THE GATHERING MARCH 2023

HOW MANY NON-PROFITS DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR?

ABOUT

COMMUNITAS AMERICA JUMPSTARTED IN 2018, INSPIRED BY THE SISTER ORGANIZATION ROOT IMPACT’S MEANINGFUL GROWTH IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. COMMUNITAS AMERICA IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT EMPOWERS CHANGEMAKERS TO USE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO GAIN UPWARD ECONOMIC MOBILITY, BUILD FAMILY WEALTH, AND RESHAPE THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

WE SERVE WOMEN AND BIPOC ENTREPRENEURS WHO FACE PERSISTENT AND SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS DUE TO STRUCTURAL RACISM. OUR WORK FUELS A WIDER IMPACT-DRIVEN ECOSYSTEM PROVIDING ACCESS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND ENTREPRENEURIAL TOOLS IN HISTORICALLY UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES LIKE THE BRONX, HARLEM, AND BEYOND.

SUNMOON JANG

SUNMOON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ALIGN OUR PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONS WITH OUR MISSION AND VISION. IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, WHEN ALL THE PROGRAMS BECAME VIRTUAL, SHE KICKSTARTED A PILOT PROJECT THAT TRANSLATES LOCAL DATA INTO COMMUNITY ASSETS AND STORIES CALLED CASA WORKING WITH ACADEMIA. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN CREATING INNOVATIVE PROJECTS THAT HAD BEEN UNDER-EVALUATED BUT COULD EXPAND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT.

SHE NOW FOCUSES ON BUILDING A NETWORK OF LOCAL CHANGEMAKERS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN THE BRONX AND HARLEM, NEW YORK CITY, WITH HER 2 DECADES OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE CROSS-SECTOR THAT INCLUDES GLOBAL CONSUMER COMPANIES AND NONPROFITS IN NEW YORK AND SEOUL.

IN ADDITION, SHE SPOKE AT ASIAN VENTURE PHILANTHROPY NETWORK (AVPN) AND FONDATION CHANEL’S BI-ANNUAL CONFERENCE, ENSEMBLE REGARDING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT (2018), AND RESEARCHED GENDER INEQUALITY IN VENTURE CAPITAL IN THE U.S. (2016)

ESMERALDA HERRERA

BORN AND RAISED IN THE BRONX, ESMERALDA HERRERA IS AN ECOSYSTEM BUILDER WHO WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF BUSINESS AND SOCIAL IMPACT TO SUPPORT LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS.

AS DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AT COMMUNITAS AMERICA, ESMERALDA MANAGES AN ACCELERATOR IN THE BRONX THAT WORKS DIRECTLY WITH FOUNDERS – PRIMARILY WOMEN AND ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR – TO HELP BUILD, LAUNCH, AND EXPAND SOCIAL VENTURES THAT REACH VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. ESMERALDA IS DRIVEN BY INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO CREATING IMPACT.

SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE TO ENSURE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO FLOURISH. SHE HAS PREVIOUSLY WORKED WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN INDIA AND CHINA TO EMPOWER LOCAL CHANGEMAKERS TO REVITALIZE THEIR LOCAL ECONOMY. ESMERALDA BELIEVES IN THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS IN ORDER TO CONNECT COMMUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR LEARNING, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY NATIONWIDE AND WORLDWIDE.

IN HER SPARE TIME, YOU CAN FIND HER DANCING, FARMING, IN THE GYM (PRE-PANDEMIC), VOLUNTEERING AT THE RED CROSS, OR HANGING OUT WITH LOVED ONES.

GINA RAMCHARAN

AS AN EXECUTIVE WHO LOVES TO DIG INTO PRIVATE, NON-PROF BUSINESS HICCUPS AND ORCHESTRATE SOLUTIONS, GINA CREA OPTIMIZES PRODUCT AND SERVICE PORTFOLIOS THAT MATTER.

SHE IS A VISIONARY, INTEGRITY-DRIVEN, AND ANALYTICAL BUSINESS STRATEGY CONSULTANT AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIST WITH 20+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TRANSLATING STRATEGIES INTO COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN PLANS. AS A SOUGHTAFTER PROFESSIONAL WHO THINKS IN A HOLISTIC CONSUMER-CENTRIC MANNER, LEVERAGING KEY INSIGHTS TO ENSURE PROJECTS AND FINAL EXECUTIONS SUPPORT OVERALL COMPANY/ORGANIZATION OBJECTIVES, SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS THROUGH THE CREATION OF BUSINESS PLANS, STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION, FINANCIAL PLANNING AND FORECASTING, QUALITY AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT, AS WELL AS BRAND BUILDING AND PRODUCT POSITIONING, MARKETING, AND MEDIA BUYING, MARKET RESEARCH, AND MARKET ANALYSIS

GINA IS OBSESSED WITH STAYING ORGANIZED AND MAKING EVERYONE'S BUSINESS A SUCCESS STORY, LEVERAGING HER CORPORATE SECTOR BACKGROUND SPANNING PERSONAL SERVICES, RETAIL, E-COMMERCE, HAIR CARE, NON-PROFIT, CONSTRUCTION, CONSUMER GOODS, AND FOOD & BEVERAGE INDUSTRIES TO DIVE HEADFIRST INTO SOLVING COMPLEX, DEEP-SEATED CHALLENGES, UNCOVERING POSSIBILITIES, AND REFRAMING THINKING TO CAPITALIZE ON OPPORTUNITIES THAT ELUDED CLIENTS BY DEMONSTRATING DISTINCTION IN ENTERPRISE MARKET INSIGHT AND ON-DEMAND EXECUTION.

AS A RESULTS-FOCUSED EXECUTIVE, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TYPICALLY MEANS CHANGE FOR BOTH PARTIES, SO SHE SETS APPROPRIATE AND CLEAR EXPECTATIONS AND TIMELINES TO FACILITATE THE DESIRED UPGRADES BY MODELING THE CRITICAL COMPETENCIES OF INFLUENCING WITH IMPACT, UNDERSTANDING THE BUSINESS, FOCUSING ON THE CUSTOMER, AND DRIVING FOR RESULTS THROUGH AN ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE.

IBRAHIMA SOUARE

IBRAHIMA S. SOUARE HOLDS THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT NYPACE, A LEADING NONPROFIT WORKING TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNDER-RESOURCED ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. IN HIS NEW ROLE, MR. SOUARE WILL FOCUS ON EXPANDING THE REACH AND SCALE OF NYPACE BY INCREASING AND STRENGTHENING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND DEVELOPING NEW SOURCES OF FUNDING.

MR. SOUARE MANAGES A HIGH-IMPACT ORGANIZATION ON TRACK IN 2022 TO PROVIDE BUSINESS MENTORSHIP AND STRATEGIC GUIDANCE TO OVER 100 UNDERSERVED SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, HELPING TO CREATE NEW JOBS AND FUEL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NEW YORK, CHICAGO, AND MIAMI, WITH PLANS TO EXPAND TO OTHER CITIES.

BEFORE HIS CURRENT POSITION, MR. SOUARE SERVED AS THE SENIOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR PROGRAMS AT THE LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION (LISC NYC), WHERE HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING A PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTH EQUITY, AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE LOCAL NEW YORK CITY MARKET. HE LED THE LAUNCH OF THE LISC NYC SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF & RECOVERY FUND, WHICH AWARDED $1.1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO 112 MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. HE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR FUNDING AND MANAGED A NETWORK OF 16 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS

NEW YORK CITY TO PROVIDE ONGOING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT TO SMALL WOMEN- AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

NIKOA

EVANS

NIKOA HAS CHAMPIONED ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES FOR 30+ YEARS WITH A FOCUS ON PUSHING THE CULTURE FORWARD THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING.

UNDER NIKOA’S LEADERSHIP, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION HARLEM PARK TO PARK (HP2P) HAS CREATED AND IMPLEMENTED RESULTS-DRIVEN STRATEGIC INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO INTEGRATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATIONS. SHE OVERSEES THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT, MARKETING STRATEGY, BUSINESS/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR HP2P, WHICH REPRESENTS 300+ ENTREPRENEURS IN HARLEM, NY. SUCCESSES INCLUDE THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SMALL BUSINESS ACCELERATOR, HARLEM LOCAL VENDOR PROGRAM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WHOLE FOODS MARKET, COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL, AND HOT BREAD KITCHEN, AS WELL AS SIGNATURE MARKETING AND CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING HARLEM RESTAURANT WEEK, SHOP HARLEM ARTISANAL FAIRS, HARLEM HARVEST FESTIVAL, TAP HARLEM WINE & SPIRITS TASTING; AND BATTLE OF THE BARS: THE ART OF THE MIX IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KARL FRANZ WILLIAMS, ONE OF THE WORLD’S TOP MIXOLOGISTS AND COCKTAIL BAR ENTREPRENEURS NIKOA ALSO SERVED AS A COMMUNITY CONSULTANT AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER FOR THE NYCXDESIGN AWARD-WINNING OUTDOOR DINING PROGRAM THE RENAISSANCE PAVILION AT STRIVERS ROW IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UBER EATS, AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCED THE COMMISSION, AND PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER HARLEM STREET MURAL.

AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF TV, FILM, AND EXPERIENTIAL PROGRAMMING, NIKOA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT CELEBRATE THE CULTURAL LEGACIES AND EXPERIENCES OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING THE HARLEM FESTIVAL OF CULTURE INSPIRED BY THE OSCAR AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY SUMMER OF SOUL.

KAARYN MARIE

NAILOR SIMMONS

KAARYN WORKS TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EMPOWERMENT, AND JOB CREATION IN THE HARLEM COMMUNITY. SHE LEADS WORKSHOPS ON THE BASICS OF STARTING AND GROWING A BUSINESS MARKETING, FINANCE, AND OPERATIONS AND TEACHES IN THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY BUSINESS PROGRAM, A TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM THAT MEETS WEEKLY TO HELP LOCAL MANAGERS AND OWNERS FOCUS FIRST ON STABILIZING A BUSINESS AND THEN ON GROWING IT. THE COLUMBIA-HARLEM SBDC ALSO OFFERS ONE-ON-ONE BUSINESS COUNSELING AND OTHER PROGRAMS IN MARKETING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND VIDEO STORYTELLING SO BUSINESS OWNERS CAN PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEB. ITS SERVICES ARE FREE, AND FUNDED BY THE COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND SOME CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS.

FERNANDO MONTEJO

EXPERIENCED URBANIST WITH A DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF WORKING IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. STRONG RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL WITH CITY PLANNING DEGREES FROM MIT AND CORNELL UNIVERSITY. SKILLED IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY RELATIONS, EVENT PROGRAMMING & MARKETING, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SUSTAINABILITY.

IN HIS CURRENT ROLE AS ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF EMERGING TECH INITIATIVES AT THE NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, FERNANDO IS HELPING DEVELOP AND MANAGE NYCEDC’S CREATIVE AND APPLIED TECH PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT EMERGING TECHNOLOGY SECTORS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE TO NEW YORK CITY.

AKIERA

GILBERT

AKIERA IS THE DIRECTOR OF ONRAMPS PROGRAMS AT ECHOING GREEN. IN HER ROLE, SHE LEADS THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND CULTIVATION OF OUR PIPELINE INITIATIVES TO BROADEN ACCESS TO SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP – PARTICULARLY TO THOSE IN THE GLOBAL MAJORITY.

AKIERA HAS DEEP EXPERIENCE AT THE INTERSECTION OF EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AS A CONSULTANT, FACILITATOR, CURRICULUM DESIGNER, AND FOUNDER, AKIERA HAS PRIORITIZED ELEVATING OFT-OVERLOOKED VOICES. SHE HAS WORKED WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN LAUNCHING TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN NAIROBI, EXPAND HEALTH AND HYGIENE EDUCATION FOR GIRLS IN MUMBAI, AND PAVE ACCESS TO DIGITAL LEARNING FOR ALMOST 1,000 INCARCERATED PEOPLE ON RIKERS ISLAND. MOST RECENTLY, AKIERA SERVED AS THE PARTNERSHIPS NETWORK MANAGER AT CODE.ORG, OVERSEEING KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN 49 STATES TO FACILITATE PATHWAYS TO EQUITABLE COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION.

THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, AKIERA HAS LEVERAGED STORYTELLING TO OFFER INTERACTIVE, CULTURALLY RELEVANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. AT PRESENT, AKIERA ALSO SERVES AS THE FOUNDER OF BODY REBORN - AN ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE OF THE GLOBAL MAJORITY STRUGGLING WITH EATING DISORDERS.

MARIANA

PALACIOS-VALDERRAMA

ORGANIZATIONS WERE CREATED TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE WORLD. THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF INNOVATION, STRATEGY, AND SUSTAINABILITY WE CAN SOLVE SOME OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PROBLEMS WE FACE TODAY.

MY PURPOSE IS TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE ACTION AS OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE CHANGE THROUGH INFLUENCE, GIVING AGENCY AND VOICE.

WITH A STRONG MULTICULTURAL BACKGROUND, HAVING LIVED IN COLOMBIA, BRAZIL, THE USA, THE NETHERLANDS, AND SPAIN, ALONG WITH MY EXPERIENCE IN BOTH THE NON-PROFIT AND PRIVATE SECTORS I LOOK AT PROBLEMS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES, FINDING OPPORTUNITIES AND CONNECTIONS.

I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION, IDENTITY AND REPRESENTATION IN BUSINESS, BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS, EDUCATION AS A TRANSFORMATIONAL TOOL, AND SYSTEMATIC CHANGE.

HEYGROUND

A SPACE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION

HEYGROUND ENVISIONS MORE JUST AND INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. HEYGROUND, A SPACE FOR INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION, IS A BRAND-NEW PROJECT OF COMMUNITAS AMERICA THAT CULTIVATES AN ECOSYSTEM FOR INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND COMMUNITY TO ACCELERATE THE SOCIAL IMPACT SECTOR.

WE SUPPORT AND CATALYZE THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES, TALENTS, AND ASSETS THROUGH AUTHENTIC ENGAGEMENT, COLLABORATION, AND SUPPORT. WE’RE BUILDING A VIBRANT, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY WITH A COMMITMENT TO THE FOLLOWING VALUES:

INCLUSION&BELONGING EMPATHY COLLABORATION

AUTHENTICITY SAFETY&STABILITY

HEYGROUND IS AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY DRIVING POSITIVE CHANGE IN HISTORICALLY UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES IN NEW YORK CITY. THE COMMUNITAS AMERICA TEAM SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF THIS COMMUNITY WITH BOTH PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL SPACES, AS WELL AS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SO ENTREPRENEURS CAN INCUBATE, LAUNCH, AND THRIVE:

HEYGROUND: A SPACE FOR INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION WILL BE IN HARLEM. THE FACILITY INCLUDES MEETING, LECTURE, AND EVENT SPACES, ACCESSIBLE WORKSPACES FOR MEMBERS, AND PRIVATE OFFICES FOR SMALL TEAMS.

COMMUNITAS VENTURES: COMMUNITAS VENTURES IS A FOUR-MONTH ACCELERATOR PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR WOMEN AND BIPOC ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE BIG IDEAS ON HOW TO ADDRESS LOCAL ISSUES OF THE UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES LIKE THE BRONX AND HARLEM.

KEY COLLABORATOR THE GATHERING