Driven entrepreneurs dedicated to fostering positive change are uplifting the Harlem community and creating a legacy that extends beyond the boundaries of the neighborhood.
This Black History Month, we’re highlighting some of the outstanding people who are changing our city’s streets for the better.
Founded in 2022, this plant-based restaurant and bar serves soul food and Caribbean cuisine without animal products.
“After seeing how hard the pandemic has hit our community and learning first-hand the benefits of plant-based foods, we are committed to providing the same taste and texture our community is accustomed to. , we decided to bridge the gap between veganism and food,” said Ranis Harman. -Thomas.
Before VeganHood, Herman Thomas and her sister and co-owner Janine Smalls Guyet founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provided after-school activities, mentorship programs, and summer camps for children in Harlem. He founded the Young Excellence Society.
“We donate a portion of our profits from VeganHood. yesWe are influential in keeping our doors open to support the Harlem community,” said Herman Thomas.
The co-owners never forgot the legacy on which they built their business. “We have lived here all of our adult lives, and this vibrant neighborhood serves as a canvas for a powerful Black Renaissance, a mecca for Black culture, and a hub for our travels. I loved watching it,” Herman Thomas said. “In the footsteps of Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston, we stand in the roots of our ancestors to preserve and carry on their legacy.”
Smalls-Guay encourages Black entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow to be willing to hear the word “no” thousands of times before getting to the one “yes.”
Additionally, “In Harlem, you never know who will walk through your door, so be ready to present your elevator pitch at any time,” Smalls-Guay added, noting that Grammy-nominated artist Styles P recently opened their restaurant. Pointed out patronizing.He was then invited as a catering partner for his non-profit organization. Pharma Cares.
“Every yes you receive can become a domino that sparks an avalanche of opportunities.”
Smalls-Gueye also emphasized learning from the community.
“Be the first to go to your local chamber of commerce, join a community block association, and attend city council and community board meetings,” she said. “Reach out to fellow entrepreneurs. Their guidance will be invaluable.”
At first, Beau McCallThe creative entrepreneur and founder of Triple T-Shirt and Harlem Hustler actually wants Black business founders to know that it’s okay to downshift. .
“As Black creative entrepreneurs, we are constantly told that we have to work 10 times harder than others to succeed,” McCall says. “Hard work is important, but so is avoiding the toxicity of a grind culture that drains us mentally and physically.” McCall left the business in 1995 to pursue other career opportunities. I know this firsthand because I have decided to move on from .
“I needed to recharge by taking a (very long) break from the grind and hustle culture mindset,” he reflected.
Now, McCall is able to avoid burnout by resting, taking naps, and spending time with her family, partner, and friends. “All of this helps me reset,” McCall added.
The entrepreneur first came to Harlem from Philadelphia around 1988 “in search of a vibrant place full of history, creativity, and business opportunity rooted in Black culture.”
McCall, known locally as “The Button Man,” has built a thriving business creating and selling wearable and visual art using clothing buttons. Additionally, his fashion line, Triple T-Shirts, upcycles three of his T-shirts into one garment. Finding “a tribe of like-minded people” like the one he met through his Harlem Fashion College (now defunct) has provided him with support and advice over the years and given strength to his ideas. Ta.
“Many of my pieces are inspired by Harlem, such as a table decorated with buttons that Columbia University commissioned as part of an exhibition. Langston Hughes House,” he said. “Having an impact on Harlem is important to me. As gentrification continues, we must protect Harlem’s cultural heritage and fight to ensure that Black contributions to Harlem are not erased. No need.”
Ashley Cummings Cote, RN, CLC moved to Harlem from Boston in 2011 and began manufacturing the company’s first body butter in the mountains.
She launched her body care line “Natural Ash” in 2017 based on her experience as an oncology nurse.
“I witnessed a lack of good skincare hygiene and routines among patients, as well as a lack of safe, effective, chemical-free moisturizing products in the hospital,” she says. I remembered. “Then I started looking at the products I personally consumed and decided to make a change.”
At the time, she paid attention to her reproductive health and chose clean beauty products. “Natural Ash is now focused on providing safe skin care products free of harmful chemicals to support your overall health during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond,” she says. Told.
The brand’s commitment to community well-being and empowerment is particularly important to Cummings Cote, who “recognizes the health care disparities that pervade Black communities, including Harlem,” and whose lactation counseling company addresses these inequities in care. This is the motivation for starting a certain Nuracid. among black women.
The businessman is proud to be among the many black entrepreneurs in Harlem.
“I’m able to give back to the community and see progress and positive change,” she said, adding that she has had the opportunity to participate in initiatives such as the Harlem Makers Collective and the Lululemon x BOM Black Wellness Festival. I emphasized.
“Being a part of the Harlem community means a lot to me because it represents my family,” she said. “My husband grew up here and we are raising our son here. I feel like I have to give back to the community that has given so much to my family and as my son grows up, We will continue to do so.”
