Harlem is Harlem.
Everyone here in Harlem is free to be themselves.
You see so many different styles, so many different cultures,
and everyone is just themselves, unapologetically.
Harlem is where we work, where we live right?
Our Kids like, everything is in Harlem. Our kids go to school in Harlem.
Yeah, everything is Harlem.
My sister got married in Harlem.
I got married in the Bronx, but she got married here.
So, you know, like, we love Harlem.
We started three businesses.
We have Young Excellence Society, which our nonprofit organization.
We have Educated Fashion Addict, which is our women's clothing boutique.
And we also have Veganhood, which is our 100% plant based vegan restaurant.
When you shop with us, you shop for a cause.
So everything you do with us is for a cause.
Natalie has helped us tremendously as entrepreneurs,
and she's just been like our partner, like a third partner,
in a sense.
I've been in Harlem on and off over ten years.
I've enjoyed every stage of my career here as the branch manager.
My job is to reach out
to small businesses, really try to help them grow and thrive.
Like, we're kind of spoiled.
I feel like she spoils us.
But when we speak to other business owners in the area, they're as spoiled.
Like, okay, I think she's just that dynamite of a person as a branch manager.
That she just really literally cares about her community, her community business,
and she loves what she does.
I was amazed at
what the ladies did and the contribution they are making to the community.
They have deeply rooted in the Harlem community.
And its shows and the different businesses they look to invest in.
When we have small
businesses, we have less big stores
coming in to take over the community.
And that's important.
It's important to keep it local.
Currently we're working with Natalie on a financial literacy
program, a conference for the people in the community.
Natalie will spearhead the financial component of that program.
In some communities, there are difficulties trusting the bank.
And my job is to make sure that I'm honest, transparent with our customers,
because when they trust us, they're able to do more with us
and we're able to educate them on different things
that may support their life. And not just a checking account,
but whether they know what a power of attorney is,
whether they know what to trust or will is.
So our goal as the bank
being a center part of the neighborhood is really to bridge the gap,
keep the culture alive, bring neighborhoods together,
you know, schools, churches, non-for-profit organizations,
and connect all of them.
They are trying to make a better Harlem. And I'm just going to help
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