On December 12, 2025, the Community Enterprise Accelerator gathered at DREAM Charter High School for Bronx Brilliance, a quarterly convening celebrating the launch of CEA Cohort 3, marking an important milestone in CEA’s evolution.
Entrepreneurs, partners, educators, funders, and community leaders filled the room.
The venue itself reflected the evening’s spirit. DREAM’s Mott Haven campus, designed by Sir David Adjaye, transformed a 1900s ice factory on the Harlem River into a space built for young people to thrive.
Bronx Brilliance is designed to make the Bronx entrepreneurial ecosystem visible in real time. Founders at different stages. Alumni returning as leaders. Public, private, and nonprofit partners showing up not just to support individual businesses, but to help build durable systems around them.
The event was hosted by DREAM Charter High School and supported in part by M&T Bank, whose sponsorship reflects a continued commitment to relationship-driven investment in Bronx-based small businesses. Byron Logan of M&T Bank offered brief remarks underscoring the importance of long-term relationships between financial institutions and local entrepreneurs.
Setting the Tone
The program opened with a welcome from Ayanna Williams of CEA, followed by opening remarks from co-emcees Olga Perez, founder of MVP Lifeguards, and Chidi Asoluka, founder of NewComm Project.
Perez invited the audience to take stock of what was already present in the room.
“This is what an ecosystem really looks like. Not a concept. Not a diagram. Real people who showed up on a Friday night because they believe in what’s being built here.”
Asoluka emphasized that the evening was about collective effort, not individual achievement.
“We’re celebrating five entrepreneurs tonight, but none of them got here alone. This work is collective.”
Entrepreneurs, CEA alumni, mentors, advisors, educators, and institutional partners were invited to stand and be recognized, underscoring the breadth of the ecosystem supporting Bronx-based businesses.
Partner Voices Across the Ecosystem
Bronx Brilliance featured reflections from partners whose work intersects directly with entrepreneurship, education, workforce development, and community investment.
Mikasa Famorca of DREAM welcomed guests and shared the organization’s evolution from Harlem RBI into a network of schools and programs serving thousands of young people across New York City.
Winston Peters of the Bronx Economic Development Corporation spoke about BXEDC’s role in helping Bronx businesses grow through access to capital, technical assistance, and long-term infrastructure.
Commissioner Dynishal Gross of NYC Small Business Services reinforced the City’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.
“When we invest in entrepreneurs, we’re investing in the future of New York City.”
Representing Oyate Group, Jason Autar, Chief Operating Officer of Oyate Group, shared a story that captured what deep partnership looks like in this ecosystem. When Choco Cortes, a beloved Mott Haven restaurant, was on the verge of closing, Oyate didn’t offer a grant. They purchased the business outright to ensure it survived, rebranding it as Nourish. The food at the Bronx Brilliance reception was provided by Nourish, a living example of their model in action.
College students from the University of Mount Saint Vincent were also in attendance as part of CEA’s growing partnership with the university. This spring, 10 UMSV students will intern directly with CEA Cohort 3 businesses, providing hands-on support while gaining real-world experience working alongside Bronx-based entrepreneurs.
Introducing CEA Cohort 3
The heart of the evening was a panel conversation moderated by Rasheeda Frazier, Senior Program Manager at NYPACE, featuring the five entrepreneurs selected for CEA Cohort 3.
The fellowship provides $15,000 in funding, nine months of customized support, and entry into a community of founders, advisors, and partners invested in their long-term success.
When asked about the moment they realized their work was more than just work, each fellow shared a story rooted in community.
Anthony Ramirez II co-founded From The Bronx after a frustrating search for classroom decorations. As a teacher, he wanted posters that would instill pride in his students, but all he could find were Yankee posters and Bronx Zoo images. So he created his own. His company now designs merchandise that showcases the borough’s true history, culture, and identity.
Melissa Groneveldt described a phone call that transformed Yummy Tummy4Life into her purpose. A customer’s six-year-old son, who suffers from epileptic seizures, was able to enjoy her keto-friendly cookies, which help calm brain activity. The mother’s tearful gratitude clarified what the business was really about.
Desmond West of pinStripe IT spoke about providing caring, non-condescending IT support, especially for older people often overlooked by the industry. Before he had a formal business, he was doing the work for free. The handwritten thank-you letters he received showed him the value of his approach.
Gregory “Shotti” Morgan Jr. described his vision for LR2 Photo Studio as more than a photography studio. He wants to build a creative hub in the Bronx, a space providing mentorship, resources, and opportunities for emerging artists so they don’t have to leave the borough to thrive.
Terese Brown of Terese Sydonna spoke about designing for women who want to show up authentically in professional spaces, building a brand rooted in confidence and self-expression.
Frazier closed the panel by emphasizing that CEA is designed as a space for both professional and personal growth, grounded in accountability and mutual support.
CEA’s Next Chapter
Following a short video recognizing this year’s finalists, CEA Co-Founder and Director Tim Gamory reflected on CEA’s evolution from a pilot initiative into a growing platform for community enterprise. He announced that CEA is now transitioning into a fully independent nonprofit organization.
He acknowledged the leadership guiding that transition, including Carlton Charles, CEA Co-Founder and Chair, and Millie Carbajal, board member and founder of 24 HR M&M Daycare. Charles, a Senior Vice President at Hearst, created Level Up Ventures within the company as a mission-driven investment vehicle to close the wealth gap by investing in founders who have faced barriers to capital. Level Up Ventures has supported CEA since its founding.
“Millie was in our very first cohort. Two years ago she was standing where Cohort 3 is standing tonight. Now she’s on our board. Millie is why we do this. And she’s not an exception. She’s the plan.”
“CEA started as a program, but it was always meant to become an institution, one designed to outlast any single cohort or individual.”
Charles spoke to CEA’s intention to scale its model beyond the Bronx in the years ahead, while emphasizing the importance of building slowly and deliberately.
Gamory invited Cohort 3 back to the stage for a final moment together.
“What we’re building is rooted in mentorship, partnership, and shared responsibility.”
Bronx Brilliance concluded with conversation and connection, reinforcing CEA’s role as both a fellowship and a convener within the Bronx entrepreneurial ecosystem.
CEA is actively seeking funders, program partners, and mission-aligned staff members who want to help scale this work and invest in the next generation of Bronx entrepreneurs.
With Gratitude
CEA extends sincere thanks to DREAM Charter High School for hosting, M&T Bank for their sponsorship, and to all partners, speakers, and community members who continue to invest time, trust, and resources into Bronx-based entrepreneurs.
Bronx Brilliance is a quarterly convening of the Community Enterprise Accelerator. We look forward to continuing this work together.
