NY Hispanic Cosmetology & Beauty Chamber of Commerce Empowers Aspiring Business Owners
Photo from the 2019 Beauty Gala of Excellence. (Photo Credit: Charito Cisneros)
By Natalie Nuñez
The New York Hispanic Cosmetology and Beauty Chamber of Commerce helps immigrants start businesses in the beauty industry from Lehman’s off-site campus CUNY on the Concourse. Founded by Charito Cisneros, the non-profit center provides workshops, training, certifications, networking opportunities and job placement services, as well as yearly symposiums throughout New York City where lawyers and representatives from the Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Services among others, give guidance to aspiring beauty entrepreneurs.
Cisneros, who has spoken widely on TV and radio, as well as in Washington D.C. alongside former President George W. Bush, was once in the same position as many of her clients. She immigrated to the United States from Ecuador in 1972, and after working in factories for some time, decided to study cosmetology and become a beauty teacher.
Like many immigrants, Cisneros felt that the US was a land of opportunity, and she wanted to share her knowledge with others. The lack of support and guidance in her community is what inspired her to start The New York Hispanic Cosmetology and Beauty Chamber of Commerce.
The New York based organization primarily serves Latin American clients but is not exclusive to New Yorkers or Hispanics.
“We have worked with clients from all nationalities from Koreans, to Jamaicans and Italians; we’ve used translating technology to help them. Our clients have also come from all over the U.S., even as far as Texas,” said Cisneros.
Lehman students and Bronx residents praised the organization's initiative and impact.
Business owners receiving awards. (Photo Credit: Charito Cisneros)
“Cisneros has helped me tremendously in starting my business and many others that I have referred. I am very grateful for her service,” said Magda Oquendo, a long-time client who owns a successful beauty salon in Queens. “I came from Ecuador to the United States in 1993 and met Cisneros in 2008 after seeking to obtain a license of cosmetology.”
“I think it’s a great concept to help educate and guide future professionals in this industry, to have a base or foundation and know where to go,” said Ericka Acevedo, a junior health administration major.
Rosario Ricketts, a 24-year-old Political Science major at Lehman, agreed: “I think it’s a great initiative that will provide opportunity to an economically marginalized group. The beauty industry is growing very fast with social media and influencers. I’m pleased that this organization is helping people of Hispanic/Latin [background] access this industry.”
Noticing that many people were not being recognized as professionals, despite having credentials in the beauty industry back in their countries of origin, Cisneros has traveled to countries like the Dominican Republic where many of her students migrated from. She wanted to learn about the process of licensing and certifications and whether or not these can count towards opening a business in the U.S. Along with her team, she helps verify the legitimacy of clients’ diplomas and certificates from their country, as she believes the success of any industry requires constant education and updates on the practical and legal aspects of a business.
“Organizations like this give people opportunity to keep their families afloat, while providing a service to the community they’re in, which is a win for everyone.”
The chamber also helps clients obtain grants and loans to start their businesses. It holds a yearly Beauty Gala of Excellence that serves as a fundraising event as well as networking opportunity for clients and sponsors of the organization.
“Immigrants come to this country looking to work and earn a better life for themselves and their children,” said Joseph Deleeuw, a 23-year-old nursing major at Lehman. “Organizations like this give people opportunity to keep their families afloat, while providing a service to the community they’re in, which is a win for everyone.”
The center is currently helping clients obtain federal assistance during the pandemic, as many small businesses, including beauty salons, had to close their doors indefinitely.
“We are telling our clients to remain calm and take the necessary precautions with their businesses,” said Cisneros. “There is an American Dream, but we have to know what steps to take and work hard daily to obtain it. The triumph of someone who has left our office is a triumph for all of us.”
Pandemic Fallout Leaves More Students Hungry
By Kadija Doumbia
Economic hardship from COVID-19 policies puts more students at risk of going hungry, making an already present problem worse. About 48 percent of CUNY and 55 percent of Lehman students had experienced food insecurity within the past 30 days, according to the Bronx Free Press.
“We do not have concrete numbers of how much the COVID-19 crisis is affecting food insecurity among Lehman students,” said David Charcape, Assistant Director for the Office of Campus Life. “However, testimonials from students using the pantry tells us that they are struggling to make ends meet more than ever before.”
“Before COVID-19, I was going to the Lehman pantry every week, which was a great help. Thanks to the Lehman pantry, in the time that I have been studying, I have not had a food insecurity problem,” nutrition major Mary Morfe told the Meridian.
“Before the Coronavirus happened in New York, we always had students coming into the food pantry,” said Suzette Ramsundar, associate of campus life. “When we started this food pantry, we had about 50 students per week. Late last year, our numbers really increased to where we had 80 to 100 students per week.”
A 2018 survey from the Hope Center reported that Lehman has a higher than average food insecurity rate, with 75 percent of Lehman students facing food insecurity, and 61 percent unable to afford a well-balanced meal. This means that even before the pandemic, students often skipped meals to stretch their limited food supply into the next day.
Now with increased unemployment rates comes greater need.
"I live in a household of five, so it never covers all of us, but if I am cooking just for me it lasts over a week. I go whenever I really need it, maybe once a month,” said 21-year-old sophomore studio art major Sharaah Aquino. “Me and my mother work in beauty salons, which are now closed, so we did lose our jobs temporarily. My dad fell really sick earlier this year so he’s been out of his job for a while.”
Since March 17, Lehman’s Food Bank has changed its schedule to maintain social distancing, with students now only allowed to come by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Prior to the change, the food bank was open three days a week, on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Student volunteers and workers still work for the food bank remotely.
“I usually work for the food bank during the semester as a paid position, not a volunteer,” said political science major Alicia Rodriguez-Allie. “However, due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, I have been working for the food bank from home assisting students virtually in support of the employees who are still going in person."
As of April 9, the Lehman Food Bank announced via e-mail that their physical pantry service was switching to a digital service by offering students e-gift cards to supermarkets such as Target and registrations to Fresh Direct’s five-borough food drive. This lets students shop for food online and receive it to their homes, rather than taking the trek to the campus to get their food.
Students can also apply for greater relief sources such as the Lehman Cares Student Emergencies Fund and the Carroll and Milton Petrie Student Emergency Grant Fund, which gives up to $500 to cover basic needs. Multiple relief sources also let them know when the food is available in their neighborhoods.
“It is a fulfilling job knowing that what I am doing is directly benefiting the students,” said Rodriguez-Allie.
Transition to Online Learning is Harder for Some Classes
Lehman’s technology center. (Photo Credit: Lehman’s Flickr account)
By Allen Mena
Since the Lehman campus closed on March 12, all faculty and staff have had to switch to online technology to provide distance learning and other services. As Lehmanites work to adapt to the new systems, some are facing greater challenges.
“The transition to online hasn’t been bad, but there are some technical difficulties that happen during classes that have to do with Zoom and Blackboard,” said Emmet O’Boy, a sophomore English major. O’Boy noted that keeping a stable connection to these platforms during online classes was his primary problem, along with apps having server-side problems and professors having poor Wi-Fi connections.
Muhamed Yasser, a sophomore computer science major, did not find online learning problematic. “I haven’t had many problems with the online format besides deadlines changing during the transition period,” he said.
Richie Castillo, a junior acting major, also found the transition workable. “Despite obstacles regarding the coronavirus, Lehman is still doing what they can,” he said. “I haven’t really had many challenges because I did not expect classes to even continue.”
However, undeclared sophomore, Rebekah Gamble had some frustrations with online learning. “My house is sometimes loud during classes and that can make it very hard to focus during lessons,” she said. “However, my overall experience has been good.”
Other students had less optimistic views on the transition and more trouble with online platforms.
Amy Figueroa, a sophomore communications and media studies major, said she has faced some difficulties with online classes. “Some difficulties that I have encountered during online learning is viewing the material,” she said. “Some of my professors are not prepared to use Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate. Sometimes it is very hard to view our class work or any material they have ready for class.”
“Some of my professors are not prepared to use Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate.”
Britney Delgado, an Anthropology, Biology, and Chemistry Major who is graduating in 2023, noted: “One difficulty that I’ve encountered is finding the motivation to complete classwork; ever since this shift to online classes, it feels as though our workload has significantly increased.”
Classes that have aspects that need to be conducted in the classroom are also struggling. Learning modes that require students to be physically in a classroom need to be adjusted to find compromises that enable convenient learning for students.
Music and Dance Departments students, for instance, are not able to dance in large enough rooms because they are confined to their homes.
“Distance and remote learning is new to me, and frankly, I feel completely out of my depth,” said Michael Manswell, a dance professor at Lehman. “However, I believe this situation presents an opportunity for me to practice and include distance learning in all my courses. The learning curve has been steep.”
“It has also underscored the fact we NEED to meet ‘in person’ for some courses to be truly successful. Some Dance, Music & Theater courses cannot be taught solely online,” said Manswell. He added that the Department’s main emphasis is, “to keep the class schedule as close to the planned one as possible for the sake and comfort of the students.”