What started as weekend conversations over coffee became a dream realized. Meet Shahidah and Dez, the husband-and-wife owners of Black-owned R&Beans Coffee in Avenel, where every cup is brewed with community, creativity and purpose.
After overcoming her own health challenges through a plant-based diet, Adenah Bayoh launched Brick City Vegan to bring nutritious, flavorful vegan food to Newark. Today, the restaurant has become a community favorite while helping expand healthy dining options in the city.
From dresses and tuxedos to limos and glam appointments, Essex County students and families say prom season is becoming one of the most expensive parts of senior year.
Ameen and Roshonda Albany are redefining what a juice bar can be with Hollywood Juice Shop in Scotch Plains, blending health, style and community to create a wellness experience that’s as elevated as it is accessible.
A new Delta Dental report highlights a stark lack of diversity in the dental workforce, as Dr. Nicole McGrath-Barnes explains how representation, access, and early education are key to closing oral health gaps in New Jersey’s underserved communities.
Denaya Melvin and Dennis Jones, founders of Rich Florals in Woodbridge, N.J., craft custom rose bouquets and luxury floral designs while supporting the local Black community. Their boutique business offers personalized arrangements for events, micro-weddings, and special occasions, combining creativity with exceptional service.
East Orange and Montclair, just miles apart, face the same challenge: turning high per-student spending into equitable educational opportunities. Despite record funding, differences in local taxes, student demographics, and resources create unequal outcomes for students in New Jersey.
Adenah Bayoh, a Liberian refugee, is a restaurateur and affordable housing developer breaking barriers in New Jersey, creating jobs, healthy dining, and dignified housing in underserved communities.
PilatesBae Studio founder “Bay” is building more than a fitness studio in Maplewood. Through mat-based Pilates classes focused on mindful movement, inclusivity and community, she’s creating a welcoming space where people of all backgrounds can strengthen their bodies and feel at home.
Jerome Walker, owner of Backspin Records in Middlesex, N.J., has turned his lifelong love of music into a Black-owned vinyl haven. From rare jazz and soul to salsa and rock, his store is more than a record shop, it’s a community hub celebrating Black music and vinyl culture.
