In her 20s, Marvina Robinson and her friends would sip champagne from red plastic cups on Bed-Stuy stoops. Two decades later, Marvina is one of the few Black women entrepreneurs in the champagne industry. She left her career on Wall Street to follow her passion, establishing B. Stuyvesant Champagne. She brings a fresh perspective to a wine synonymous with luxury. It’s not just for special occasions, instead, it can be enjoyed with every-day meals.

In this episode Marvina shares her journey in starting B. Stuyvesant Champagne, the challenges she faced along the way.

Learn more:

https://www.stuyvesantchampagne.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stuyvesantchampagne/

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Bushwick’s Mil Mundos, founded in 2018, is one of the only bookstores east of Myrtle Avenue offering books in English and Spanish. But it’s more than a bookstore, it’s a community hub that aims to counter the effects of gentrification. Volunteers, like Becca Ramos, help manage the store and assist customers

Today, we sit down with Becca, who’s now the director of events at Mil Mundos, to learn more about the bookstore’s mission and her work there. She also shares why Mil Mundos has inspired her to create a podcast about the Puerto Rican experience.

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Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/hidden-juice-bar-at-the-george-washington-bridge-is-your-tropical-escape-for-smoothies-sandwiches-and-smiles/

GWB Juice Bar is a hidden gem at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. Owned by Luis Perez, it serves Caribbean drinks like soursop smoothies and the Dominican classic morir soñando, along with hot dogs and sandwiches inspired by his Dominican roots. But GWB Juice Bar is much more than a place for food and drinks; it's a community hub. Luis’s personal touch and commitment make it a special spot for all who visit.

Today, we sit down with Luis to learn more about what led him to creating GWB Juice Bar, how he kept the doors open throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and what’s in store for the future.

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Fernando Ruiz spent his childhood summers in Veracruz, Mexico, where he fell in love with fresh tacos … and which inspired him to start Nixtamal, a tortilla business using the traditional nixtamalization process, in 2008 in Corona, Queens.

Despite initial success, expansion challenges and the pandemic caused setbacks. But Fernando persisted, securing opportunities to sell at the U.S. Open, Mets games at Citi Field, and the Queens Night Market.

In this episode Fernando tells us story behind Nixtamal, and how he transformed Queens' food scene with his authentic, heritage-infused tacos.

"Ways of Showing Up" event details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ways-of-showing-up-presented-by-epicenter-nyc-and-dept-of-transformation-tickets-928085989177?aff=oddtdtcreator

Learn more about Nixtamal: https://nixtamal.nyc/

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/discover-the-heritage-infused-tacos-revolutionizing-queens-food-scene/

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Language workers across New York City, and across the globe, are resisting the rise of AI in their field by emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human interpreters and translators.

Julie Tay, the director of Hunter College’s Master of Arts in Translation and Interpreting program, highlights the need to integrate technology in ways that enhance human roles rather than replace them. She also argues for a language services industry that supports diverse communities without forcing assimilation – worrying about the erosion of linguistic diversity.

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/humans-vs-machines-how-language-workers-are-resisting-aihow-language-workers-are-resisting-ai/

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The Sneaker Girls Club started at a school in Bushwick and expanded into a brand with a mission: to help designers and sneaker store owners who are women gain the recognition they deserve — and to help Black and Latina girls and women gain the confidence to design their own shoes.

In this episode we talk to Sneaker Girls Club founder Lauren Rawles’ to to learn more about her vision, the importance of community workshops, and the impact of mentorship.

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-club-helping-black-and-latina-girls-and-women-design-their-own-sneakers/

Sneaker Girls Club: https://www.sneakergirlsclub.com/

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Earlier this year, Epicenter NYC and the Weeksville Heritage Center teamed up to offer our members a special tour of what remains of the historic community. Epicenter’s editorial director Femi Redwood joined the tour. In today’s episode she explains how this once-forgotten community continues to impact our lives today.

Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/weeksville-rediscovering-black-history-in-brooklyns-hidden-gem/

Visit or support Weeksville: https://www.weeksvillesociety.org/

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Read our full story: https://epicenter-nyc.com/meet-the-esthetician-who-went-from-doing-beauty-services-on-her-front-stoop-to-running-her-own-business/

Growing up, Shondrea Harrod was always fascinated with skincare and beauty. This passion led her to pursue a formal education in esthetics. Now, Shondrea is a licensed esthetician, a talented makeup artist, and an experienced esthetics instructor. She also owns Snatched Pro Studio, which offers makeup, facials, and body treatments.

In this episode, Shondrea talks about her journey to becoming an esthetician, what it’s like running a small business, and how she’s shaping the future of esthetics through education. We'll explore her insights on the latest skincare trends, her top beauty tips, and the challenges and rewards of being an esthetics instructor.

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