Communitas of New York

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.

Oct 28 · 1h 9m

The founders of FoodStream Network join host Monique T. Marshall in conversation. Richard Cumming and Johanna Salazar discuss designing infrastructure that promote food knowledge and connection within communities experiencing food insecurity, as well as amongst organizations that can play a key role in dealing with food surplus. Join us as we discuss FoodStream's strategies based on their Connect, Learn, and Delivery products; and their ultimate goal of building a better food system. How can a venture meet stakeholders where they are? What does it mean to operate with the quadruple bottom line of "profit, people, planet, process"? Listen and find out what happens when founders work with the mindsets that "everything is possible" and that "when you put community first, the rest will come."   Visit our podcast page. Visit FoodStream Network. Richard Cumming is a creative technologist and brand strategist committed to building solutions that drive social change. As Founder of FoodStream, he applies his background in brand marketing and creative campaigns to design digital infrastructure that addresses hunger and strengthens community networks. With a career rooted in innovation and storytelling, Rich helps turn mission into momentum, forging strategic pathways that help organizations connect, grow, and feed more people through tech-enabled collaboration. Johanna Salazar is a media executive, technologist, and social impact innovator with over 20 years of experience building and scaling platforms at the intersection of content, technology, and community. As Co-Founder of FoodStream, she leads operations, partnerships, and business development to deliver digital tools that empower nonprofits and reduce food insecurity. Drawing from a career that spans Viacom, Paramount, Cirque du Soleil, and AppleTV, Johanna blends entrepreneurial rigor with a deep commitment to equity, helping communities unlock the power of technology to solve urgent challenges.  

Oct 21 · 1h 7m

Collaboration connotes people working together, but people don't work together in a vacuum. On this episode of Communitas of New York, we hear Kashon DuBose, the founder of Cultivators; and Renee Keitt, the co-founder of KBM Spices and Things. In conversation with host Monique T. Marshall, the two founders discuss what it means to have a relationship with a community through having a relationship with the land, to seek knowledge from the past and from our surroundings, and to internalize and share that knowledge ourselves. How is collaboration a natural function of our human need to be in community? Indeed, can we grow without being in a collaborative mode? How does impact measurement go beyond the realm of the quantitative, especially when in the mindset that we are all sharing the same planet and the same air? Join us for this enlightening conversation.  Visit our podcast page. Visit Cultivators. Visit KBM Spices and Things. Visit Kelly Street Garden. Kashon DuBose is the founder of Cultivators, a Bronx-based nonprofit that uses green spaces as pathways to healing, resilience, and community. Rooted in his own lived experience, Kashon created Cultivators to bridge the gap between underserved urban communities and the restorative power of nature. Through hands-on projects—like tree pit restorations, terrarium workshops, and rain garden stewardship—Cultivators empowers youth and families to see green spaces not just as patches of land, but as safe, healing environments. Under Kashon's leadership, the organization has engaged hundreds of community members in sustainability and mental health initiatives, while sparking conversations about how access to nature is an equity issue. Kashon has shared his work on platforms like the Children & Nature Network Conference and BronxNet TV, continuing to advocate for mental health, environmental stewardship, and the transformative role of community care. His vision is simple but powerful: to cultivate both the land and the people, reminding us that when we nurture the earth, we nurture ourselves. Renee Keitt is a co-founder of KBM Spices and Things, a woman-and non-binary-led BIPOC worker-owned cooperative based in the Bronx. She is a grower, seed saver, and master composter who manages the Kelly Street Garden and a member of various gardens in East Harlem and the Bronx.  Renee is a graduate of Farm School NYC and studied at CUNY's School of Labor and Urban Studies; she works at the intersection of food, housing, nature, and the built environment, sharing collective wisdom to nourish and empower. KBM Spices and Things creates plant-based, culturally rooted food, health, and wellness products that draw on traditional medicine to support community healing.