31 Ways 31 Days for New York City

Aug. 1 -- Buy products of black food manufacturers in grocery stores such as Sylvia's, Glory and Home-Style; if you don't see a section of such products, ask the manager why not. Purchase the wines of African-American vintners.  See the list at africanamericanvintner.org.  Eat at an African-American restaurant. We will feature one local restaurant each day of August. Find detailed information in Say Grace and Wipe Yo' Hands: BlackRestaurant.NET Guide to America's Black Restaurants.  Many people eat out at least once per day.  Let that be your way to generate jobs.    Today's featured eatery is Sylvia's Restaurant, 328 Malcolm X Blvd. at 126th St. in Harlem, celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the recently passed Queen of Soul Food.

Aug. 2 -- Invest in African-American owned businesses to reduce the capital access gap they face. Fast growing companies like 510Nano, creating high-efficiency solar panels and developing solar farms across the country need capital.  African-American securities firms in New York City include Castle Oak Securities, Reynolds Securities, M.R. Beal, which announced an agreement with Atlanta's Jackson Securities to expand, Doley Securities, and Multi-Trade Securities.  Angel investing, often through investment clubs, is another source of business capital.  Today's featured eatery is Red Rooster, the brainchild of Marcus Samuelsson, author of the new book Yes Chef, located at 310 Malcolm X Blvd.

Aug. 3 -- Support the vitality of African-American business districts such as Harlem.  Under the leadership of Lloyd Williams, the Harlem Chamber has held Harlem Week for 38 years, maintaining its status as a tourism magnet with 40,000 attending this year's kickoff at Grant's Tomb. There are activities throughout August.  Today's featured eatery is Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, with dozens of locations throughout New York City and corporate headquarters in the South Bronx.   CEO Lowell Hawthorne is author of a new autobiography The Baker's Son: My Life in Business where he spells out his plan to make Jamaican food mainstream by 2020.

Aug. 4 - Subscribe to the seasons or attend performances of African-American theatre companies like Dance Theater of Harlem at 466 W. 152nd St., National Black Theater at 2033 National Black Theater Way, Today's featured eatery is B. Smith Theater Row, 320 W. 46th St. which offers specials for Broadway plays like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Blair Underwood and Sister Act with Raven Symone.

Aug. 5 - Attend, volunteer and contribute to the work of African-American churches like Abyssinian Baptist Church, founded in 1808; and St. James Presbyterian, celebrating its 112th year.  Abyssinian, led by Dr. Calvin Butts, also sponsors the Abyssinian Community Development Corp. which is driving housing, commercial and educational development in Harlem.  St. James sponsored the birth of the Harlem School of the Arts in its basement.  Now the school covers most of the adjacent block. Today's featured eatery is Miss Maude's Spoonbread Too, 547 Malcolm X Blvd.

Aug. 6 - Contracting Accountability Day.  New York City Comptroller John C. Liu is scrutinizing compliance with Local Law 147 which mandates contracting equity.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 8 creating an MBE Team including legislators and executive staff.  Today's featured eatery is Creole Restaurant, 2167 Third Ave.

Aug. 7 - Spotlight on Uncle Sam.  Although there are 200,000 black-owned firms in New York State, federal agencies only awarded $48 million in contracts among them in New York in the first six months of the 2011-2012 fiscal year, according to Job Creation and Innovation: State of Black Business, 9th edition. By contrast, Maryland black firms won $882 million in awards and D.C. firms got $727 million in the same period.  Ask your congressional representatives to provide you with lists of local federal procurement officers and small business liaison officers.  Visit the area office of the Small Business Administration to learn how to become a federal contractor.   Today's featured eatery is JayZ's 4040Club, 6 W. 25th St. 

Aug. 8 - Higher Education and Health Focus. Harlem Hospital is opening its new mural wing this year, improving the health care and architecture of Malcolm X Blvd.  Expansions of Columbia and New York Universities are impacting nearby neighborhoods.  Today's featured eatery is Sankofa African Restaurant, 2254 Webster Ave. Bronx.  

Aug. 9 - Utility and Energy Focus. The New York Power Authority is America's largest state public power utility and the only statewide electricity provider. Investor owned utilities include National Grid and Con Edison.  Today's featured eatery is Doug E.'s Chicken and Waffles, 2245 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd..

Aug. 10 - School the Administrators.  Raising the achievement of African-American students is a national priority, thanks to an executive order by President Obama.  The National Black Education Agenda also meets in Chicago in October.   Black New Yorkers for Educational Opportunity have been at the forefront of developing the agenda conference.  Harlem Children's Zone is demonstrating how community-based enterprises can be the most effective in implementing educational and holistic community change.  Harlem Grown, in just two years, has transformed Henry Highland Garnet Elementary School with the Harlem Success Garden and a new greenhouse on 134th St.  Attend school board meetings to ask how contracts are awarded; ask for small business utilization plans on major federal grants like School Improvement Grants, Title 1, and IDEA. Insist that local firms be used for professional development.   Seek use of the new African-American educational channel ReUNION: Education-Arts-Heritage. Today's featured eatery is Neely's Barbecue Parlor, 1125 1st Ave..

Aug. 11 - Visit local museums like the African Burial Ground National Monument, Grant's Tomb, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Studio Museum of Harlem.  Today's featured eatery is Chez Lucienne, 308 Malcolm X Blvd.

Aug. 12 -Support an African-American non-profit organization such as the Harlem Chamber of Commerce, Dance Theater of Harlem, Gospel for Teens, National Black Theater or Harlem Children's Zone. Today's featured eatery is Jacob Restaurant, 373 Malcolm X Blvd.

Aug. 13-  Open an account with the African-American financial institutions like Carver Federal Savings Bank, 75 W. 125th St. and seven other branches in Harlem, Brooklyn and Queens. Today's featured eatery is Miss Mamie's Spoonbread Too, 366 W. 110th St.

Aug. 14 -  Utilize an African-American contractor, architect or construction manager. Visit the National Association of Minority Contractors for listings. Today's featured eatery is Night of the Cookers, 767 Fulton St. in Brooklyn.

Aug. 15 - Book a stay or an event with a member hotel of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators and Developers (NABHOOD).  For a historic and community based stay, try the Harlem YMCA, where the leading lights of the Harlem Renaissance stayed in the early 20th century. Today's featured eatery is Royal Caribbean Bakery, 3815 Dyre Ave.

Aug. 16 - African-American doctors and dentists have been community leaders, entrepreneurs as well as healers.  The  National Medical Assocation has a gallery of its physician members. National Dental Association is also based in Washington  Today's featured eatery is Amy Ruth's, 113 W. 116th St.

Aug. 17 - The lack of information about property has led to such events as the shrinkage of black farm land and the predatory lending epidemic of the past ten years.  Members of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers announced a plan to reduce the backlog of properties facing potential foreclosure and of vacant properties during their annual convention in Cleveland.  Today's featured eatery is Pies and Thighs, 415 S. 5th St. Brooklyn.

Aug. 18 - The 65th anniversary of beauty products manufacturer Bronner Bros is a continuing sign of the presence of black businesses in the sector.  Look for the Proud Lady symbol of the American Health and Beauty Aids Institute, the trade association of black beauty products manufacturers, when shopping. The Black Owned Beauty Supply Association promotes the development of black retailers for the $9 billion industry. Today's featured eatery is Cheryl's Global Soul, 236 Underhill Ave. Brooklyn.

Aug. 19 - The environmentally conscious New York metropolitan area is a good launch pad for African-American environmentally-friendly manufacturers like Encap Systems Inc.,which makes cementitious remediation materials for asbestos.  When doing remodeling or repair work in old buildings, one can ask for Encap brand.  San Diego-based ChloroFill is making biodegradable building panels to meet the EPA's new standard for removing carcinogenic materials.  Auto battery maker Dr. Lonnie Johnson of Excellatron Solid State presented his scientific findings at PARC, a Xerox company in Palo Alto.  Today's featured venue is Five Spot, 459 Myrtle Ave. Brooklyn

Aug. 20 - Think about what you drink.  Pioneering African-American beverage makers such as United Beverage are making such products as NuSouth flavored lemonades, available in Big Lots and other retailers. Heritage Link Brands is importing wines from South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. Today's featured venue is Magic Soul Food Express, 901 Fulton St.

Aug. 21 - Utilize African-American software and technology companies like Interactive One, whose properties include BlackPlanet.  Today's featured eatery is Ida Mae Kitchen and Lounge, 111 W. 38th St.

Aug. 22 - Visit Hueman Bookstore, 2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd.  for some of the top black authors. Today's featured eatery is Southern Girls Soul Food, 219-17 Merrick Blvd. in Queens.

Aug. 23 - Leroy Baylor is the long-time host of The Communicators on WHCR, Hunter College radio, the Voice of Harlem. The collapse of Inner City Broadcasting leaves a gaping hole in local communications. Today's featured eatery is Soulfully Yours, 11611 Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica, Queens.

Aug. 24 -- The black press is the authoritative record of our legacy.  Subscribe to a black newspaper like the Amsterdam News for the stories you'll never see in the daily press.  Black Money New York City adds a new spark to business news coverage.  Today's featured eatery is Jazzabelle's Soul Food, 13424 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.

Aug. 25 - Purchase a video or buy a seat for a black filmmakers work like that of Brooklyn's 40 Acres and a Mule founded by Spike Lee.   Today's featured eatery is Londell's Supper Club, 2820 Frederick Douglass Blvd.

Aug. 26 - Support black musicians such as Vy Higginson, founder of Gospel for Teens.  Buy music produced by African-American companies.  Help musicians by hiring them to train young people.  Today's featured eatery is Londell's Lounge, 2131 Frederick.

Aug. 27 -- Select an African-American independent school.  Ask your school to subscribe to ReUNION: Education-Arts-Heritage instructional network to provide culturally-responsive content for your child's classroom; urge principals to hire African-American educators and historically-black colleges and universities for professional development. Today's featured eatery is Make My Cake, 121 St. Nicholas Ave.

Aug. 28 - Purchase back to school items such as clothes and paper goods from African-American retailers. Phone 408-830-9427.  Form buying clubs through churches or organizations to purchase goods in bulk directly from wholesalers or manufacturers.  Today's featured eatery is Freda's Caribbean and Soul Cuisine, 993 Columbus Ave.

Aug. 29 -  Purchase automobiles from an African-American dealer. Check the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers at http://www.namad.org  Today's featured eatery is Lenox Lounge, 288 Malcolm X Blvd.

Aug. 30 -  Utlilze African-American lawyers.  The National Bar Association has a directory of lawyers.  Donald Temple started the Charles Hamilton Houston Summer Law Program 33 years ago and it has helped more than 500 new law students become lawyers.  Today's featured eatery is Essence Bar and Restaurant, 1662 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn.

Aug. 31 -  Make a political contribution to the African-American candidate of your choice.  It should be obvious that there is an African-American candidate running for President for the second election in a row. However, that should not be a reason for complacency. The history of black political achievement is that such milestones can be followed by backlashes if vigilance is not maintained.  By reading Job Creation and Innovation: State of Black Business, 9th edition, one will see the critical role of public policy at all levels of government to the success of black businesses.  One of the objectives of National Black Business Month is that the entire African-American community be considered in economic decision-making.  Today's featured eateries is the Sag Harbor B. Smiths in the Hamptons.

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