Making It Here

Lucy opened Yu & Me Books in December of 2021, bringing to life an idea she’d carried since childhood. After leaving a career in chemical engineering, she finally built the kind of space she’d always imagined: a community hub grounded in three pillars: championing writers of color, uplifting debut authors, and offering a welcoming third place. 

The store quickly found its audience, drawing both national attenti...

Cindy Castro New York is a sustainable luxury brand, producing locally in the city with responsible fabrics and a commitment to garment workers’ rights. The company was founded by Cindy Castro, who grew up in Ecuador and came to the U.S. as an au pair before putting herself through design school. She went on to break into New York’s fashion world, taking risks and building a label that reflects both her values and ...

Brothers Van and Sumit Sharma launched Rupee Beer about six years ago. The idea grew out of their family’s long history in the Indian restaurant business, their parents opened the first Indian restaurants in Maine after immigrating from the UK, and Van saw early on the challenges of finding a consistent supply of Indian beer in the U.S.

Rupee Beer set out to fill that gap with recipes designed to pair with Indian food, using ...

At the height of Covid-19 In 2020, as storefronts across the city went vacant, some New Yorkers saw an opportunity. Art on the Ave NYC began filling empty windows with curated exhibitions, each paired with a QR code that let viewers hear directly from the artist. Since then, nearly a hundred spaces, from Columbus Avenue to Washington Heights, Bed-Stuy, and the Oculus, have been reimagined as public galleries.

At the center of it is...

Food often carries more than taste. It can bring back memories of family, traditions, and familiar places. That’s the response many people have to the dessert at the center of today’s episode.

That dessert is Heritage Bread Pudding, the creation of Tiffany Campos. In less than a year, she has taken her Puerto Rican family recipe and built it into a growing business, appearing at church fundraisers, pop-ups, the Grand Ce...

Hard seltzer is one of the fastest-growing areas of the beverage industry. But within that, there’s still room for brands that bring something new to the table. Lunar does this with flavors like yuzu, lychee, and Korean plum, and with packaging that makes its Asian roots impossible to miss.

The company was founded by Sean Ro and Kevin Wong, who built the business with a lean team and a clear vision. And now, Lunar’s awa...

Pollinators play a critical role in our food system, but their decline has immediate consequences for food security, public health, and the resilience of ecosystems.

The Bee Conservancy was created in response to that reality. What started as a grassroots effort has grown into programs that bring pollinator gardens across the city, provide seeds and support to urban farmers, and engage residents in community science to track bee po...

It’s been just about a year since a once-empty storefront in the 74th Street Roosevelt Avenue subway station in Jackson Heights, became a space for retelling stories. It now houses Los Herederos, a nonprofit blending radio, archives, and public programs to document communities across Queens.
The idea took shape in 2015 with a bilingual multimedia project, but the team quickly realized the need for something larger. They bu...

Opening a brick-and-mortar business in New York City takes more than just a good idea. It takes funding, strategy, establishing connections and a clear sense of purpose. That’s what Adrian Cepeda brought when he founded The World’s Borough Bookshop in Jackson Heights two years ago. His mission? To highlight BIPOC, immigrant, and first-gen authors, who represent the diverse voices of his neighborhood.

With the help of a ...

In New York City, the cost of access often determines who gets to step into the spotlight. Dance classes can run hundreds or even thousands of dollars, pricing out kids who could benefit from them most. That’s where Cultured Movement comes in. It’s a low-cost, culturally rooted dance program that centers confidence, and connection… not perfection. Founded by Sherema Fleming, a Bronx-born nurse, dancer, and b...

In New York City, turning a creative idea into a business takes more than talent. It often means juggling multiple roles: artist, vendor, marketer… and figuring out how to make a living while staying true to your vision.

It’s a balancing act that Nicolás Gabot, the founder of Brooklyn Art Factory, has been navigating for years. He’s the founder of Brooklyn Art Factory, known for handcrafted wooden sig...

We’re pulling back the curtain on Epicenter-NYC, introducing the team, sharing how we approach community journalism, and reflecting on what it means to serve our neighbors. We also say goodbye to Adriana Proaño, a founding team member who’s been at the heart of this work.

Plus, a big update: we&rsqu...

On July 4th, the Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law, and with it, sweeping changes to food assistance programs that support millions of Americans. Advocates say it includes the largest cuts to SNAP in U.S. history. But this isn’t just about food budgets. Many warn of deeper ripple effects: on children’s health, educational outcomes, and the long-term stability of vulnerable households.

To understand how these change...

In today’s global spice trade, farmers often have little control, and consumers end up with bland, aging products on their shelves. The process is opaque, dominated by large companies and layers of middlemen. The team behind Burlap & Barrel is working to change that. From wild cumin gathered in Afghanistan to cinnamon bark in Vietnam, their business is built on direct partnerships with farmers, fair pricing, and resp...

Voter turnout in New York City’s mayoral primary was significantly higher than it was four years ago, but the mood on the ground wasn’t one of excitement. It was frustration.

Over the past week, I’ve talked to voters across four boroughs along with Mariana Navarrete Villegas and Amanda DeJesus from the Epicenter team. What we heard again and again was this: people are fed up… with rising rents, poor city se...

A new House bill would require many Medicaid recipients to log 80 hours of work each month or risk losing coverage. Supporters say it promotes self-sufficiency, but critics warn the paperwork alone could drop thousands from the rolls. Experts say that even expansion states like New York, where about one in three residents depends on Medicaid, could see enrollment slip.

To help unpack it all, I spoke to Sarah Miller. Sarah is an ass...

Whitney and Samantha Dobladillo, the duo behind Peruvian Sisters, launched their storytelling platform in 2020 to connect with others navigating the complexities of being Peruvian American. Growing up in mostly white schools on Long Island, they often felt out of place, especially when classmates stared at their home-pack...

After losing her job during the pandemic, Talisa Almonte turned to art, launching Almonte Studio and building a business rooted in bold colors and personal meaning. In today's episode she talks about honoring her Dominican roots, navigating small business challenges, and growing her brand.

Almonte Studio

Follow on Instagram and TikTok at @almontestudio.

Shop her art products&nbs...

For many of us, photography is reserved for milestones, but what if a portrait could help you reconnect with who you are right now? That’s the idea behind Layra Marz Photography, founded by Brooklyn-based photographer Layra Marte. Her work, which lives somewhere between boudoir and fine art, is about helping people, especially women and femmes of color...