Encouraging & Supporting Low-Income Entrepreneurship on Staten Island | February 11, 2021

Time & Location

Feb 11, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Streaming Live Online

About the Event

With Staten Island experiencing an official unemployment rate of 9.4 percent—up from 3.0 percent a year ago—and relatively few new job openings on the horizon, entrepreneurship and self-employment could become an increasingly important pathway for low-income New Yorkers to earn income and provide for their families during the road to economic recovery. But while the borough has no shortage of highly creative and entrepreneurial residents, many New Yorkers from lower-income communities don’t see business formation or self-employment as a viable path, even in better economic times—and many who do aspire to start a business are stymied by the numerous obstacles along the way. The fourth in CUF's five-borough forum series on encouraging and supporting low-income entrepreneurship, this event will explore whether low-income entrepreneurship should be among the strategies city policymakers pursue to help those hardest hit by the pandemic boost incomes and generate wealth. It will discuss what’s needed to support first-time entrepreneurs from low-income communities on Staten Island, and examine how to ensure that more of the Staten Islanders from low-income backgrounds who do turn to entrepreneurship have the tools and resources to succeed. Our forum will shine a light on that opportunity, featuring a panel of Staten Island-based entrepreneurs from lower-income backgrounds in conversation with local entrepreneurship experts and city officials. Confirmed speakers include:

- Assembly Member Charles Fall, New York State Assembly

- Jonathan Alexander, Founder, L'BOE Catering

- Kim Avilez, President, Minority Women In Business Association of Staten Island

- Jasmine Cardona, Executive Director of Economic Development, Continuing Studies and Government Relations, College of Staten Island, CUNY

- Cesar Claro, Executive Director, Richmond County Savings Foundation; President & CEO, SIEDC

- Shaw-nae Dixon, Founder, SayGraceNYC

- Nina Flores, Executive Director, Staten Island Business Outreach Center