This year’s Kwanzaa Crawl is expected to be even bigger than its previous two. After expanding to include Harlem just last year, the organizers behind the crawl — sisters Kerry Coddett and Krystal Stark— reached out to several businesses uptown to partake in their black business empowerment event. More than 31 bars across Brooklyn and Harlem will be joining the crawl, many returning and some new additions. One of the new recruits is Cove Lounge — a Caribbean fusion restaurant

William Council, professionally and affectionately known as “Coach Billy” is a 32 year veteran of the legendary New York City basketball circuit. This Harlem native developed his passion for the sport as a young athlete, and has since devoted the past 19 years of his life to instilling values, morals and discipline in today’s youth through the art of basketball. In 2012, Coach Billy co-founded, and became the Athletic Director for the New Renaissance Basketball Association al

To be jolly! Well, not if you’re a 27-year-old African-American single mom in NYC. Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRXAjd2UUOAvideo which has gone viral. See what happened to Jazmine Headley, whose only crime was being a single mom and poor whose HRA benefits were cut off for her baby. She visited the Boerum Hill SNAP Office, a NYC Human Resources site at 35 4thAvenue, Brooklyn, with her baby. After waiting four hours in the office, she takes a seat on the floor. The Peace O

At this special celebration, Brooklyn and Harlem's African diaspora communities toast the booming black-owned businesses of their boroughs. Show up for the first day of Kwanzaa, join a team and hit up over 30 bars, restaurants and shops in your borough. Brooklyn's lineup of spots includes Basquiat's Bottle, Mo's Fort Greene, Tilly's Brooklyn, Brooklyn Beso, Kings Beer Hall, Negril BK, Sugarcane and many more; Harlemites can enjoy a cruise through Gin Fizz, Cove Lounge, Lenox