to help. There’s so much entrepreneurial creativity, and in some ways it’s just the city getting out of people’s way.”

On the last stop of the tour, Lander spoke with John Park, executive director of Minkwon Center for Community Action, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving, educating, and organizing low-income Korean, Asian, and immigrant communities since 1984.

They discussed a myriad of topics including the organization’s Hate Free Zone — an initiative to create safe spaces for Asian Americans in downtown Flushing — given the rising number of hate crimes occurring in that community.

“We didn’t think we were really moving the needle with the typical tools: refining or clarifying hate crime legislation, which is important. Even if you have that kind of legislation, and we support it, it’s not a deterrent,” Park said.

Lander met with John Park executive director of Minkwon Center for Community Action to discuss issues impacting the Asian community in Flushing.

“Our approach is that moving the culture is better than moving policy, because what we do recognize is you cannot cannot legislate racism out, or we cannot police racism,” he continued. “These are not the right tools for the problems we’re trying to analyze. The right solution is actually a community-driven initiative.”

Park also brought up the issue of a lack of language accessibility within city resources for those who do not speak English.

Lander said that his office is launching the next phase in its language accessibility work, and trying to figure out how it can partner with other organizations and media to open up the conversation for those who need resources.

“Finding out how the city can help people, where the city is causing problems, or where the city could get out of people’s way is really important,” he said.
“There’s nothing like coming out and meeting people on the ground and hearing what’s working and also what we have to fix — so we can support folks like you and other entrepreneurs that are making Flushing and our whole city the place we love.”

LIC Business Wins Big at ‘Make It Awards’

Jessica Meditz on March 30, 2022

For the fifth consecutive year, the New York Knicks and Squarespace hosted the Make It Awards, which support and celebrate the small, local businesses and entrepreneurs that help New York City thrive.

Hosted at Madison Square Garden, the Make It Awards honors four winners, presenting them with a $30,000 grant to further expand their mission.

This year’s winners include Adapt Ability, a Brooklyn nonprofit that provides custom adaptive bicycles for children with special needs; Harlem Pilates, which helps make health and wellness accessible to diverse communities; Legally BLK Fund, dedicated to supporting aspiring Black women attorneys by providing them with various resources; and COVERR, a Queens-based business that provides financial services that are customized for the gig economy, empowering workers to reach their highest earning potential.

Based in Long Island City, COVERR offers workers a better alternative to a credit card or loan by eliminating traditional barriers.

Kobina Ansah, the company’s founder, said that COVERR started out by him passing out flyers and interviewing Uber/Lyft drivers in Queens, which has grown significantly since.

Kobina Ansah.

“It really started out with finding out initially that Uber drivers in New York often pay somewhere between $350 to $500 plus dollars per week to rent the car that they’ll never actually own,” Ansah said.

“It became very clear to me that more than auto finance, liquidity or just cash management was a bigger challenge for Uber drivers, and shortly after, that started providing our business financing and people started getting inquiries from other parts of the gig economy.”

Ansah said that coming from a family of Ghanaian immigrants, he knows what it’s like to be part of an underrepresented community, which is why COVERR’s mission is so important to him.

He said that when he previously worked at Wells Fargo, he did not get to support a lot of people who look like him, and is grateful to now be able to provide services to underserved market segments.

“That’s what compelled me to start to focus on people who worked in emerging markets like the gig economy, which happens to be one of the fastest growing labor segments,” he said. “It happens to be represented by over 50 percent of those who work in the U.S. economy currently are members of the BIPOC community.”

Ansah said he was stunned to have been recognized in the Make It Awards, especially upon discovering that 750 other businesses applied.

He added that with the $30,000 grant, COVERR will use the funds to help further automate the underwriting practice, which will speed up the application process for clients, creating a job board to create greater resources for all clients and research and development.

“Being in a city as vibrant as New York, I knew the competitive landscape was huge And so I feel very fortunate to be selected,” Ansah said. “Honestly, it’s an affirmation of the hard work that we do, and the importance of the work that we’re doing.”

Small Business Saturday highlights local businesses

glendaleregstg on December 1, 2021

Small businesses were given a big platform this past weekend as part of Small Business Saturday.
Over a dozen small businesses set up shop in the King Manor House Museum in Jamaica to showcase and sell their goods.
For executive director Kelsey Brow, the sight of local vendors selling their products was a special one.
“It’s a dream come true for me,” said Brow. “I moved from the suburbs of Denver to New York City on purpose to get away from big box stores.”
Brow said it was significant to lend the historic space to local vendors who might not have a brick-and-mortar store. From beauty and healthcare products to artisan jewelry, the first floor of the museum was filled with 16 small businesses, a majority of them based in Queens.
Among them were Sha’s House of Bling, JBM Jewelry, Beauty Bar and Mr. X Stock Market Academy.
“It’s really meaningful, especially because we’re in such a central location,” said Brow. “It’s exciting to have such a wide variety of vendors here today.”
The event was curated by Adrienne Whaley, executive director of the Queens Underground International Film Festival.
Whaley, an artist and entrepreneur who sells her own soaps, set up her display of products alongside the other local small businesses for the all-day event just down the road from her own studio.
“It was important before and now it’s magnified because none of these people have a storefront,” said Whaley on the support of small businesses. “Since the pandemic, it’s become even more important. Shopping online is okay, but here you can talk to the vendors and you can touch the items.”
Whaley also curated a selection of over 30 music and poetry videos that were screened in the parlor of the historic house. A room once used for entertainment purposes was repurposed for the showcase event.
“Of course they didn’t have film back then, but they would have had magic lantern shows, kind of like an old-fashioned slide projector but it was hand done,” Brow explained.
In Astoria, an outdoor holiday event brought out families to Steinway Street and 31st Avenue, where crowds were treated to carolers from Christmas Matters, a puppet show by Penny and the Puppettes, and holiday music performances by the Academia De Mariachi Nuevo Amanecer.
Sponsored by the Steinway Astoria Partnership, the holiday event aimed to bring the community together to support the over 300 businesses on Steinway Street.
“It’s a ‘thank you’ to the residents of Astoria and the Steinway community,” said executive director Marie Torniali. “This little part of Queens is made up of families of many, many different cultures. They all come together as one. Hopefully they’ll support the small businesses that line the streets here.”

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