EVENT RECAP: Unlocking Government Capital for the Creative and Cultural Industries
The New School’s Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative continues its Demystifying Capital Series with Unlocking Government Capital for the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Are you a creative who presumes government would never fund you? Are you interested in navigating support and funding for new creative and cultural activities? How can local government and city support your projects coming into fruition? Are you curious about how to design and plan for creative, workforce development and community-based frontline public/private partnerships that work?
To unpack how we can design partnerships that work, join a conversation with Ebony Young, Deputy Borough President (Queens, New York), and her colleagues Susie Tanenbaum, Director of Nonprofit Opportunities; Irak D. Cehonski, Director of Budget, Queens Borough President’s Office; and, Tshering D. Gurung, Senior Manager of Business Development & Training at Accompany Capital (formerly BCNA). They will discuss strategies for fostering effective government partnerships that can spur not only your creative enterprise but contribute to local development and job creation.
Why the focus on Queens? The Borough of Queens is home to more than 2.3 million residents, representing more than 190 countries and speaking more than 200 languages. The seamless knit that ties these distinct cultures and transforms them into shared communities is what defines the character of Queens. And, increasing our multicultural, multiracial and multiethnic city, state and nation.
We envision this dialogue to serve as a starting point for creative and cultural organizations and entrepreneurs to foster a shared understanding of the role of government in supporting impact organizations to create a rising tide that lifts all boats. Local government relies on nonprofits and entrepreneurs to provide goods or services to its constituents. But, how does one take the first step? How do you position yourself and your venture as a viable partner? What types of metrics and benchmarks are they looking for? Do you bring a community with you? Do you have to be a nonprofit, or, can you be a solo-preneur? How to plan for success to respond to a call for proposal?
This discussion is ideal for cultural and creative entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, impact founders, public and private sector professionals to influence government’s role in contributing to a generative ecosystem. As the public and nonprofit sectors rely on each other to provide services, understanding and improving how to build and leverage these relationships are a high priority. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how local government works closely with the creative nonprofit and emergent sectors to deliver vital goods and services that purely market-based ventures so often miss.
SPEAKERS
Ebony Young, Deputy Borough President Queens, NY
Ebony Young has spent over 20 years working in the Nonprofit sector as an Executive Leader at institutions like the Long Island City YMCA, TF Cornerstone, the Black Entrepreneur Initiative and the Ladies of Hope Ministries. She has been charged with leading, organizing, facilitating and operating nonprofit organizations to the highest efficiency levels, specifically in the areas of youth development, healthy living and social justice reform. She’s also worked in the private sector as a Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility. Having served on several Queens boards, task forces and advisory committees serving constituents such as youth, adults, seniors, athletes, artists and environmentalists in her local Queens community, giving back to the community has led Ebony to be a true communal builder, connector and educator.
Ms. Young received her Bachelor of Science in Communications-Rad/TV/Film from Indiana State University and is also a graduate of Indiana Tech where she received her Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. A a motivational speaker and certified life coach, Ms. Young resides in Woodside, Queens with her husband and three children.
Susie Tanenbaum: Director of Nonprofit Opportunities
Susie Tanenbaum oversees a new department in the county executive’s office to better assist, support, and empower local nonprofit organizations. By leveraging resources she helps nonprofits access capacity-building and grant opportunities and disseminates this knowledge via its distribution channels. Ms. Tanenbaum is committed to sustaining a platform where nonprofit leaders exchange best practices and provide input into decisions that directly impact their programs and services. She also ensure her constituents interface and liase with with the Borough President’s Queens General Assembly, a forum for diverse stakeholders to develop relationships, enhance their leadership skills, and build coalitions for more effective COVID recovery outcomes.
Irak D. Cehonski: Director of Budget at Queens Borough President’s Office
Having worked as Deputy Chief of Staff for Council Member Carlina Rivera, Mr. Cehonski began his career in NYC local government in 2017 under Council Member Rosie Mendez with a portfolio of duties that included oversight of land use, immigration and LGBTQ+ issues. Over the course of his tenure, Mr. Cehonski worked with advocates to increase funding for three transgender health navigators in the City’s hospitals; helped pass the Delivery Workers Legislative Package; and, the Resolution to repeal the Walking While Trans Ban. An immigrant from Mexico, his prior work inluded fundraising for cultural non-profits in both Tijuana and NYC for nearly a decade. A tireless advocate, Mr. Cehonski uses his free time to participate in political activism, and advocate for a variety of social justice issues.
Tshering D. Gurung: Senior Manager of Business Development & Training: Accompany Capital (formerly BCNA)
Tshering Gurung is the Senior Manager of Business Development & Training at Accompany Capital previously known as Business Center for New Americans. For over 6 years, she has provided support to many small businesses owners in New York City with the primary responsibility of growing the small business lending program. Ms Gurung also manages educational access via webinars, technical assistance training and other special projects for the Borough President. An immigrant and proud native of Queens, her personal and professional mission is to help immigrant business owners create pathways to self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship.
RESOURCES SHARED DURING EVENT:
- QBP Nonprofit Network (application): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEI_smN6lS4MbLvAGI4ROFsalWxPEd1f_jVMiq7qjPQ0VGIg/viewform
- List of QBP Nonprofit Network (scroll to the bottom): https://queensbp.org/nonprofits/
- Accompany Capital (One of the panelist’s organization): https://accompanycapital.org
- Queen’s Borough President’s Office Newsletter: https://queensbp.org (scroll to the bottom)
- Small Business Solution (state: prepare business plan, financial plan, permits & licences)
- The small business development center (federal)
- Women’s Business Center NYC
- Queens Economic Development Center
- Center for Bronx Nonprofits- Eileen Neuman
- New York Lawyers for Public Interests
- Lawyer’s Alliance (NYC)
Questions about our events, podcast, blog or Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative? Email Justyna Kedra at justyna@newschool.edu