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Our Vision

At Everything Brown, our mission is to empower diaspora connected youth, adults, and families by creating meaningful events, opportunities, and access to essential resources. We are dedicated to fostering community connections, celebrating cultural heritage, and enhancing the well-being of our diverse communities through innovative programs and initiatives. Our commitment is to give back, uplift, and support the diaspora, ensuring a brighter future for all. We bring our mission to life through programs and events that meet both immediate and long term community needs.

From cultural celebrations that honor shared heritage to resource drives providing essentials to families, we create spaces where connection and opportunity flourish.Signature efforts like our Annual Holiday Giveaway, educational workshops, and targeted outreach initiatives ensure that members of the diaspora have the tools, knowledge, and support to thrive.

Through strong partnerships and active engagement, we work every day to strengthen communities and expand opportunities for all we serve.

Our Work

Events & Programming

Why We Work

Our mission is clear: to connect, empower and uplift.

Everything Brown, Inc. empowers diaspora connected youth, adults and families in NYC through cultural events, adult and family literacy support, financial literacy initiatives, health and wellness programs, community advocacy and access to vital community resources.

Empowering Youth, Honoring Roots: Youth Programming

Our youth programming is designed to nurture the whole person, mind, body, and spirit, while grounding young people in cultural pride and community responsibility. We provide culturally competent tutoring and counseling, life skills classes, and health and wellness activities that equip youth to navigate both opportunities and challenges. Beginning in 2026, we will launch our Rites of Passage Pilot Program, guiding participants through key milestones with the support of mentors, elders, and peers. Annual celebrations foster joy, belonging, and intergenerational connection.

Our Book Mobile and Books for BIPOC Families initiative ensure that children in New York City communities, especially those reflected in the stories and content, have consistent access to literature that celebrates diverse identities, histories, and walks of life.

Strengthening Families, Building Futures: Family Support

We strengthen families by addressing their holistic needs in economic, emotional, and cultural areas.

Our programs include family financial literacy training, health and wellness programs for adults and elders, and pre- and post-partum support for new parents. We also facilitate restorative justice and family healing workshops that create space for conflict resolution, connection, and growth.

Annual celebrations unite families across generations, fostering bonds that help communities thrive.

Economic Empowerment and Skills Development

We believe that strong communities are built on economic stability and access to opportunity. Our initiatives include financial literacy workshops, job readiness programs, and entrepreneur support for individuals launching or growing small businesses.

We offer civic engagement courses and certifications to encourage active participation in community life, as well as computer and technology literacy programs to bridge the digital divide. For those continuing their education, we provide GED support and adult literacy programs to expand access to new possibilities.

We also offer culturally competent strategic development for folks looking to start a local nonprofit and seeking guidance in planning their growth and impact, along with grant writing and development workshops designed for small businesses committed to serving and uplifting their communities.

Connecting People, Meeting Needs: Resource Access

We provide direct access to essential items that help individuals and families meet their everyday needs. Through partnerships with local organizations, we coordinate the distribution of school supplies, household essentials, culturally responsive wellness materials, and seasonal giveaways that reach community members where they are.

Beginning in 2026, we will expand this work to include referrals to housing assistance, food access programs, healthcare services, and support in navigating public systems. Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community has access to resources that support their stability, well-being, and growth.

Support the Movement

The People Behind the Mission

The Everything Brown team is made up of passionate community leaders, educators, and advocates committed to uplifting diaspora connected youth, adults, and families. Together, we bring expertise, lived experience, and a shared dedication to creating meaningful change through cultural, educational, and resource-driven initiatives.

Executive Director

Nailah Ricco-Brown

Nailah Ricco-Brown, J.D., is the founder and executive leader of Everything Brown, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering diaspora connected youth, adults, and families in New York City. With credentials in nonprofit management, development, fundraising, and community engagement, she brings over two decades of experience leading transformative community initiatives.

Nailah has designed and managed programs focused on literacy, financial empowerment, health and wellness, and advocacy, always with an emphasis on equity and access. Under her leadership, Everything Brown has launched signature events such as the Annual Holiday Giveaway, reaching hundreds of community members each year.

She is deeply committed to fostering spaces where cultural pride and opportunity meet, ensuring that communities are equipped to thrive. Her work is rooted in building pathways that support oppressed communities in achieving liberation and creating lasting change from within.

Co-Founder, Board Chair

Terrance Brown

Terrance Brown serves as the Board Chair of Everything Brown, Inc., bringing over 20 years of expertise in financial analysis, commercial real estate lending, and portfolio management. A seasoned banking professional, he has held leadership roles at institutions including Forbright Bank, Bank of America, People’s United Bank, and J.P. Morgan, where he managed complex portfolios and advised clients on achieving long-term financial goals. Terrance leverages this financial acumen to guide Everything Brown’s strategic growth, ensuring sound stewardship of resources and sustainable impact for the communities we serve.

A proud native of Harlem, New York, Terrance has long been committed to uplifting his community beyond his professional career. He has spent many years mentoring youth, supporting local initiatives, and championing programs that strengthen opportunity and resilience in Harlem and beyond. His dual dedication to financial excellence and community empowerment makes him an invaluable leader in advancing the mission of Everything Brown.

"You are where you are today because you stand on somebody’s shoulders. And wherever you are heading, you cannot get there by yourself. If you stand on the shoulders of others, you have a reciprocal responsibility to live your life so that others may stand on your shoulders. It’s the quid pro quo of life. We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give..."

- Vernon Jordan