STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Hard work, dedication and a big-picture mindset were just some of the principles guiding the first-ever Staten Island Women in Business Expo, held Saturday on the North Shore.
The inaugural gathering saw more than 240 attendees and dozens of vendors inside Pavilion on the Terrace. The event focused on highlighting female-owned businesses on Staten Island was organized by North Shore Councilwoman Kamillah M. Hanks.
A Women’s Business Panel opened the expo, followed by a showcase of nearly 60 vendors who shared stories of how they opened shop, who inspired them, and what they did to make themselves known.
“We realized how many women, especially minority women, started businesses during the pandemic to make ends meet or to even do something they’ve always wanted to do. And so for Women’s History Month, I wanted to give them space in a women owned establishment to celebrate that,” Hanks said, noting that seeing the event sell out is one of her greatest accomplishments.
The Women in Business Panel was hosted by Dana Walker-Boyd, the First Vice Chair of the Minority Women in Business Association, which was founded by Kamillah Hanks and her team to advocate, educate and mentor women of color on Staten Island.
The guest speakers for the panel included Carmen Abercrombie, owner of Sharing the Bliss, Doreen Cappozalo Cugno, from the St. George Theatre, Shaw-naé Dixon, owner and operator of Shaw-naé’s House, Dana Van Dyke, from Lifetime Changes Behavior Services (LCBS), and owner of Pavilion on the Terrace, Kecia Juanita Weave. (Staten Island Advance/Priya Shahi) Priya Shahi
During the expo, DJ TLS and MC Jaclyn Tacoronte of JMT media kept the vibe upbeat.
Kecia Juanita Weaver, owner and operator of Pavilion on the Terrace, a 19th century elegant banquet hall where the event took place, was one of the guest speakers on the panel. As a real estate attorney and a lover of old buildings, Weaver shared that she saw potential in the historic Greek building and helped with the efforts to revive and reconstruct it to what it is today.
“My driving force has always been my mother. She loves to make the old new. Unfortunately, she died before I had the chance to finish this place, and so this place will always be here because it means a lot to me. It’s something, as far as I’m concerned, no one will ever be able to take away from me,” she said of the banquet hall.
Carmen Abercrombie, another guest speaker and owner of Sharing the Bliss, shared that she used to sell jewelry on the Staten Island Ferry for 18 years. After losing many of her family members to health related conditions, and facing a life-threatening, blood disease herself, she says she turned her life into a mission’ and is now a Holistic-Health and Purpose Coach. She encouraged the audience to dream beyond a side hustle.
“The side hustle is nice, it’s cute, but it’s time to take your purpose and run with your purpose. Ditch the side hustle sisters and package a purpose,” Abercrombie said.
After the panel discussion, guests networked among each other and got to shop from nearly 60 vendors, who were selling products ranging from natural soaps, homemade candles, clothes, books, hand bags, and more.
Sadé, 15, sells her products for her business Sadé’s Healthy Body Essentials online and at pop-up shops. (Staten Island Advance/Priya Shahi) Priya Shahi
Sadé Daniels, 15, started her business Sadé’s Healthy Body Essentials three years ago with her father, and continued with it after he passed away. She makes body soap, lotions, hand sanitizers, shower gels and more with scents ranging from apple to fudge brownie.
“By continuing and working hard, I was able to create something out of something so small,” Daniels said.
“I hope to be able to experience some really great things and maybe make something even bigger out of it. That’s what life is at the end of the day. It’s just doing thing after thing and trying to find what your purpose is.”
Evelyn J. Drake, creator her brand Edgewear Designs, poses with one of her favorite denim designs. (Staten Island Advance/Priya Shahi) Priya Shahi
Another vendor at the Women in Business Expo, Evelyn J. Drake, is the creator of her brand Edgewear Designs. She has been sewing for over 20 years since her mother put her in front of a sewing machine and says her business has been growing ever since.
She sells her clothing designs, which are mostly denim, at pop up shops and is soon going to launch an online store.
“I like to work with denim. I like to up-cycle them or deconstruct and reconstruct them,” she said. “You know just take something old and make it new. That’s what I love to do.”
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