When the question “You work. You earn. But what do you own?” was posed at a Harlem summit last week, it cut to the heart of a struggle facing entrepreneurs across New York City. The Harlem Commonwealth Council (HCC) answered that challenge head-on with a two-day masterclass that paired city officials with business owners and celebrity founders to turn ambition into lasting assets.
Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis & Jamie Dominguez join Harlem Commonwealth Council’s “Built to Last: Wealth-Building Masterclass,” on October 17, 2026, focused on protecting creative work & building lasting wealth.
An attendee asks a question during Day 1 of the “Built to Last: Wealth-Building Masterclass” at Harlem Commonwealth Council, where hands-on workshops helped local entrepreneurs build AI skills, secure capital readiness & plan their next steps toward lasting ownership.
HCC hosts a discussion with NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Council Member Yusef Salaam & local business owners focused on capital access, financial readiness & building wealth for entrepreneurs to kick off the “Built to Last: Wealth-Building Masterclass” on October 16.
New York City Council Member Yusef Salaam delivers remarks at Harlem Commonwealth Council’s “Built to Last: Wealth-Building Masterclass” on October 16, 2026.
Comptroller Mark Levine, Council Member Yusef Salaam, former NBA star Kevin Johnson & business leaders join Harlem Commonwealth Council to advance ownership.
We want entrepreneurs to walk away with more than inspiration. We want them to have the knowledge, relationships and resources to build businesses, create wealth and strengthen our communities.”— Sharon Joseph, Harlem Commonwealth Council, President & CEONEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, October 21, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The event, staged October 16–17, drew 460 registrations and brought together a rare mix of government power and street-level business experience. From City Hall to the boardroom, Harlem Commonwealth Council (HCC) brought together New York City officials, financial experts and successful entrepreneurs for its October 16–17 “Built to Last: Wealth-Building Masterclass,” generating 460 registrations and sparking important conversations about the future of small businesses and generational wealth in New York.
The opening session featured a candid exchange with NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Council Member Yusef Salaam, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, local business owners and HCC’s financial team. Entrepreneurs didn’t hold back about the hurdles they face, and city leaders responded with a pledge to keep the dialogue going beyond the summit.
Comptroller Levine and Council Member Salaam later delivered remarks to summit participants, while representatives from Chase and HCC offered practical financial tools and guidance to help entrepreneurs move beyond earning income toward building lasting ownership.
Saturday’s lineup at The Forum at Columbia University included former NBA All-Star and two-term Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson; Rap Snacks founder James Lindsay; Grammy-winning producer Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis; music industry executive Jamie Dominguez; Harlem real estate broker and ESRA Realty founder Maurice “Russell” Grey; and Jahkeen “Jah” Washington, founder of Harlem Kettlebell Club and The Harlem Method. Through candid, firsthand accounts, the speakers shared lessons in entrepreneurship, overcoming adversity, protecting intellectual property and transforming ideas into wealth-building enterprises.
“You work. You earn. But what do you own?” was the central question driving the weekend.
“This was about bringing the right people into the same room to address real challenges and create real opportunities,” said Sharon Joseph, CEO of Harlem Commonwealth Council. “We want entrepreneurs to walk away with more than inspiration. We want them to have the knowledge, relationships and resources to build businesses, create wealth and strengthen our communities.”
The summit reinforces HCC’s nearly 60-year mission of advancing economic empowerment, entrepreneurship and financial independence in Harlem and beyond. A special thank you to NYC Small Business Services for partnering with us; to our sponsors, West Harlem Development Corporation, Harlem Community Development Corporation and One Hundred Black Men; and to Chick-fil-A for their generous donation of lunch for all attendees both days.
BROADCAST-READY VIDEO & INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE
Newsrooms can access event footage, B-roll and sound bites featuring NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, Council Member Yusef Salaam, Kevin Johnson, James Lindsay and other featured speakers.
WATCH / DOWNLOAD MEDIA ASSETS:
B-Roll: https://vimeo.com/1237699359/7575f7c08f?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Soundbites: https://vimeo.com/1237703253/cb96548b01?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Additional interviews with HCC CEO Sharon Joseph are available upon request.
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ABOUT HARLEM COMMONWEALTH COUNCIL
Founded in 1967, Harlem Commonwealth Council is a nonprofit economic development organization dedicated to advancing entrepreneurship, financial education, access to capital and economic self-determination.
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Why it matters: The masterclass signals a shift from motivational events toward practical, resource-driven support for small businesses, a sector that anchors local economies. With 460 registrations and high-level city buy-in, HCC is positioning itself as a central hub for turning entrepreneurial ambition into measurable wealth-building outcomes.
