Epicenter NYC Epicenter NYC

In February of 2021, Earnest Flowers opened a natural and organic grocery store in the heart of Southeast Queens called Earnest Foods. Since then, the store has become a vital source for residents – offering sugarless, gluten-free, and organic products in an area where options like these are scarce. And while at first, there was a trickle of customers – neighbors, or those who saw it in local newspapers, the business quickly cemented loyalty by going beyond standard customer service.

In this episode we sit down with Earnest as he shares his journey from participating in local farmers markets during the pandemic to establishing a full-scale grocery store. We also talk about his commitment to supporting other minority and local businesses, and the broader implications of food access in his community. 


https://earnestfoods.com/ 
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Danielle Copper suffered from severe eczema in her teens and early twenties. And despite numerous consultations with dermatologists and treatments like antibiotics, creams, and cortisone shots, her condition didn’t improve.

So she decided create her own skincare products – starting with a face soap. She saw an immediate improvement in her skin and confidence. Encouraged by her own results, Danielle left her job as a 911 operator and founded Agamems Beauty to help others with similar issues. The company is built on the idea of using natural ingredients to provide effective skincare solutions.

In this episode we sit down with Danielle to hear more about her journey.


https://agamems.com/ 

https://epicenter-nyc.com/small-biz-spotlight/

https://www.chervitality.com/
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Not too long ago I was heading home after a trek through Forest Park and saw a swarm of black-colored birds — hundreds of them — in the sky, trees and power lines, on rooftops and lawns and on sidewalks across the street. Fascinated by the super-flock, I consulted a couple bird experts, sharing pictures and a video. 

Paul Sweet, a collection manager at the American Museum of Natural History’s ​​department of ornithology, was one of the experts who confirmed that these weren’t crows, but common grackles. Sweet, a Brooklyn resident, has worked at the museum for 32 years. One of the most common misconceptions he’s heard is the one I brought up.


https://epicenter-nyc.com/mistaking-blackbirds-with-hitchcocks-in-queens/ 

https://www.nycgovparks.org/places-to-go/birding

https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/birding

https://www.nycaudubon.org/events-birding/programs-and-events/local-trips-classes

https://www.feministbirdclub.org/

https://www.instagram.com/latinooutdoors_nyc/

https://www.meetup.com/outdoor-afro-ny/

https://www.amnh.org/research/vertebrate-zoology/ornithology
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On weekend nights, Puerto Viejo in Prospect Heights is packed with New Yorkers and visitors alike. Many stay for hours, sipping morir soñando and eating sancocho while chatting with friends or longtime restaurant staff. In this episode we sit down with Maritza Abreu, the daughter of founders Cristina and Eduardo Abreu. Maritza is now in charge of marketing and events for the family restaurant. And her parents' work has also inspired her to start a business of her own – a hot sauce company called “Pisqueya”. 


https://epicenter-nyc.com/resilience-on-the-menu-at-authentic-dominican-restaurant/

https://www.puertoviejony.com/

https://pisqueya.com/products/pisqueya-smoky-hot-sauce
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As Mets owner Steve Cohen’s proposal to build a casino and entertainment complex at Citi Field is in limbo, some community advocates are questioning whether the harms outweigh the benefits. And during the February casino town hall, several residents, some of whom are of East Asian descent, questioned the casino’s proximity to Flushing’s Asian American community. Two of  them argued that members of the community “tend to gamble a lot.” While some attendees cheered in agreement, others found the comments stereotypical and harmful.

In this episode we sit down with two experts to learn more about where the stereotype of the “Asian problem gambler” comes from, how casino marketing targets Asian Americans, and how communities can address this issue.


https://epicenter-nyc.com/the-truth-behind-the-asian-gambler-stereotype/

https://epicenter-nyc.com/why-critics-of-the-proposed-citi-field-casino-want-you-to-know-more-about-gambling-addiction/

https://nyproblemgambling.org/

https://www.minkwon.org/
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When Lolita Malone was growing up with three younger sisters and their baby brother in rural Jamaica, she and her siblings shared clothes, shoes, and pretty much everything. They had a tiny allowance but big fashion dreams, so they would hit up thrift shops and cut and upcycle clothes.

Now, decades later, Lolita and her daughter, Maui, have launched a Manhattan-based fashion brand of their own: Maui x Lolita. Their designs are for bold, daring women who want to take risks when it comes to what they wear. In this episode we sit down with Lolita to learn about the story behind Maui x Lolita and what’s next.


https://epicenter-nyc.com/a-mother-daughter-duo-creates-the-clothes-the-fashion-industrys-been-missing/ 

https://mauixlolita.com/ 
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