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Nikoa Evans-Hendricks is a respected strategy consultant with a focus on strategic brand positioning, community/economic development and commercial revitalization strategies in emerging markets in the U.S.  Nikoa currently serves as a founding board member and Executive Director of Harlem Park to Park (HP2P), a social enterprise of 250+ entrepreneurs committed to cultural preservation, small business and economic development in Central Harlem.  In this role, Nikoa oversees the general management, marketing strategy and business development initiatives; as well as strategic partnerships for the organization. Under her leadership, HP2P has implemented economic development programs including the Harlem Local Vendor Program in partnership with Whole Foods Market and Columbia Business School; and launched signature marketing and consumer engagement programs including Harlem Restaurant Week, Uptown Battle of the Bars, Harlem Harvest Festival and Shop Harlem Vendor Fairs. Prior to founding Harlem Park to Park, Nikoa served as Vice President of Investments for financial lending institution Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), managing a $3 million restaurant and retail initiative designed to assess investment opportunities for retail and restaurant expansion within the Harlem market.

Nikoa has also worked as a corporate retail executive and strategic business consultant, helping national brands and retail developers expand business opportunities in emerging U.S. markets. An accomplished entrepreneur, Nikoa is co-founder and managing partner of Ruby’s Vintage Kitchen + Bar located in Harlem/NYC. She also co-founded and served as managing director of NYC retail venture N Boutique.  She has been featured in the New York Times, New York Magazine, O Magazine, Uptown Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, USA Today, Food Network’s Savoring Harlem, NV Magazine’s Movers and Shakers List and other top publications.

Mohamed Attia, Executive Director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center immigrated to the US from Alexandria, Egypt in 2008. He worked as a vendor for nearly ten years selling hot dogs, halal chicken and rice, and smoothies. He became a member of the Street Vendor Project in 2012, was elected to the Leadership Board, and served on the board until 2018, when he joined SVP’s staff.

Tanay Warerkar is a reporter at Eater NY covering the city’s vibrant and ever-changing dining scene. He has been an NYC resident since 2012 and has previously covered housing and design for Curbed NY, worked as a neighborhood reporter for the Greenpoint Gazette, and in New York Daily News‘ Brooklyn bureau. In his spare time, Tanay obsessively pores through his growing cookbook collection to think of what to cook next.