Shannen-Kaylia Henry of CocoaFiber

Shannen-Kaylia Henry of CocoaFiber

In this episode, we explore the work behind CocoaFiber, a biomaterials venture transforming discarded cocoa pod husks into bio-based textile fibers. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with founder Shannen-Kaylia Henry about drawing upon her family's cocoa-farming heritage, her background in biology and textile innovation, and her experiences across international fashion and manufacturing systems to develop an alternative to fossil- and wood-based fibers. Hear how CocoaFiber applies the principle of industrial symbiosis—using the waste of one industry as a resource for another—while working with farming cooperatives, scientists, manufacturers, and brands to build a more circular and equitable supply chain. From developing new enzymes and refining prototypes in the laboratory to navigating performance testing, commercial partnerships, and the realities of scaling a materials venture, this conversation reveals how scientific innovation advances through experimentation, collaboration, and careful attention to the entire ecosystem surrounding a product. This episode considers what becomes possible when we rethink waste as a source of value and design manufacturing systems that support farmers, industry, culture, and the planet. Visit our podcast page [https://communitasamerica.org/changemakers/podcast] for more information. Visit CocoaFiber [https://cocoafiber.com/]. Shannen-Kaylia Henry is the Founder and CEO of CocoaFiber, an advanced materials company transforming cocoa waste into biomaterials for textile and industrial applications. Her work focuses on building circular, climate-resilient supply chains that convert underutilized biomass into high-performance materials, reducing reliance on fossil-based and forest-derived inputs. With a background in environmental science, textile engineering, and international business, Shannen's work sits at the intersection of material innovation, supply chain design, and climate impact. She has developed CocoaFiber as a waste-to-material platform that connects agricultural systems to global manufacturing, creating new revenue streams for cocoa-growing communities while enabling lower-carbon material production. In addition to CocoaFiber, she is the founder of the Kaylia Group and the Sustainable Design Impact Hub, initiatives that advance circular design within the creative economy. Through these platforms, she has built global networks of designers, researchers, and industry leaders working toward more regenerative systems. Shannen has spoken at international forums including COP28, New York Climate Week, and leading universities such as Yale and Parsons, sharing insights on sustainable materials, circular economy, and the future of manufacturing. Her work has been recognized by organizations including the Causartist 50, Fashion Impact Fund, and the Ocean Foundation. She is a Mercedes-Benz beVisioneers Fellow, Newlab NYC/EDC Founder Fellow and member of the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network. After 10 years abroad, Shannen is currently based in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York as she focuses on advancing CocoaFiber from lab-scale to industrial deployment by working with partners across fashion, automotive, and advanced materials sectors to bring next generation materials to market.

Fares Al-lahabi of CarbonCLAIR

In this episode, we explore the work behind CarbonCLAIR, a venture developing innovative air filtration technology to improve air quality in construction sites, infrastructure projects, and other challenging environments. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with founder Fares Al-lahabi about transforming an engineering idea into a venture through customer discovery, community engagement, and real-world deployment. From conversations with commuters and climate justice advocates to pilots with Mount Sinai, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and construction partners, CarbonCLAIR demonstrates how innovation grows through listening as much as inventing. What begins as a technical solution becomes a venture shaped by the experiences of workers, residents, researchers, and industry partners alike. This thoughtful conversation explores how entrepreneurship can bridge science, public health, and business to create technologies that improve lives while building a more sustainable future. Visit our podcast page [https://communitasamerica.org/changemakers/podcast] for more information. Visit CarbonCLAIR [https://www.cipass.cuny.edu/carbonclair/]. Fares Al-lahabi is the CEO and Co-Founder of CarbonCLAIR, a climate technology company developing mobile air quality mitigation systems for construction, municipal infrastructure, and urban environments. A civil engineering student at Manhattan University, Fares has led CarbonCLAIR from an undergraduate-built prototype into active deployment pathways with partners including Mount Sinai, Skanska at Governors Island, and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. His work focuses on improving air quality for workers and communities through deployable filtration, particulate capture, and chemical scrubbing technologies. Fares has secured more than $200,000 in funding and support for CarbonCLAIR, participated in the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program, and was selected as a New York Climate Exchange Climate Tech Fellow. He is also deeply committed to workforce development, having hired and mentored over 30 student engineers and interns through CarbonCLAIR. Fares previously served as President of the American Society of Civil Engineers Student Chapter at Manhattan University and has presented his work at regional, national, and international platforms. His long-term goal is to build technologies that positively impact people at scale and help create cleaner, healthier cities.

Arnyce Foster-Hernandez of Featuring the Café and Featuring the Center for Culinary Arts

In this episode, we hear about how the Harlem-based Featuring the Café creates a welcoming and hospitable environment for all; and also serves as a platform for Featuring the Center for Culinary Arts, a social-impact nonprofit that emphasizes workforce training to create pathways toward economic stability and second chances. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with founder Arnyce Foster-Hernandez about what it means to build a venture shaped by lived experience—drawing from her upbringing between Harlem and a family farm in North Carolina, as well as her journey through public service, hardship, and recovery. Hear how the café functions not only as a food business, but as a space for connection, collaboration, and opportunity—bringing together local entrepreneurs, artists, youth, and neighbors in ways that restore a sense of belonging and shared purpose—and asks, what becomes possible when a neighborhood café is designed as a place of care, access, and collective growth? This thoughtful conversation highlights the realities of building a venture from the ground up, the importance of deep community engagement, and the powerful role entrepreneurs can play in creating spaces that nourish both people and possibility. Visit our podcast page [https://communitasamerica.org/changemakers/podcast] for more information. Visit Featuring the Café [https://featuringculinaryarts.com/] and Featuring the Center for the Culinary Arts [https://featuringculinaryarts.com/about-us]. Arnyce Foster-Hernandez is a visionary business principal, cafe owner, and aspiring TV/film scriptwriter with a diverse and accomplished background. With 33 years of experience in NYC/NYS government, community, and non-profit sectors, she has successfully managed large teams, overseen multimillion-dollar budgets, and led initiatives that have driven growth and revitalized partnerships. As the owner of a gourmet cafe, Arnyce combines culinary creativity with business savvy, creating a successful venture. Arnyce is married to her wonderful husband, Danny, and they have a miracle eight-year-old son, Danny Jonathan (DJ).

Daniel Maloney of Sol Cacao Craft Chocolate

In this episode, we explore the work behind Sol Cacao, the Bronx's first bean-to-bar chocolate factory and a family-founded venture. Through their work, the three Maloney brothers bring single-origin chocolate to people while reconnecting them to the origins of their food. Host Monique T. Marshall speaks with co-founder Daniel Maloney about what it means to build a venture rooted in family, agriculture, and a commitment to working more closely with farmers across the globe. Hear how Sol Cacao partners directly with growers—supporting fair wages, preserving generational knowledge, and honoring the role of soil, biodiversity, and cultivation in shaping both flavor and livelihood. From the health benefits of dark chocolate to the philosophy of "let food be your medicine," the venture challenges disconnection from what we eat while creating pathways for education, craft, and local opportunity. This thoughtful conversation highlights the power of food as a bridge between land, culture, and community, and the role entrepreneurs can play in inspiring the next generation of chocolate makers, eaters, and artisans. Visit our podcast page [https://communitasamerica.org/changemakers/podcast] for more information. Visit Sol Cacao: Bronx Craft Chocolate [http://www.solcacao.com/]. Daniel Maloney is one of three brothers behind Sol Cacao, a chocolate manufacturing company based in the Bronx. With a passion for chocolate, sustainable agriculture, and technology, he combines these interests to craft high-quality chocolate while driving innovation in the industry. Through Sol Cacao, Daniel is committed to building ethical supply chains, empowering farming communities, and creating sustainable manufacturing jobs in the Bronx.

Neville Green (aka "The Burnout Prevention Guy") of Haus of Ananda

In this episode, we explore the work of Neville Green, also known as "The Burnout Prevention Guy," founder of Haus of Ananda, a social-impact venture focused on stress management and the improvement of overall well-being through a trauma-informed, holistic approach. In conversation, Monique T. Marshall finds out what it means to build a venture that collaborates with marginalized groups, professionals, and institutional partners to address the systemic and lived realities of chronic stress. Hear how Haus of Ananda evolves from a virtual wellness group into a space of care—supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ individuals, as well as high-achieving professionals and caregivers—through education, somatic practices, and programming that meets people where they are—and asks, what happens when we build chosen families that not only acknowledge burnout, but actively create space for rest, healing, and collective resilience? This thoughtful conversation highlights the importance of listening to lived experience, centering care and connection as the foundation for change, and the powerful role entrepreneurs can play in shaping healthier, more sustainable ways of living and working. Visit our podcast page [https://communitasamerica.org/changemakers/podcast]. Visit Haus of Ananda [https://www.hausofananda.com/]. ——— Neville Green-Waterman on wellness: "Burnout does not happen because you are weak. It happens because systems are misaligned." An engineer and lifelong problem solver with more than two decades of experience working in high-pressure environments across nonprofit executive leadership, corporations, and startups; he operates at the intersection of public health, health policy, business operations, and organizational strategy. He brings a practical, evidence-based approach to complex human and organizational challenges. Known as The Burnout Prevention Guy, Neville helps high-achieving professionals, leaders, and caregivers perform under pressure without burning out. His perspective is grounded in lived experience, including years of leadership under constrained resources, caregiving for ailed and aging parents, mentoring at-risk youth, and more than 17 years as a yoga, mindfulness, and life coach. These experiences shaped his belief that burnout is predictable, preventable, and solvable when the whole system is addressed. That belief led him to found Haus of Ananda, a trauma-informed wellness collective that became the foundation for his current work. As he prepares for a 2026 relaunch under The Burnout Prevention Guy brand, Neville is focused on helping people build sustainable performance, clarity, and resilience without sacrificing their health or ambition.