They love wearing Bombas while working hard to make meaningful change in their communities.
They’re a women-led, Brooklyn-based brass band on a mission to connect with their community through music. Founders Alex Harris and Ally Chapel noticed a distinct lack of women-fronted brass bands—and they wanted to change that.
“We texted all the great female musicians we knew from the scene and started a group…and it’s transformed into something incredible. Brass band music is all about having music on the street you can participate in. It’s a way for us to help the community feel like a part of what we’re doing.”
She’s an outdoor enthusiast and co-host of The Trail Ahead, a podcast at the intersection of race, environment, history, and culture. Each episode is a cross-racial dialogue among friends that illuminates and validates experiences for BIPOC listeners, while providing a new lens for other listeners to examine their own experiences.
“For me, the lessons that I see in nature are so applicable to everyday life. It's my hope that by using nature and the environment as context, people might be more open to tough conversations because we're meeting them in an open space.”
She’s the founder of a BIPOC-focused skate Social Enterprise that helps promote wellness through roller skating. In addition to creating events that bring roller skaters together, Amy and Butter Roll are also ushering in a new generation of skaters through their initiative, Honor Roll. Through this program, NYC students ages 10-18 can receive discounts on gear, so they can experience the joys of skating, too.
“Wellness means taking care of yourself using tools that bring you joy, freedom, and self-expression. Roller skating offers all of those things.”
As a Chief Visionary Officer, he oversees a network of over 200 mentors that focus on celebrating, educating and inspiring Black boys and men. He empowers these men to share their stories, because they know a story can impact and inspire young Black men as they go through different stages of life.
“I made an observation that Black men and boys need to see positive images of themselves, so I had an obligation to create it. Our summits, dinners and more provide safe spaces to teach or reinforce social emotional skills that will allow for Black men and boys to be successful in their endeavors.”
This married couple started the first community fridge in the Bronx. The Friendly Fridge rescues about 5,000 lbs of food every week and redirects it to individuals experiencing food insecurity. They began the Fridge in response to the pandemic and, at the start, served 10-20 people every day. Now, 150+ folks stop by the Fridge daily to grab fresh, healthy food.
“As one regular visitor said to us, ‘Hunger has no name.’ Nearby college students come to the Fridge. Senior citizens show up daily. Transit employees, teachers, and so many more, too.”
We worked with her to create a special Bombas donut at her donut shop, Fan-Fan Donuts in Brooklyn, NY. What makes this donut so special was that all net proceeds (along with a sock donation for every doughnut purchased) will go to the organization Immigrant Families Together. What makes it so delicious is toasted coconut vanilla with tropical glaze and mixed berry stripes.
“My husband has been a big fan of Bombas and that's how I first got to know you guys, so I had my own ideas for a collaboration. To me Bombas is colorful, friendly, and fun so I wanted to do flavors that echoed that.”
Louie is an artist who transforms and unites communities through murals. He uses his talents to bring spaces to life, but his murals also directly reflect the shared experiences and values of those who live nearby.
“Although every artist should have the creative freedom to use the imagery of their choice, I think the best artists are able to use their visual language to speak for the residents who reside in the community. My art brings communities together by allowing the residents to take pride in where they live, and I hope those who see my murals are able to walk away with joy after seeing them. A work of art has the ability to impact people on an emotional level. If my art can make you stop in your tracks and feel something, then I’ve done my job!”
He saw firsthand how the lack of affordable, healthy foods was affecting children, so he started Harlem Grown, a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire youth through mentorship and education in urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition.
“Food is a basic human need. When people lack access to affordable healthy food, they are forced to either spend money they do not have access to, or revert to unhealthy eating habits.”
She’s a Puerto Rican-born dancer, choreographer, children's book author, scholar, dance educator, and cultural warrior. She’s also the founder of Bombazo Dance Company, a nonprofit dance organization preserving, performing, and teaching Puerto Rico's oldest musical tradition: Bomba Puertorriqueña.
“Bomba dance is characterized by the conversation between dancer and drummer. The dancer uses their body and attire to express themselves in a playful dialogue. Bomba dance heals, liberates, and unites.”
He’s a runner with Back On My Feet, our Giving Partner who combats homelessness through the power of fitness and community support. When Nate isn’t studying for his Human Services degree, you can find him training for marathons (he recently ran the New York City marathon!)
“Running helps me remain focused. It’s not just an exercise for me. It is a stress reliever, a way of coping, and I can process my thoughts while running. Through training, I have also made so many connections with people throughout the boroughs.”