Communitas of New York

Jul 13 · 58m

In this episode, we explore the work behind CarbonCLAIR, a venture developing innovative air filtration technology to improve air quality in construction sites, infrastructure projects, and other challenging environments. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with founder Fares Al-lahabi about transforming an engineering idea into a venture through customer discovery, community engagement, and real-world deployment. From conversations with commuters and climate justice advocates to pilots with Mount Sinai, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and construction partners, CarbonCLAIR demonstrates how innovation grows through listening as much as inventing. What begins as a technical solution becomes a venture shaped by the experiences of workers, residents, researchers, and industry partners alike. This thoughtful conversation explores how entrepreneurship can bridge science, public health, and business to create technologies that improve lives while building a more sustainable future. Visit our podcast page for more information. Visit CarbonCLAIR. Fares Al-lahabi is the CEO and Co-Founder of CarbonCLAIR, a climate technology company developing mobile air quality mitigation systems for construction, municipal infrastructure, and urban environments. A civil engineering student at Manhattan University, Fares has led CarbonCLAIR from an undergraduate-built prototype into active deployment pathways with partners including Mount Sinai, Skanska at Governors Island, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. His work focuses on improving air quality for workers and communities through deployable filtration, particulate capture, and chemical scrubbing technologies. Fares has secured more than $200,000 in funding and support for CarbonCLAIR, participated in the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program, and was selected as a New York Climate Exchange Climate Tech Fellow. He is also deeply committed to workforce development, having hired and mentored over 30 student engineers and interns through CarbonCLAIR. Fares previously served as President of the American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter at Manhattan University and has presented his work at regional, national, and international platforms. His long-term goal is to build technologies that positively impact people at scale and help create cleaner, healthier cities.

Apr 14 · 50m

In this episode, we hear about how the Harlem-based Featuring the Café creates a welcoming and hospitable environment for all; and also serves as a platform for Featuring the Center for Culinary Arts, a social-impact nonprofit that emphasizes workforce training to create pathways toward economic stability and second chances. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with founder Arnyce Foster-Hernandez about what it means to build a venture shaped by lived experience—drawing from her upbringing between Harlem and a family farm in North Carolina, as well as her journey through public service, hardship, and recovery. Hear how the café functions not only as a food business, but as a space for connection, collaboration, and opportunity—bringing together local entrepreneurs, artists, youth, and neighbors in ways that restore a sense of belonging and shared purpose—and asks, what becomes possible when a neighborhood café is designed as a place of care, access, and collective growth? This thoughtful conversation highlights the realities of building a venture from the ground up, the importance of deep community engagement, and the powerful role entrepreneurs can play in creating spaces that nourish both people and possibility.  Visit our podcast page for more information. Visit Featuring the Café and Featuring the Center for the Culinary Arts. Arnyce Foster-Hernandez is a visionary business principal, cafe owner, and aspiring TV/film scriptwriter with a diverse and accomplished background. With 33 years of experience in NYC/NYS government, community, and non-profit sectors, she has successfully managed large teams, overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, and led initiatives that have driven growth and revitalized partnerships. As the owner of a gourmet cafe, Arnyce combines culinary creativity with business savvy, creating a successful venture. Arnyce is married to her wonderful husband, Danny, and they have a miracle eight-year-old son, Danny Jonathan (DJ).

Apr 7 · 59m

In this episode, we explore the work behind Sol Cacao, the Bronx's first bean-to-bar chocolate factory and a family-founded venture. Through their work, the three Maloney brothers bring single-origin chocolate to people while reconnecting them to the origins of their food. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with co-founder Daniel Maloney about what it means to build a venture rooted in family, agriculture, and a commitment to working more closely with farmers across the globe. Hear how Sol Cacao partners directly with growers—supporting fair wages, preserving generational knowledge, and honoring the role of soil, biodiversity, and cultivation in shaping both flavor and livelihood. From the health benefits of dark chocolate to the philosophy of "let food be your medicine," the venture challenges disconnection from what we eat while creating pathways for education, craft, and local opportunity. This thoughtful conversation highlights the power of food as a bridge between land, culture, and community, and the role entrepreneurs can play in inspiring the next generation of chocolate makers, eaters, and artisans. Visit our podcast page for more information. Visit Sol Cacao: Bronx Craft Chocolate. Daniel Maloney is one of three brothers behind Sol Cacao, a chocolate manufacturing company based in the Bronx. With a passion for chocolate, sustainable agriculture, and technology, he combines these interests to craft high-quality chocolate while driving innovation in the industry. Through Sol Cacao, Daniel is committed to building ethical supply chains, empowering farming communities, and creating sustainable manufacturing jobs in the Bronx.

Mar 31 · 1h 1m

In this episode, we explore the work of Neville Green, also known as "The Burnout Prevention Guy," founder of Haus of Ananda, a social-impact venture focused on stress management and the improvement of overall well-being through a trauma-informed, holistic approach. In conversation, Monique T. Marshall finds out what it means to build a venture that collaborates with marginalized groups, professionals, and institutional partners to address the systemic and lived realities of chronic stress. Hear how Haus of Ananda evolves from a virtual wellness group into a space of care—supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ individuals, as well as high-achieving professionals and caregivers—through education, somatic practices, and programming that meets people where they are—and asks, what happens when we build chosen families that not only acknowledge burnout, but actively create space for rest, healing, and collective resilience? This thoughtful conversation highlights the importance of listening to lived experience, centering care and connection as the foundation for change, and the powerful role entrepreneurs can play in shaping healthier, more sustainable ways of living and working.  Visit our podcast page. Visit Haus of Ananda. ——— Neville Green-Waterman on wellness: "Burnout does not happen because you are weak. It happens because systems are misaligned." An engineer and lifelong problem solver with more than two decades of experience working in high-pressure environments across nonprofit executive leadership, corporations, and startups; he operates at the intersection of public health, health policy, business operations, and organizational strategy. He brings a practical, evidence-based approach to complex human and organizational challenges. Known as The Burnout Prevention Guy, Neville helps high-achieving professionals, leaders, and caregivers perform under pressure without burning out. His perspective is grounded in lived experience, including years of leadership under constrained resources, caregiving for ailed and aging parents, mentoring at-risk youth, and more than 17 years as a yoga, mindfulness, and life coach. These experiences shaped his belief that burnout is predictable, preventable, and solvable when the whole system is addressed. That belief led him to found Haus of Ananda, a trauma-informed wellness collective that became the foundation for his current work. As he prepares for a 2026 relaunch under The Burnout Prevention Guy brand, Neville is focused on helping people build sustainable performance, clarity, and resilience without sacrificing their health or ambition.  

Mar 24 · 41m

In this episode, we explore the work behind Bronx Eats, a social-impact venture that empowers communities by increasing access to fresh produce while building confidence around cooking and nutrition. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with founder Gail Schorsch about what it means to build a venture that collaborates with schools, local organizations, and community stakeholders to address both the visible and invisible gaps in food access and education—and asks, what happens when we use food as a gateway to build community, share knowledge, and support long-term health? Hear how Bronx Eats moves beyond food distribution alone by integrating hands-on cooking education, mobile programming, and community partnerships that meet people where they are. This thoughtful conversation highlights the importance of listening to community voices, building trust through consistent engagement, and the powerful role entrepreneurs can play in creating healthier, more connected communities. Visit our podcast page. Visit BronxEats. Gail Schorsch is the founder and director of Bronx Eats, a nonprofit increasing fresh food access in underserved Bronx neighborhoods and empowering residents through professional cooking demonstrations and nutrition education. Bronx Eats features relatable chefs sharing the Bronx's rich local flavors through affordable, culturally relevant recipes. The organization also partners with NYC public schools and offers monthly fresh produce giveaways to families across the Bronx. Gail brings a unique combination of teaching expertise, culinary training, and market-management experience to her work building sustainable food-access programs.

Mar 17 · 58m

In this episode, we explore the work of museum education leader, creative strategist, author, and entrepreneur Kimaada Le Gendre. Her work, including her ventures Camp Naturebella, Naturebella's Kids, and Curating the Art of Learning, as well as her work as Chief Learning Officer at the Queens Museum and Director of the Suna Children's Museum, brings together creative practice, public engagement, and community-centered design to activate spaces and deepen connections between people and place. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with Le Gendre about what it means to build a venture that collaborates with community stakeholders, cultural institutions, and local partners to co-create experiences rooted in shared knowledge and lived experience—and asks, what happens when we treat community not as audience, but as co-authors of space and experience? Hear how her work moves beyond traditional models of engagement by centering participation, dialogue, and accessibility as core components of impact. This thoughtful conversation highlights the importance of designing with community, the role of creative practice in fostering connection, and the powerful ways entrepreneurs can shape more inclusive and responsive environments, fostering power shifts in how spaces and ideas are designed and activated.   Visit our podcast page. Visit Naturebella's Kids at their website and on Instagram. Visit Camp Naturebella. Visit Curating the Art of Learning. Visit the Queens Museum.  Kimaada Le Gendre is a creative entrepreneur, award-winning author, and museum leader whose work bridges culture, creativity, and community. She's the founder of Naturebella's Kids, a children's brand that celebrates diversity, empowerment, and environmental awareness through bestselling picture books and products. That success inspired Camp Naturebella, a year-round initiative designed to capture the excitement of summer camp, giving girls brave spaces during the school year to explore, imagine, and lead with confidence.   Today, Kimaada continues that mission through Curating the Art of Learning, her new consulting practice that helps educators, institutions, and creative entrepreneurs design programs rooted in representation, joy, and belonging. She currently serves as Chief Learning Officer and Director of The Suna Children's Museum at the Queens Museum, where she leads groundbreaking education and community engagement initiatives.   Kimaada has been honored as a Power Player in Education by Politics NY & AM Metro New York in both 2023 and 2024, and received the Caribbean Impact Award in 2025 for her leadership and cultural advocacy. Across every project, from museums to children's media, her mission remains the same: to empower through learning that reflects who we are and what we can become.

Mar 10 · 1h 11m

In this episode, we explore the work behind Equity Design, a social-purpose-focused venture that employs a design-centered process to create physical activity programs, with the goal of changing lives and shaping long-lasting behaviors amongst communities. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with founder Maurelhena Walles about what it means to build a venture that collaborates with institutions, leaders, and community stakeholders to confront inequities and imagine new ways of working together. Hear how Equity Design moves beyond intention toward meaningful structural change through facilitation and strategy development. This thoughtful conversation highlights the importance of listening to community voices and the powerful role entrepreneurs can play in effecting cultural change and empowerment. Visit our podcast page. Visit Equity Design. ​​Maurelhena Walles, is the Founder and CEO of Equity Design, a social enterprise that invests in closing the gap that exists between health and wealth by using data and an equity lens to drive the design of sustainable physical activity programming. Her personal narrative from NYC schoolyard tag champion to representing the United States and becoming both World Champion and World and National Record Holder as a part of the World Masters Athletics Championship, dictated her professional journey of creating healthier lives for under-resourced communities through the design of sustainable physical activity programming.  She uses her expertise in instructional design to design physical activity programs that address the specific health needs of underserved communities. She believes that good results are worth the time it takes to plan them. Her strength on the track is synonymous with her drive and persistence off the track. She still maintains a rigorous training and competitive schedule, while balancing family and her passion for using physical activity as a tool to educate and empower.

Mar 3 · 1h 4m

In this episode, we step inside the vision behind the International Salsa Museum, a grand cultural project dedicated to preserving the history, rhythm, and global impact of salsa music. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with co-founder Willy Rodriguez about what it means to build a museum before the building exists. From pop-up exhibitions to community collaborations, we will hear about how the museum is already alive — fueled by urgency, legacy, and love for music and community. Listen to this conversational exploration of the evolution of salsa in New York, the responsibility of honoring those who came before, and the importance of creating pathways for the next generation. Enjoy this powerful conversation about cultural preservation, collective memory, and the transformative force of music. Visit our podcast page. Visit the International Salsa Museum. Willy Rodriguez, is a professional pianist, musical director, producer, CEO of The Valens Agency, and Co-Founder of the International Salsa Museum. Mr. Rodriguez has been involved in the entertainment industry since he was 15. He has been the musical director of the Tito Puente Jr Orchestra since he was 19 years old and has traveled worldwide, performing in front of thousands of people with his Latin band La Excelencia. Willy Rodriguez has performed for former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and former Presidents of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernandez and Hipolito Mejia. He has also shared the stage with artists such as the late great Celia Cruz, Juan Luis Guerra, Lauryn Hill, Sade, George Clinton, The Gypsy Kings, Oscar De Leon, Tito Nieves, and Jose Alberto "El Canario." He has worked as a producer/musician with artists such as Bruno Mars, Dafina Zeqiri, and French Montana, to name just a few. In 2012 a salsa tour through Haiti changed his life forever. While in Haiti, he realized that no matter how bad a person's situation can be, music can heal people and for a moment inspire and empower someone or completely change their life. Soon after his tour in Haiti, he started a boutique entertainment agency named The Valens Agency. The Valens Agency offers booking services, management, artist consultation, stage management, and music production to established and upcoming artists, small businesses, and corporations. Through his company, Mr. Rodriguez has been able to develop relationships and has worked with organizations such as the New York Yankees, ESPN, Linkedin, Brooklyn Nets, Jazz at Lincoln Center, A&E Networks, and other major organizations. Lastly, between 2020 and 2021, Mr. Rodriguez became a voting member of the National Recording Academy and Co-Chairman of the Latin Music Task Force for the New York Chapter. Aside from that Mr. Rodriguez was introduced to a major opportunity that would change his life. This major opportunity led Mr. Rodriguez to become the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the International Salsa Museum. He has stated to various media outlets, "I feel like all my dreams are becoming true at the same time with the creation of the Salsa Museum. My passion for music and community is going to shine through this museum and now I get to give back the way I have always wanted to give back." Since creating the International Salsa Museum, Mr. Rodriguez has been featured in Rolling Stones Magazine, Billboard Magazine, Grammy.com, Telemundo, Univision, NBC 4 News, NPR, and other major news outlets. He has also developed relationships with Meta, Google Arts and Culture, Paramount, Gracie Mansion Conservatory, The Smithsonian, and other major organizations that align with his vision of a Salsa Museum in New York City. Willy Rodriguez has been able to experience the world in a way that has opened his mind and spirit in more ways than one. As CEO of The Valens Agency and Co-Founder of the International Salsa Museum, Mr. Rodriguez plans to shine a light on the lack of Music Education, and various cultures that are not being seen or heard and be a role model for the youth, not only in the United States but around the world.

Nov 4 · 1h 27m

In this episode, we find out how we can address food insecurity at individual, family, and community levels. What happens when we start to pay attention to how things grow? What are the positive impacts that occur when we come together in a community to create and scale up autonomous, self-sufficient food systems? Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with Samia (Sam) Lemfadli, founder of Change Food for Good. What happens when we approach issues of food inequity and lack of access with a collectivist mindset? Find out about the potential that is unlocked when we realize, "we have everything we need at our disposal, and what we don't have we can figure out within community." Visit our podcast page. Visit Change Food for Good. Samia Lemfadli is a Brooklyn native and technologist with a deep-rooted passion for sustainable agriculture. As an alumnus of programs like General Assembly's Web Development Immersive and Platform by Per Scholas, she has leveraged her technical and business development skills to improve workforce strategies and advance technical infrastructure for organizations like MIT Civic Media Lab, The Knowledge House , Per Scholas, New York Maritime Innovation Center, Kilimanjaro Initiative USA, and JobsFirstNYC. Samia has applied her lived experience of the workforce development system to secure more than 500 job placements for program alumni and her community network. She remains a fierce advocate for young adult economic mobility. She believes workforce development and inclusive technology advances can be key levers for self-determination and more resilient communities. She was selected for Hunter College's 2025 40 under 40 Rising Stars in Food Policy Award, Claniel Foundation's 2022 Emerging Leaders Fund, was a 2020 Echoing Green Semi-Finalist, Head of the Junior Board for Kilimanjaro Initiative USA and served as Co-Chair for the Yes Bed-Stuy Partnership.