New Harlem East Merchants Association

Who We Are

Since its inception in 2013, the New Harlem East Merchants Association (NHEMA) has worked with business owners, area workers, property owners, residents, and community members to collaborate and improve the area for those who live and work in the diverse and vibrant community that surrounds East 125th Street in East Harlem. Currently, we have 23 member businesses and have been widely heralded by other organizations and in the media for our work in East Harlem.

What We Accomplished• Since January 2014, we have been working with Association of

Community Employment (ACE-NY) to employ homeless individuals to clean the streets from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue between East 123rd and 126th Street. Since the programs inception, over 25,000 bags of trash have been picked up and, after receiving valuable job experience and training from ACE, 18 of the homeless street cleaners have gone on to secure full-time employment.

• Working with the Horticulture Society and over 50 volunteers from the community, we planted trees, daffodils and perennials along East 125th Street, greatly improving the street’s aesthetic appeal.

• In 2014, we started a Farmers Market on East 125th Street under the Park Avenue viaduct, increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in East Harlem.

• Collaborating with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, we hosted a summer concert series called Fired Up Fridays! which brought music and dance to East 125th Street.

• In December 2014, NHEMA closed Lexington Avenue between East 125th and 124th Street to host the second annual Family Holiday Festival. Hundreds of kids from the community came to enjoy playing in the bounce house, drinking hot chocolate, meeting Santa and watching the lighting of holiday trees.

• To increase holiday cheer and appeal of the East 125th Street retail corridor, we installed holiday lights on East 125th Street.

• Beginning in 2015, we started a mobile marketing campaign to raise awareness of NHEMA merchants and offer discounts at their stores.

• In December 2013, we sent a mailer to 5,000 residents with discounts at the stores of NHEMA merchants.

• On February 5th, we released a report on customer experience in East Harlem based on a survey we conducted

• We send out a weekly newsletter highlighting news, stories and sales from our merchants and giving updates about our community efforts and initiatives in East Harlem.

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Sylvia Caldwell

Princess Jenkins

Nina Demartini-Day

Qualim T. Sterling

Holley Drakeford

Stacy Buchanan

Jim Ratti

Jaritza Taveras

Evan Kashanian

Desander Mas

Chair

Vice Chair

Secretary

Treasurer

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Support for NHEMA programs comes from dues-paying NHEMA members, generous donations from property owners, community members and concerned New Yorkers, and grants from the New York Department of Small Business Services and the Harlem Community Development Corporation

MI S S I ON STAT E M E N T: “to enrich the quality of life on East 125th Street by engaging in creative initiatives to improve the appearance, safety, vitality and customer appeal of the area.”