A Haitian Founder Built a Business Queens Need. A TPS Ruling Threatens the Community Behind It. Months after winning $10,000 for a business Queens badly needs, Magdala Noel watched the Supreme Court clear a path to uproot the community she comes from. A first-generation Haitian immigrant and a graduate of WIBO’s Queens cohort, Magdala is
If you happen to be walking down DeKalb Avenue near Tompkins in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy, you might discover a little gem of a bakery called Ava’s Lifeline. And not just any bakery, but a Caribbean Vegan bakery! Ava Bastien is a chef and a baker and is the proprietor of this charming establishment. “I grew up
One of our ultra successful alumni, Precious Williams, is the lead instructor for an initiative called the Verizon Super Pitch, a national competition designed to give small businesses the world-class tools and capital they deserve, including a chance to win $20,000 and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final. The Clock is
Magdala Noel is a member of the Queens WIBO Cohort at the Tech Incubator at Queens College, with the encouragement of the cohort’s co-leads, Fran Holt and Ying Zhou, and the help of her follow cohort member, Magdala won $10,000 to use to build her business. Congratulations! What is your business about? Hand in Hand
April is Financial Literacy Month, a time to reflect on the importance of understanding money, managing it well, and using it as a tool for long-term success. At the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO), financial literacy is not just a concept we discuss; it is a core part of how we prepare entrepreneurs to build
Being the dedicated Communications Director that he is, Ramon Gil couldn’t stop talking about WIBO in this Canvas Rebel magazine interview. We were lucky to catch up with Ramon Gil recently and have shared our conversation below. Ramon, appreciate you joining us today. If you’re open to it, can you talk to us about the
I had the pleasure of attending WIBO and the experience was truly transformative. From the moment I stepped into the classroom, I could feel the passion and dedication of the teachers. They were not only knowledgeable but also genuinely committed to helping each student succeed. Their guidance was always practical, actionable, and tailored to the
By Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant – Chair, WIBO Board of Directors Black History Month encourages us to honor the stories that often go untold: the narratives of families building futures, and entrepreneurs transforming vision into legacy. At WIBO, we recognize Black history not only as something from the past but as something actively being
By Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant – Chair, WIBO Board of Directors One of the greatest privileges of serving as the Board Chair of the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) is witnessing what can happen when determination meets education, and when a community supports entrepreneurs during their most challenging moments. The journey of Aniceto Charles Jr.,
