Showcase Highlights BIPOC Women in Business

By Journalist Dr. Ms. Jones

NYACK – On Sunday, March 16th Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority Inc. Pi Psi Omega Chapter held their Inaugural Women Entrepreneur Showcase to celebrate Women’s History Month.

Held at Nyack Library, the event featured local Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) women and their businesses. Some of the businesses included: ACL Raw Honey, Boza Brain-Based Therapy, Club Viago, Dr. Lena Samuel Health, Urban Edutainment, GW Health Public Relations, Healing Hearts for a Fresh Start, Kammie’s Crafts, LHK Candles and More, Noel New York, Pour a Blessing in Resin, Reid Wisely Books & Brew, Royal Body Butter, The Body Loft, Cherry Blossom Healing, Suite 6TwentySix, Stayla Beauty Box, Luxe Medical Aesthetics, and Hope Wade Designs.

Fashion Designer Wade recounted her career journey and how she got into fashion. “I was very successful [on my job]… The President… called me in his office and he told me that the house he lives in and the car he drives is from the company and he believes they’re grooming me for his job. So, he fired me… Six months later, the church I attended at the time had a New Year’s Eve event… So, I made a dress and my girlfriends were like, ‘I thought, you said you weren’t gonna buy anything.’ I said, ‘Oh yeah, I made it.’ So, I had to go in the bathroom and show the inside… And they started ordering from me. And so that’s been quite a few years. And today I have a gown in the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame Museum. I’ve [also] had my work in the White House,” said Wade who owns a store in Nyack and is producing the upcoming event “Dogs & Fashion on Broadway” on April 26th.

The focus of The Women Entrepreneur Showcase was economic empowerment. That is one of the AKA’s initiatives.

“We empower our families all day. We build out economic wealth… So, this is a major initiative for us… Once a month, we spend a lot of money. We call it Black Dollar 365 where we go to Black-owned restaurants and give them our spending power… We uplift our community. We feed them. We provide health fairs… The purpose of this is for… beautiful Black women… to shine… We’re powerful and we need the community to know that,” said Nicole Tinsley Butcher, AKA Chapter President who also stated that the chapter, founded in 1987, also emphasizes social justice.

The event gave reverence to businesswomen who made history locally, nationally, and world-wide. The event highlighted the legacy of Cynthia Hesdra, a former slave, abolitionist, and entrepreneur who operated an Underground Railroad safe house in Nyack and owned several properties and businesses.

“Born in 1808… she overcame societal limitations to become a successful businesswoman, owning laundries and real estate holdings here in the county, an extraordinary feat for a Black woman of her time. But beyond her business acumen, Hesdra was also a quiet force in the Underground Railroad providing refuge for enslaved people seeking freedom. Her contributions to both economic advancement and social justice make her a true trailblazer and an enduring symbol of resilience and determination here in our very own community. For this reason, hosting a Black Women’s Entrepreneur Showcase right here in Nyack is significant and hosting it during Women’s History Month makes it even more meaningful,” said Dr. Valerie Williams-Sanchez, AKA Chapter Member and Subcommittee Chairperson, who displayed her children’s book “Lorena and the Magic Mocha Mirror.”

Local leaders came out to support the event. One of them was Antinea Middleton, President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Rockland County.

“It feels amazing [to attend this Inaugural Women Entrepreneur Showcase]. I actually know some of these people from childhood. So, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! I [haven’t] seen them in a long time. They have their own businesses!’ It was a great way for me to find out about that. And so, I’m looking forward to supporting that,” said Middleton who is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, not the AKA Sorority. “We’re never in competition… Of course, we joke on each other… I always call it friendly banter… We always have that camaraderie.”

The AKAs have several upcoming projects in which the community can participate. They are hosting a Community Clean Up on April 17th in Spring Valley focusing on graffiti removal, trash pickup, and sidewalk cleaning. They are also supporting Rockland County’s Center for Safety & Change by providing Comfort Kits with essential items for domestic abuse survivors. Donations are being accepted until March 31st.
Journalist Ms. Jones