On January 27th, we hosted our first-ever CEA Strategic Planning Retreat at Hearst, bringing together our Cohort 2 fellows, advisors, and partners for a half day dedicated to strategic clarity, collaboration, and community. This event marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the Community Enterprise Accelerator (CEA), reinforcing our commitment to providing not just funding but deep, wraparound support that helps Bronx entrepreneurs build thriving businesses.
A Space for Focused Strategy and Support
The retreat was designed to give our five CEA fellows the space and structure to define their 2025 strategic priorities. Each fellow worked closely with a team of advisors who provided guidance and support, helping them refine their goals through guided exercises and thoughtful discussion.
The day included:
- SWOT Analysis – Fellows took an honest look at their businesses’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
- Strategic Priorities – Through small group work, each fellow identified key focus areas for the year ahead and drafted their priorities for 2025.
- A Standardized Framework – We introduced a model for clearly communicating business priorities, ensuring alignment between fellows, their advisors, and the broader CEA community. In this way, the fellows’ goals become the program’s and the community’s goals—a powerful reflection of our shared mission.
- Relationship Building – Beyond the structured planning, the retreat provided a unique opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and build new connections among fellows, advisors, and partners.
Meet the CEA Cohort 2 Fellows
This year’s fellows are building incredible businesses that are deeply rooted in the Bronx community:
- Ibrahima Badji, Good Vibes – Founder of a college and career pathway program that has helped over 2,000 students access higher education debt-free.
- Anthony Epps, Epposolutely Cleaning Maintenance – CEO of a Bronx-based cleaning service emphasizing the link between cleanliness, mental well-being, and community impact.
- Howard Lindsay, Pat’s Exotic Beverages – CEO and Chairman of a premium Caribbean-inspired beverage brand dedicated to high-quality, natural drinks.
- Yasiris Ortiz, Spin & Learn – A Dominican-born table tennis champion using the sport as a tool for youth development and education in NYC schools.
- Kevin Shabazz, Greene Developers – A Bronx-based real estate developer focused on transforming vacant land into sustainable, community-centered spaces.
The Power of Partnership
None of this would have been possible without the generosity and commitment of our supporters and partners.
- Hearst/Level Up Ventures: A huge thank you to Carlton Charles, who made it possible for us to host this retreat at Hearst Tower. The space provided the right environment for deep work, connection, and inspiration
- M&T Bank demonstrated their commitment to small businesses through their team of volunteer advisors. Led by Patrick Keegan, advisors Byron Logan, Patrick Matheis, Jung Hur, Emily Kirkpatrick, Marlon Barret, and T’orra Scurry provided invaluable guidance to our fellows during strategic planning sessions. Their hands-on engagement exemplifies M&T Bank’s dedication to empowering Bronx entrepreneurs.
- NYPACE: Ibrahima Soure and Rasheeda Frazier from NYPACE were instrumental in guiding discussions and offering valuable insights. Their model of connecting experienced advisors with entrepreneurs aligns perfectly with CEA’s mission and they have identified NYPACE advisors who will join from February through June, expanding our fellows’ access to expertise.
We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to Kyana Beckles of Leverage Assessments, a key member of our selection committee who has been integral to CEA since its inception, and Neil Goldenberg, a dedicated SCORE mentor who has been supporting Yasiris Ortiz of Spin & Learn and initially introduced her to the CEA program.
🌍 Explore our expanding community of stakeholders on the CEA interactive community map.
A Model for the Future
One of the biggest takeaways from the day was the validation of our collaborative model—an ecosystem of entrepreneurs, advisors, and institutional partners working together toward shared success. This retreat reinforced that CEA is not just a program; it’s a community.
By the end of the retreat, each fellow had a draft of their priorities for 2025, a support system ready to help them execute, and a clearer vision for what’s next. More importantly, the retreat affirmed the power of structured, intentional collaboration in driving business success.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated and made this event such a meaningful experience. This is just the beginning—our community continues to grow, and together, we’re building something powerful in the Bronx.
📸 Check out the photo album from the event below!
The Community Enterprise Accelerator (CEA) is a transformative initiative, co-founded and funded by Level Up Ventures, a Hearst subsidiary, in partnership with Elevate Digital. Initially launched as a program, CEA is now evolving into a for-purpose 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting under-recognized entrepreneurs in The Bronx. Through grant capital, expert mentorship, and strategic resources, CEA empowers high-potential, community-focused businesses and strengthens the local economy.
