• Entrepreneurship

by Alisa Gumbs

July 10, 2026

15 Emerging BIPOC Brands Are Popping Up At Brooklyn Navy Yard This Summer

Lifestyle marketplace Open Market has curated a Summer Atelier for all your shopping needs

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For New Yorkers who want to shop small as they beat the summer heat, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation has announced the launch of its second Yard Opportunity Shop storefront. The Summer Atelier, run by Black-owned lifestyle marketplace Open Market, features products from 15 BIPOC brands and will be open five days a week through Aug. 22.

The Yard Opportunity Shop retail incubator program gives small, minority- and women-owned businesses the chance to operate out of a retail space at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on a three-month rotation.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Open Market to the Yard Opportunity Shop. Their mission to uplift small business owners and celebrate the diverse cultures of entrepreneurs across the country strongly aligns with Navy Yard’s vision,” said Lindsay Greene, president and CEO of the BNYDC, in a statement.

Founder Imani Schectman launched Open Market in 2020 as a then-virtual lifestyle marketplace centered around showcasing emerging BIPOC entrepreneurs.

“I built Open Market to elevate BIPOC creators and help their brands thrive. Having a brick-and-mortar space to bring people together has always been a goal of mine, and I’m thrilled to embark on this experience at the Brooklyn Navy Yard,” said Schectman in a statement. “The Summer Atelier is a beautiful celebration of culture and creativity, and I can’t wait to share the works of these amazing emerging brands with the broader Brooklyn community.”

Schectman spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE exclusively about how BIPOC brands can get a foot in the door for retail opportunities:

How do you choose which brands to participate in your activations?

We take a deliberately organic and personal approach when choosing which brands to feature in our activations. Rather than relying on a single pipeline, we blend targeted research with community‑driven discovery. Some partnerships begin with our own strategic scouting, identifying brands whose values, creative direction, and audience alignment complement our vision. After running Open Market for six years now, we’ve also been able to create partnerships more naturally through word of mouth, referrals, and ongoing conversations within our growing network.

This mix allows us to stay both intentional and adaptable: research ensures we’re curating brands that fit our standards, while personal connections help us uncover emerging voices and cultivate collaborations that feel authentic. The result is a roster shaped by genuine alignment, shared energy, and a sense of mutual possibility.

How do you prepare those brands for these kinds of retail marketplaces?

Preparing emerging brands for retail marketplaces is a hands‑on, collaborative process for us. We start with the basics, making sure each brand has a functioning website, a clear social presence, and the capacity to meet production and inventory needs. Those fundamentals matter, but they’re only part of the picture. We also provide resources for our brands, sharing pro tips on the latest trends and keys for success, as well as opportunities to connect with industry leaders and organizations. Having these brands plugged into our community prior to the Summer Atelier opening at the Brooklyn Navy Yard has helped make the process more seamless.

We’re creating a marketplace filled with great products and services, yes, but we’re also building a community that strengthens us as people and as creators. What’s most important for us at Open Market is that the brands we work with are similarly community‑focused and genuinely aligned with what we’re building. We look for partners who believe in the larger vision and want to grow alongside us. That shared commitment is what makes these partnerships meaningful and sustainable.

What do you think emerging BIPOC brands can do to better position themselves for opportunities?

Emerging BIPOC-owned brands can better position themselves by strengthening both their foundations and their visibility. On the foundational side, having a polished website, a clear social presence, and reliable production and inventory systems is essential. Retail partners and marketplaces need to know a brand can meet demand, communicate effectively, and show up consistently.

Beyond the basics, the biggest differentiator is clarity of identity and community connection. Brands that understand their story, their audience, and the cultural value they bring tend to stand out. Our Yard Opportunity Shop storefront and other pop-ups we’ve done give our brands visibility and access to a community of locals and potential new shoppers. Leaning into community, whether that’s local networks, digital communities, or industry circles, creates momentum and opens doors that traditional pathways sometimes overlook.

Something I’ve learned is the importance of founders approaching opportunities with a collaborative mindset and being totally obsessed with making their business thrive. I’ve often thought to myself that I’ve had to be nearly delusional about Open Market’s success to keep driving the mission and the vision forward. The brands that thrive are the ones willing to grow with partners, invest in relationships, and see themselves as part of something larger. Infrastructure gets you ready for the opportunity; community and alignment help you sustain it.

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• Arts and Culture

by Selena Hill

July 10, 2026

The Bronx’s Ghetto Gastro Launches Secretive Supper Club, Blending Fine Dining With Community

The Black-owned and Bronx-based culinary collective announced its latest venture celebrating Afro-diasporic cuisine.

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Ghetto Gastro, the acclaimed Bronx-based culinary collective known for blending food, fashion, art, and activism, has opened its first permanent dining concept in New York City.

The invitation-only supper club, Gourmega, opened this spring in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a daytime community kitchen and café before transforming into an intimate chef’s table experience at night, reports Time Out New York.

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Founded in 2012 by Jon Gray, Malcolm Livingston II, and Pierre Serrao, Ghetto Gastro has built a global following through high-profile collaborations while championing food equity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the collective helped provide more than 100,000 meals to food-insecure New Yorkers and Black Lives Matter protesters.

Although Ghetto Gastro has deep Bronx roots, Gourmega’s home in Greenwich Village carries a historical significance. According to Time Out, the restaurant sits in an area once known as the “Land of the Blacks,” one of America’s earliest free Black communities and later home to Black-and-tan clubs during the Harlem Renaissance era. Designer Mariam Issoufou incorporated that legacy into the restaurant’s Afrofuturist design through Black artwork, dramatic interiors, and a communal alabaster table that transforms throughout the day.

Gray said the space was intentionally created with Black women in mind.

His vision was to create “a space of rest and welcoming for Black women,” he said, explaining that “Black women always introduced me to all the fly s–t that I know.”

Despite years of speculation about opening a restaurant, Gray said the group intentionally waited for the right opportunity.

“I was able to be a patron to La Esquina, The Box, Beatrice Inn—all of these different cultural spaces that really shaped who I am, and the possibilities that I understood. So now it’s my job and the gang’s job to create those spaces,” Gray told Time Out.

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The restaurant offers what Gray describes as “Afro-Asiatic Americana” cuisine led by Chef Lester Walker, whose résumé includes Eleven Madison Park and Per Se. He curated a seven- to 10-course tasting menu featuring dishes inspired by the African diaspora, Asia, Puerto Rico, and the Bronx.

Beyond fine dining, Gourmega partnered with the nonprofit Rethink Food to prepare more than 3,000 community meals each week during the day, with 100% of its net proceeds supporting efforts to combat food insecurity. Gray said the vision extends beyond creating another sought-after restaurant.

“We want to be able to, like, really build community and rock with people on the reg, you know?” he said.

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• BE The Game

by Selena Hill

July 10, 2026

Republican Lawmakers Urge WNBA To Protect Caitlin Clark From ‘Racially Motivated’ Attacks

Republicans in Congress argue that the Indiana Fever star has been subjected to repeated on-court violence.

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A group of 11 Republican lawmakers is urging WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert to take stronger action to protect Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark after a series of on-court incidents.

According to The Guardian, the lawmakers sent a letter claiming Clark has faced “repeated acts of unnecessary physical hostility and violence” and expressed concern that “many of these attacks against Caitlin Clark may be racially motivated.”

Led by Texas Rep. August Pfluger, the lawmakers argued that Clark has been “hip-checked, poked in the eye, and struck in the throat during games,” while questioning whether the league has adequately enforced its rules. They also asked whether the Department of Justice should investigate whether federal civil rights laws have been violated.

The letter follows a June 24 game in which Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas was suspended one game after striking Clark in the throat. Thomas later said she received racist messages and death threats following the incident.

Clark, however, has condemned the harassment directed at players across the league.

“Nobody deserves that,” Clark said last week, according to Reuters. “Whether it’s me, whether it’s my teammates, whether it’s my coaches, whether it’s opposing players… there’s no place for that.”

She also pushed back on the continued focus surrounding the incident, saying, “It’s frustrating to me that that’s what everybody wants to talk about because that’s not what the league is about.”

The WNBA has expanded efforts to monitor online abuse and provide additional mental health resources for players amid growing concerns over harassment as the league’s popularity continues to surge.

In response, the Fever said that it was unaware of the lawmakers’ letter.

“Our organization nor Caitlin has had any interaction with anyone in this congressional group and we were unaware of their letter,” reads their statement. “We have been clear in our public comments and in our ongoing dialogue with the League about the priority of player safety. Our players and our fans know where we stand on those issues, and we will continue to stick up for our team and a standard of excellence across the league.”

RELATED CONTENT: Angel Reese’s Rise And Popularity In The League Is Impressive

• BE The Game

by Edwian Stokes

July 9, 2026

Serena Williams Targets Hard-Court Swing To Fuel Tennis And Business Empire

Serena Williams plans to return for the upcoming U.S. hard-court season

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Serena Williams plans to return for the upcoming U.S. hard-court season before the US Open while managing her businesses. Williams, 44, injured her right knee during her opening-round singles loss to Maya Joint at Wimbledon. She withdrew from doubles with her sister, Venus Williams. Her team confirmed she does not plan to retire.

“Her thoughts are to try and keep going,” Williams’ coach, Rennae Stubbs, told reporters at Wimbledon. “She’s got a lot of things to consider, her family, her businesses. But her goal is to keep going.” In a statement on social media, Williams shared, “I feel a responsibility to show my daughter and young athletes everywhere that setbacks can be overcome.”

According to Tennis365, Williams is preparing a full singles schedule for the US Open starting Aug. 23. She may seek wildcard entries at WTA 1000 events such as the Canadian Open in Toronto and the Cincinnati Open.

Williams’ career holds significant cultural and economic importance for the African American community. As one of the most successful Black athletes, she has broken barriers in a traditionally white-dominated sport. Her presence challenges narratives about aging, motherhood, and athletic longevity for Black women. Beyond her achievements, Williams mentors young athletes through programs like the Yetunde Price Resource Center and funds scholarships for underrepresented students. She also uses her position to advocate for racial and gender equality, motivating the next generation to pursue their goals on and off the court.

Williams has turned her athletic success into financial power through Serena Ventures, her venture capital firm investing in founders from diverse backgrounds. Serena Ventures has backed companies like MasterClass, Impossible Foods, and Andela, supporting trailblazing leaders and driving change across industries. Her leadership in sports and business offers a model for economic empowerment and corporate leadership within the Black community.

Some tennis analysts question the feasibility of her plans. On his podcast, former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski said Williams’ goals may be too ambitious given her limited recent play.

“I’d be very surprised if she tries to go play in America on the hard courts because it’s much more difficult to go through the players on the hard courts,” Rusedski said, noting that the surface requires strong movement and precise shot accuracy.

Stubbs noted hard courts offer a more stable footing for Williams’ knee than grass, and it is the surface on which she has been most successful. She won 13 of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles on hard courts.

Williams addressed her health on Instagram, sharing updates on her rehabilitation. “The good news is my knee shouldn’t swell or collect that much fluid again,” she wrote. She expressed disappointment about missing Wimbledon doubles but remains positive about her recovery.

According to People, doctors are monitoring her progress. If her rehabilitation proceeds as planned, Williams intends to partner with Venus Williams in the US Open doubles draw.

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• Education

by Selena Hill

July 9, 2026

Republican Lawmakers Dead DEI In North Carolina Schools And Colleges

The measures became law immediately following the successful override votes

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North Carolina has become the latest state to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives after Republican lawmakers voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes of legislation prohibiting DEI programs in public schools, community colleges, and universities, reports EdNC.

The North Carolina House of Representatives voted along party lines to override Stein’s vetoes of Senate Bill 227, which applies to public schools, and Senate Bill 558, which extends similar restrictions to the state’s public colleges and universities. The measures became law immediately following the successful override votes. A separate bill, House Bill 171, which would eliminate DEI programs in state agencies and local governments, also cleared the House and awaits a Senate veto override before becoming law.

Under the new laws, public schools are prohibited from engaging in what Republicans describe as “discriminatory practices” or teaching “divisive concepts” in the classroom. Similar restrictions apply to North Carolina’s public colleges and universities, where DEI offices and initiatives are also affected.

Following the vote, North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall praised the legislation, saying it ends “divisive DEI policies for good.” House Majority Leader Brenden Jones also defended the legislation, stating, “Every child in North Carolina deserves to walk into a classroom and be treated as an individual, not as a category.” He added, “Let us stand with parents and students. Let us stand with teachers who want to teach and not indoctrinate,” reports AfroTech.

Gov. Stein, on the other hand, sharply criticized the Republican-led General Assembly’s priorities.

“As the legislature leaves teachers and law enforcement officers waiting for hard-earned and desperately needed pay raises, members of the General Assembly are stoking the culture wars that divide us rather than fulfilling their long-overdue responsibility of passing a budget,” said the Democratic governor in his veto message.

The legislation has also drawn opposition from educators and advocates who argue DEI initiatives foster inclusive learning environments. North Carolina Association of Educators President Tamika Walker Kelly pushed back on the characterization of DEI, saying, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion aren’t political talking points. They are the foundation of schools that are safe, welcoming, and strong for every child that steps through the schoolhouse door.”

North Carolina joins a growing number of Republican-led states—including South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, and Kentucky—that have enacted legislation restricting DEI programs in public education and government institutions.

RELATED CONTENT: DEI Isn’t Dead: New Research Finds Most Companies Still Back Workplace Inclusion

• Leadership

by Sidnee Michelle

July 9, 2026

Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi Says Overnight Campus Job Shaped Her Worth Ethic

Nooyi reflected on arriving in the United States from India in 1978 to pursue a master's degree in public and private management at Yale.

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Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi said the overnight campus job she worked while attending graduate school at Yale University helped shape her work ethic and earned her the respect of classmates, offering new insight into the experiences that laid the foundation for her corporate leadership, Fortune reports.

In an interview with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Nooyi reflected on arriving in the United States from India in 1978 to pursue a master’s degree in public and private management at Yale. To help pay for her education, she worked as a dormitory receptionist from midnight until 5 a.m. before attending classes each morning.  

“We worked our tail off because to us, we didn’t come there for the social life—we came there to study and to work hard and to move ahead,” Nooyi said. “So the goal we had was very, very clear: study, work hard, get great grades, and somehow land a job. That’s all the objective was at that time.”
Nooyi said the demanding schedule ultimately changed how classmates viewed international students who balanced work and academics.

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“When we got consulting jobs or investment banking jobs, people looked at us and said, ‘Hey, these are brainiacs,'” she said. “Respect just went up—purely because of the hard work and all the efforts we put in… People realized that this was a grueling experience for us, and they respected us for that.”  

She also reflected on the opportunities she found after immigrating to the United States.

“I remember back in the old days, people would say they thought the streets might be paved with gold. Maybe they weren’t paved with gold, but they were paved with the possibility of ambition,” Nooyi said.  

After graduating from Yale in 1980, Nooyi held leadership roles at Boston Consulting Group, Motorola, and Johnson & Johnson before joining PepsiCo Inc. in 1994. She became chief financial officer in 2001 and chief executive officer in 2006, serving until 2018. During her tenure, company revenue grew substantially, and she became one of the longest-serving female CEOs in the Fortune 500.  

Nooyi said leadership is developed through experience rather than innate ability.

“Leadership requires you to have people wanting to follow you—wanting to follow you with passion,” she said. “It’s a lifelong process. You have to watch, experience, practice, be put in situations where you have to follow leaders, and then you have to have people follow you.”

She encouraged aspiring executives to observe experienced leaders closely, learn from both their successes and mistakes, and continuously refine their own leadership skills.  

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