As HARLEM WEEK steps into high gear, Carver Bank, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, and The New York Christian Times hosted an intimate power reception at Lucille’s in Harlem to pay tribute to women in business who are helping to shape the new entrepreneurial landscape of New York. These women come from across the city and represent diverse fields.
“One thing that is constant with all of these women is that they are getting it done. They are rising successes and are making a great impact,” shared Niles Stewart, Senior Vice President for Commercial Lending at Carver. The president/CEO of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Lloyd Williams, president/CEO of Carver Bank, Mr. Michael Pugh, and Christian Times publisher/CEO, Rev. Dennis Dillon were present to salute the 30 businesswomen in attendance and to offer a special salute to these six women who continue to demonstrate great leadership and courage.
TOKUNBO ANIFALAJE
Tokunbo Anifalaje is the Director of Business Engagement at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC). Her role at the Yard is inaugural, and she has developed an initial suite of business support services anchored on four pillars of impact: referral resources, B2B events, marketing, and business education. She also launched the Navy yard’s first cohort-based business education program which provides access to B2B networking and sales generation meet-ups along with ongoing support implementing high-impact business growth plans. Prior to joining BNYDC, Tokunbo worked alongside many deep-rooted community partners in central Brooklyn, including Community Board 3, Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, and the Bed-Stuy Gateway Bid. She received her Master’s in City & Regional Planning from Pratt Institute and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Wesleyan University. Tokunbo loves to travel and a few favorite locales to date have been Thailand, Cape Town, and Kauai.
DR. PEGGY ELANGO
Dr. Peggy Elango is a primary care physician serving the community of New York City. Originally from Cameroon and raised in Atlanta, GA, she comes from a family of physicians. She received her medical degree from Michigan State University and is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine. She speaks English and French and firmly believes in listening to each patient and creating a partnership to maintain and improve lifelong health. Patients trust her expertise because she consistently provides high-quality care that leads to positive and lasting health outcomes.
SHANA HEATH
Shana Heath is an entrepreneur, investor, and franchisee who operates several businesses including the Shana Health Agency, an insurance agency, and co-owns SHOP Ventures LLC, which focuses on income tax preparation. She also co-founded The Tax Shop, a company that focused on helping other tax offices and taxpayers navigate tax audits. Early on, Shana identified that building sustainable businesses within her community would be her legacy. She sits on the board of the Jamaica Rising Merchants Association, whose mission is to serve local businesses and organizations while giving back to the surrounding community.
PRINCESS JENKINS
Princess Jenkins is the founder, chief visionary, public speaker, and marketing strategist for Harlem’s Crown Jewel, The Brownstone. An award-winning retailer with an extensive background in the fashion industry, her passion and niche is the full-figured curvy, and confident woman. She has been dressing full-figured women for the important moments in their lives for over three decades. The Brownstone counts royalty from the stage, television music, film, and politics as personal clients, including Pattie Labelle, Jennifer Holiday, Lillias White, Ann-Marie Horsford, and Angie Stone, to name a few. She has been voted Crain’s Magazine Small Business of the Year, named the Woman in Business Champion of the Year by the SBA, and featured in the Museum of Finance on Wall street exhibit on entrepreneurship.
ADRIENNE NICOLE
Adrienne Nicole is an Emmy nominated and award-winning film director, producer, photographer, and writer with numerous productions and 20 years of industry experience under her belt. Her photo and video work has appeared in print and online publications such as Rolling Stone, Time, Complex, Spin, NBC, The New Yorkers, LA Times, and MT, to name a few. At a young age, Adrienne’s mom saw that she had an eye for film and enrolled her in a summer program at the School of Visual Arts after her junior year in high school. She immediately fell in love with the entire filmmaking process and has never looked back. She graduated at the age of 19 from Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL, ranked as one of the top film, recording, and animation schools in the world, and received her Masters from the School of Visual Arts.
MELBA WILSON
Melba Wilson was “born, bred, and buttered in Harlem”. Her renowned restaurant Melba’s is a hot spot for celebrities, locals, and tourists from around the world who crave unbeatable American comfort food. Her style, poise, wit, and love of entertaining have made Melba’s Restaurant a New York staple. The restaurant has garnered rave reviews from countless prestigious news outlets including New York Magazine, Time Out, The New Yorker, and Zagat. Melba is also the President of the Board of Directors for The NYC Hospitality Alliance and serves on New York City Mayor de Blasio’s COVID-19 Small Business Advisory Council. Melba represents her New York neighborhood as one of the most successful Black women in the restaurant and catering industry.