01 Apr 2024
CEA, News
April 1, 2024 Tim Gamory

Community Enterprise Accelerator Kickoff Celebration Recap

More than sixty attendees joined us in celebrating the Bronx’s resilience and spirit at our Community Enterprise Accelerator program kickoff on September 20, 2023, at the historic Andrew Freedman Home.”

The Community Enterprise Accelerator (CEA) is a six-month fellowship program designed to empower under-recognized entrepreneurs to enhance both their business growth and community impact. Through the program, participants receive $15,000 in grant capital, tailored support, and valuable networking opportunities, enabling them to thrive and make a meaningful difference.

Tim Gamory, the CEA program lead and emcee, warmly welcomed everyone to commence the festivities. The evening also included remarks by the CEA program sponsor, Carlton Charles, a Senior Vice President with Hearst. Charles is the Chairman of Level Up Ventures, a Hearst subsidiary created to close the wealth gap through investment in high-growth startups led by Black and Latinx founders.

Seven finalists (runners-up) were also present and acknowledged with a grant of $500 each. Members of the Selection Committee then introduced the new cohort of five selected businesses, and they each shared their inspiring stories.

After the formal program, attendees mingled, connected with one another, and indulged in delicious food provided by a diverse selection of Bronx vendors.

FELLOWS

The event marked the selection of the program’s inaugural cohort, with each member showcasing their dedication to fostering positive change in the Bronx community. Here are the members, listed alphabetically:

  • Loc’d & Lit –  Founded by Tricia Claxton and Alannah Ramirez. This bookstore provides a welcoming community for book lovers. Browsers can find a carefully curated book collection that goes beyond mainstream bestsellers by including diverse titles reflecting the interests and experiences of Bronx residents. They also collaborate with local schools, libraries, and community organizations. 
  • M&M 24-Hr Daycare – A licensed South Bronx childcare facility. The owner, Milagros (Millie) Carbajal, is passionate about early childhood education and has designed a program that offers continuity of care for families, fosters the development of students within the comforts of an intimate home setting, and serves as a hub of resources and support for families. 
  • MVP Lifeguards – Founder Mrs. Olga Perez is passionate about swimming. She has a background as a lifeguard, lifeguard instructor, water safety teacher, and spa manager. She provides students with the necessary skills and training required to excel as lifeguards and refers them to potential employers. MVP Lifeguards also places emphasis on building a team culture and cultivating growth opportunities for their employees.
  • Sol Cacao – A bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer founded by the three Maloney brothers -Daniel, Dominic, and Nicholas. These motivated siblings produce high-quality chocolates by meticulously overseeing every stage of the process, from sourcing rare cacao pods to crafting chocolate bars. They aim to inspire a new generation of chocolate enthusiasts, makers, and connoisseurs, both in the Bronx and beyond.
  • Soul Snacks – Owner Ralph Rolle has enjoyed an illustrious career as a much sought-after teacher, baker, restaurant owner, and drummer/vocalist for 6-time Grammy Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Nile Rodgers and Chic. He has successfully transferred his many talents to Soul Snacks, a company that offers a wide variety of delicious cookies. 

FINALISTS

Apart from the winners listed above, the following seven enterprises were runners up. They each received a grant of $500.

  • Bronx Native – Co-founder Amaurys Grullon is a creative entrepreneur who has created a clothing brand that represents an authentic Bronx experience. He has also branched out into other items.
  • Empanology – Chef and founder Jason Alicea dishes up hand-created empanadas he likes to call “pockets of love” in more than forty flavors using his Puerto Rican family’s unique dough recipe.
  • Events by Yudy– A full-service event planning, design, and catering company owned by Yudelka Carrera. Her company can arrange a wide variety of events, including private, corporate, social, and school. 
  • Flava In Ya Hair – A hair salon owned by Patrick Rennells. A team of skilled barbers and hairstylists provides excellent service with a difference – a professional environment that still has the feel of a traditional barbershop.        
  • Mi Oh My Farms –  The brainchild of Joel Mejia, one of the founders. A worker-owned hydroponic farm cooperative and educational organization with a mission to improve food access for the food insecure. 
  • Postnet NY – Owner Calvin Thomas. Postnet is a franchise providing a nurturing partnership to support the growth and success of businesses and individuals through its personalized print, marketing, and shipping solutions.
  • The Bronx Is Reading – Saraceia  J Fennell, the founder of The Bronx Book Festival, has a mission – to enable literacy and a love of reading among individuals of all ages. The festival covers a wide range of topics relevant to the Bronx community.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

ADVISORS

OUR FUNDER

This initiative has been made possible by the generous support of Level Up Ventures. Their commitment to fostering innovation and creating opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs has been instrumental in bringing CEA to life.

SPECIAL THANKS

E218 Events Management for coordinating the event.

Mi Oh My Farms, Empanology, Soul Snacks, Sol Cacao, and Events by Yudy for providing food and beverages.

PostNet for printing posters and programs.

The Bronx Community Foundation, the first and only community foundation solely dedicated to the Bronx. Their goal is to build a community-driven, equitable, inclusive, and prosperous Bronx.

Multimedia

Video highlights from the CEA Kickoff Event
, ,