Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2006

BY HAROLD EGELN

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 28 at the Akwaaba Mansion located at 347 MacDonough Street on a landmarked block in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

The ceremony and cocktail reception honored Shakoor and Marissa Watson, owners of Shakoor's Sweet Tooth, 555 Throop Ave.; Dr. Lois Blades-Rosado, Dean and Executive Director of the SUNY Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center (BEOC); and Congressman Edolphus Towns (D-NY10) for their contributions to Brooklyn's economic growth and cultural vibrancy.

"The Chamber now has a tradition of honoring top entrepreneurs, leaders in education and the arts, and legislative trailblazers. We are blessed to have three wonderful honorees tonight," said Brooklyn Chamber President Kenneth Adams, cheered by nearly 100 longtime and new Chamber Members and guests.

Honorees
"The customers are the ones who make the business. The way we treat our customers is the example by which we live, for young people to follow," said Shakoor Watson. His business began in his apartment in 1996 and then moved to the home of Mr. Watson’s mother Thelma, who was present at the event. Today Shakoor’s Sweet Tooth has a storefront and a steady stream of customers.

For years, the focus of Dr. Blades-Rosado’s work at SUNY BEOC has been educating and preparing adult learners for the workforce.

"Our program has put 37,000 (students) through college, all tuition-free, and 33,000 (graduates) in jobs," said Dr. Rosado who serves on the board of the Brooklyn Chamber and the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (CACCI).

Congressman Towns' award was accepted by Tony Forman, District Director.
 
Akwaaba Provides Elegant Backdrop
The Akwaaba Mansion, renovated by Chamber Members Monique Greenwood and her husband Glenn Pogue in 1995, is an 1860’s Italian-style mansion featuring gaslight fixtures, ornate fireplaces, an intimate parlor, dining room, library, and four guest rooms styled in different African American-themed designs each with individual baths.

Ms. Greenwood and Mr. Pogue, who were unable to attend the celebration, have additional bed and breakfast inns in Cape May, N.J. and in Washington, D.C.  A fourth location in New Orleans, La. was set to open just before Hurricane Katrina struck and sustained some damage.  Currently, the New Orleans location serves as emergency housing for displaced survivors. For more information about Akwaaba Enterprises, Inc., call 718-455-5958, or visit http://www.akwaaba.com/.

The Annual Black History Month Celebration was presented by the Chamber’s Minority and Women Business Owners (MWBO) Committee and sponsored by Verizon Communications, Kyocera Mita and Community Capital Bank. The event was catered by Boca Soul and the music was performed by Charles Waldron, Have Trumpet Will Play.