Southeast Queens Scoop Presents: The Innovative Black Health & Wealth Virtual Summit

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Southeast Queens Scoop Presents:
The Innovative Black Health &
Wealth Virtual Summit
Free Virtual Event Empowers Black Communities Amid Economic and Democratic Headwinds

Zoom Event Over

JAMAICA, NY — October 2025 — As African American communities face mounting economic pressure and democratic uncertainty, Southeast Queens Scoop—a progressive, community-based digital news platform—is hosting a timely and empowering event: The Innovative Black Health & Wealth Virtual Summit.

This free virtual event, held via Zoom on Saturday, October 25th, from 10 AM to 12 PM EST, will unite leading voices in Black health, wellness, business development, and community activism to share strategies and insights on how to survive—and thrive—during these challenging times.

💻 Location: Event Over.  

Recent economic data underscores the urgency for such a dialogue. The Black unemployment rate has risen to 7.5%, significantly higher than the national average. Meanwhile, over 300,000 Black women have lost their jobs since the current administration took office, according to recent labor market reports. Federal proposals to slash more than a trillion dollars from Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and other public assistance programs further threaten the stability of working families and seniors across the nation.

“Our communities are facing a one-two punch: economic contraction and an erosion of the social safety nets that have historically helped working-class people survive,” said Kamau Austin, Publisher of Southeast Queens Scoop. “Government jobs—where Black workers have long found opportunity and stability—are now under attack. We need proactive, community-driven strategies to help build resilience and self-reliance.”

The Innovative Black Health & Wealth Virtual Summit will explore visionary solutions that combine grassroots empowerment, cooperative economics, and holistic wellness. Topics will include:

• Cooperative and community ownership through the JOBS Act—investing collectively in local stores, housing, and neighborhood enterprises

• Strengthening farmers markets, food co-ops, and health-oriented Black businesses to promote sustainable local economies

• Expanding access to mental health and wellness services through culturally competent community organizations

• Harnessing technology, high-tech, and AI career opportunities for economic mobility

• Developing independent media outlets that empower communities with knowledge and positive representation

Today's Speakers Include:

The Health & Wellness section will take place between 10 am - 11 am and will include:

Afi S. Okon - MPA, is Founder the American Obesity Foundation on practices to live more healthy lives especially given the issues with healthcare in this country.

Celeste Sassine - Owner Sassy Sweets Vegan Treats on how vegan foods can help our community get better health outcomes.

Aiysha Simon - Co-owner Ca$h Da$h and community organizer and professional on helping us obtain wellness in a stressful political environment.

The Business & Wealth section will take place between 11 am - 12 pm and will feature:

Phil Andrews - President of NYs largest Black Chamber of Commerce and one of the largest in the Nation, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce.  Founding President of the 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, Inc., African American Small Business Foundation, Inc., and Founding President of The New York City Minority Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Pierre Clark - is the Founder-Editor of The Entrepreneur’s Corner™, Homefree, NuFutures Development Ventures LLC, and NuMillennium Opportunity Capital Ltd. Rights Reserved, and is a graduate of Harvard University

Rahni Sumler -  A world traveler with family roots in business Rahni Sumler, has been moved literally into Southeast Queens, to help shore up community businesses with her company Digital Dandelions Technical Solutions.  She is obviously an innovator who has her pulse on the travails and challenges of Black and small businesses.

Ms. Sumler has a wealth of unique business experience and a passion to help build viable companies and organizations in our community.  She has seen first hand many of the stumbling blocks that stall and derail small and Black businesses.

Gail Johnson - is the Associate Publisher of the Southeast Queens Scoop.  Johnson is a committed and accomplished advocate for economic development, cultural appreciation, and community uplift in Rockaway, Queens, New York and surrounding areas. She is an exceptional resource on events and news in our area.

Host of today's Summitt Your's Truly

Kamau Austin - is the award winning Publisher of the Black News Scoop, The Southeast Queens Scoop, and Scoop Publications, a division of AMS Digital Media.  He is a long time activist, entrepreneur, podcaster, and author.  Austin has also been featured in Black Enterprise, Fortune Magazine Small Business, CNN, radio, cable, and countless newspapers and blog sites.