Brooklyn's Progress
September 2003

Story provided by Jason S. Dubrow, Biodiveristy Magazine

A new bilingual magazine was launched out of Brooklyn this past May, named Biodiversity.  It is a publication covering topics on the environment and natural health.  Currently 70 percent of the magazine is in English and thirty percent is in Spanish.  The magazine is distributed throughout the five boroughs of New York City at health food stores, doctors’ offices, banks, libraries, post offices, gyms, etc.  Biodiversity is a medium to educate and inform people on environmental awareness i.e. biodiversity, energy alternatives, solar power, wind turbines, rainforest protection programs and also another important topic Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM).  A billion dollar industry, which has been around longer than mainstream medicine, but is gaining in acceptance due to positive results and cost efficiency.

“One of the goals of Biodiversity is to show that the environment and natural health go hand in hand and that there is definitely a bond between them.” states Jason S. Dubrow, publisher of Biodiversity Magazine.

Mr. Dubrow is no stranger to this field.  After graduating from Brooklyn College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance he went on to work for a holistic health magazine where he’d been employed until this past January.  He left feeling it was time to move on and utilize his skills to pursue the American Dream.

Not being content with just a magazine as an educational forum, Mr. Dubrow is taking it one step further producing an environmental and natural health expo, in Brooklyn, New York, Saturday, January 31st and Sunday, February 1st in 2004 at the Brooklyn Marriott.  The event will have 120 exhibits and 80 lectures showcasing the finest products, services and educational resources pertaining to the environment and natural health.  Plus a bookstore selling related books at 50 percent off.

This is the first event of its kind in Brooklyn according to Mr. Dubrow.  People ask him why Brooklyn and not Manhattan? 

His response, “Brooklyn in of itself is the fourth largest city in America.  I’m sure Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz would agree with me when I say the reason, Brooklyn is the greatest borough in the greatest city in the world.  Hey, who were all those people walking over the Brooklyn Bridge during the blackout?  People not only come to Brooklyn, they live in Brooklyn.” 

One of the event sponsors is Urban Organics (right out of Brooklyn) a home delivery program of fresh organic produce serving the tri-state area.  Some of the events lecturers include Patrick Fratellone, M.D. who is an integrative cardiologist, he was the chief of medicine and director of Cardiology for the Atkins Center in New York City with the late Robert Atkins, M.D. and Brian Clement of The Hippocrates Health Institute.  The organization has been the premiere leader in the field of natural and alternative health care and education since 1956.  The Health Institute was deemed the world’s number one teaching institution in the year 2000 by Spa Management Group. Other topics by presenters as well as exhibits include air quality and filtration, energy conservation and renewable energy (i.e. solar power, wind power), nutrition, herbal remedies, weight loss, anti-aging, and fitness.

When Mr. Dubrow started his business it was his father Alan J. Dubrow,(chairman of Community Board 12 and consultant to Astoria Federal Savings) suggested he join the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. Dubrow’s initial meeting at the Chamber was with Rick Russo.  Mr. Dubrow stated to Mr. Russo his desire of producing an expo in Brooklyn but did not know of a location that could house an event of this magnitude in an upscale environment.  Mr. Russo advised him that the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge (also Chamber Members) and Biodiversity would be a perfect match and gave him the contact person in charge of events at the Marriott.  Since contracting with the Marriott, Mr. Dubrow notes that everybody at the Marriott goes above and beyond catering to his needs to ensure the Biodiversity Expo will be a success.

At the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Congressional Breakfast Forum on July 14, Mr. Dubrow made contacts with many of the local hospitals through networking.  Mr. Dubrow says he has two goals pertaining to the hospitals and the expo -- to invite every doctor, nurse, nutritionist, and therapist, so they may learn the latest natural and environmental protocols related to health and healing; and many hospitals now have there own integrative medical programs, by getting these hospitals to exhibit they can get new patients into these programs and network with the other healthcare professionals.

At the Chamber’s New Member Orientation on June 26, Mr. Dubrow and other new Members got hands on training how to use the Chamber’s EZweb.  Since this training, Mr. Dubrow uses his webpage, which is www.ibrooklyn.com/biodiversity to promote his magazine and expo. 

If you are interested in attending the expo and would like a free program guide or if you  would be interested in exhibiting (we’re told there is limited space available), you can contact Biodiversity at 718-853-9344 or email biodiversity@planet-save.com.