Achieving Equity

Gladys Brangnam is the founder of Business Leaders of Colors, a group of small business owners committed to social justice. This network was formed to level the playing field and create a supportive space for commerce that benefits the underserved business community. Along with the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County Chamber, BLOC has created a living list of Black-owned businesses in and around the Ithaca area to promote the economic revitalization and success of these business owners. Seeking to expand their resources to more minority- and Black-owned businesses in New York, BLOC has partnered with Consult Your Community as a client. Ms. Brangnam is also currently an Office Administrator at Cornell University and has earned her Master’s in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation at Abilene Christian University.

Lourdes Zapata is the President and CEO of South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBro), a community-based nonprofit organization providing in- and out-of-school educational services, vocational programming, and workforce development for youth and adults, as well as business support to new, mid-range, and established businesses. SoBro is also an accomplished developer and manager of commercial properties and affordable and special needs housing for single adults and families, having developed over 1,500 housing units in the South Bronx and Harlem — with 500 units in its current portfolio — along with over 130,000 square feet of office and industrial space. With an average annual budget of $16M and as an employer of 200 dedicated professionals, SoBro is also engaged in a variety of urban planning and community development efforts. SoBro has been in business since 1972 and has successfully endeavored to “Build a Better Bronx.” Ms. Zapata has also previously served as Chief Diversity Officer of the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and as the Executive Vice President at Empire State Development. She received her MPA in Management at New York University.

Ms. Mohan is the Economic Development Coordinator at the Westminster Economic Development Initiative, which aims to provide business and educational opportunities to the people of Buffalo’s West Side. Specifically, their West Side Bazaar acts as a business incubator space for predominantly immigrant entrepreneurs. Ms. Mohan’s role includes coordinating all aspects of support provided to the entrepreneurs hosted in the West Side Bazaar. She works to strengthen the Bazaar’s food system work and improve existing programming to better serve WEDI’s clients and meet program objectives. She has also worked for Rich Products Corporation within Research and Development and Coca-Cola India in their Quality Systems function. She has degrees in Chemistry, Food, and Fermentation technology.