logo
NYC woman says poverty helped her become millionaire

NYC woman says poverty helped her become millionaire

Yahoo05-03-2025

NEW YORK (PIX11)—From being insecure about housing to now being a mogul, one Long Island woman is sharing her incredible journey.
This weekend, she's hosting an international women's conference at Hofstra University to help hundreds of other women shine.
More Local News
Dr. Neva Alexander has memories of eviction as a child, and they drive her to help empower others.
Dr. Neva Alexander says it's her calling to help entrepreneurs reach their highest potential.
Alexander launched Nevalliance, a consulting firm, to help local businesses not just grow but go global.
Theresa Aydelott is an entrepreneur. She started her own consulting firm called Ayden Vision. As a former university basketball coach, she knows the value of a good business coach.
Alexander gave her business a winning game plan. Alexander is from Jamaica and now runs her consulting business in Melville, NY. She says she lived in 12 homes by the age of 11. Moving from house to house as a child was not easy, but the pain of poverty propelled her.
Alexander is now a mogul, philanthropist, and the author of five books.
Her latest is called 'Crossing Borders, Breaking Barriers. '
It's about three women who came to New York as immigrants and started their own businesses in the U.S.
Dean Bennett co-chaired a program at Hofstra University called Ascend Long Island, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, helping dozens of minority-owned businesses thrive.
It's her fifth year hosting the International Women's Conference at Hofstra University this Saturday.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tacoma cocktail bar known for gin has closed for good. ‘Just time to move on'
Tacoma cocktail bar known for gin has closed for good. ‘Just time to move on'

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Tacoma cocktail bar known for gin has closed for good. ‘Just time to move on'

Gilman House Room 428, a gin-focused cocktail bar that moved into a smaller speakeasy-style space last year, closed permanently after service on May 24. Its sister bar, tiki haven Devil's Reef, isn't going anywhere, confirmed co-owner Jason Alexander in a phone call on Tuesday. In fact, they just renewed that lease, he said. The story was different at Room 428 in the Stadium District. He and his wife Robyn Alexander originally took over the corner storefront at 12 N. Tacoma Ave. in early 2020. That first edition of Gilman House, which opened later that year amid pandemic limitations, garnered a positive reputation for its veg-friendly fare, top-notch cocktails and, somewhat inadvertently, as a brunch hot spot. In a sense, it became more of a restaurant than the bar-with-food they had intended to offer. Eventually, the now-owners of The Powder Room Champagne Bar approached them about taking over the space. They arranged a sub-lease agreement with the Alexanders and a kitchen-sharing setup, allowing Gilman House to downsize into the more intimate cocktail lounge through a separate entrance. But as the lease came up for renewal this year, said Alexander, they decided it was 'just time to move on.' 'It ran its five-year course,' he continued. 'We were happy. We had a good time there, learned a lot about building out, running two different spots in one space. It was a really good learning opportunity.' Business was decent, he said, but the neighborhood often seemed sleepier than a cocktail bar needs to really thrive. Their staff of about five people were informed prior to the closure and left on good terms, according to Alexander. Some had personal pursuits while others had a job lined up. The closure won't impact The Powder Room, confirmed co-owner Cameron Gilmore in an email this week. 'I am in the process of negotiating my own lease agreement for the space now,' she said Thursday. 'We plan to stay put.' That's a silver lining for the Stadium District, which in May lost daytime stalwart Art House Cafe and Moshi Ramen Bar, where new owners are planning another concept. Technically with the address of 8 N. Tacoma Ave., Gilman House Room 428 debuted in June 2024. Alexander described it as 'a dark, shadow-filled experience with no windows and no doors and maybe you'll escape and maybe you won't,' in a nod to the H.P. Lovecraft stories that inspired both this bar and Devil's Reef in Opera Alley. (That description defies the original corner space, which has lots of windows.) Like all of the Alexanders' bars over 15-plus years in Tacoma, the new one was built from the ground up, featuring custom booths adorned with pillows and furs, dim lighting and a sensation that you had tucked into a discrete haunt down a dark alley in an 18th-century port town. They shared a kitchen with The Powder Room, serving drink-friendly food with a vegetarian bent: roasted veggies with housemade hummus, salade Nicoise, a portobello burger and pudding pots. Cocktails have long been the focus for Alexander, though, and Room 428 was no exception. Some, such as the Serranian Sling (gin, cassis, spices and citrus), can still be relished at Devil's Reef. ▪ 706 Opera Alley (Court C), Tacoma, ▪ Wednesday-Thursday 5-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-12 a.m. ▪ Details: tiki bar open since 2018 serves some Gilman House cocktails but focuses on carefully concocted rum drinks

Chicago's Influential Violet Hour Is Closed Until Further Notice
Chicago's Influential Violet Hour Is Closed Until Further Notice

Eater

time19 hours ago

  • Eater

Chicago's Influential Violet Hour Is Closed Until Further Notice

For the past three weeks, the Violet Hour has remained dormant in Wicker Park, with ownership saying the cocktail bar was in dire need of plumbing repairs. Originally, the owners planned on reopening last week, but now the 18-year-old cocktail bar will stay closed 'until further notice,' missing the onslaught of culinary tourists in town next weekend for the 35th annual James Beard Awards. Ownership from One Off Hospitality Group, the restaurant company behind the Publican and Big Star, says they're in negotiations with the building's landlord, attempting to reach common ground over those repairs. A rep declined to say how much that would cost, only saying 'substantial' fixes are needed. Floors would need to be ripped up, and the ground dug out. The bar's furniture remains intact at 1520 N. Damen Avenue. Public records showed the owner listed as Magic Carpet LLC, which leads to Newcastle Investors. A press release shows Newcastle acquired the property in 2023. 'We're working hard to resume service and will continue to share updates as they become available, so please keep an eye on our social media pages for the latest news,' a Violet Hour statement reads. 'Thank you for your continued support — we can't wait to welcome you back, if and when the time is right.' Violet Hour's importance extends a few layers deep. The bar's debut ushered in the age of the mixologist with sophisticated cocktails using not-so-easy-to-find ingredients. And a multitude of different types of ice. But its influence extended across the country. Chicagoans enjoyed martinis and Manhattans, but Violet Hour's bartenders showed them new drinks, introducing them to future bar staples like the Paper Plane and the Art of Choke. In 2015, the bar won the Beard for Outstanding Bar Program. The bar has made numerous local and national lists and is one of Chicago's essential bars. An arsenal of bartenders remains thankful for their time working the bar, which helped launch their careers. The bar's arrival also marked the start of One Off's Wicker Park presence as the area rapidly gentrified. MTV brought the neighborhood attention when it brought its Real World circus to North Avenue in 2001-2002. One Off partner Terry Alexander was already an integral part of the area — he was also behind Danny's Tavern in nearby Bucktown and soon joined Paul Kahan and Donnie Madia's group. After opening Big Star, they eventually took over the neighboring space to the north and opened Dove's Luncheonette. In 2016, the group opened a spinoff of its pioneering Publican, but the restaurant struggled to find traction as the neighborhood continued to change. An ancillary Beard event, scheduled for Sunday, June 15 — a collaboration with Portland, Oregon Beard Award finalist Scotch Lodge — will move to Friends of Friends, a new bar that Alexander opened last week with Violet Hour alum Abe Vucekovich. Alexander's familiarity with the Violet Hour spans more than two decades through MOD, a restaurant that was open from 2000 to 2005; and Del Toro, a restaurant that gave Andrew Zimmerman a chance to shine. Zimmerman would go on to open West Loop icon Sepia, a Michelin-starred restaurant. While One Off appears to be cautiously optimistic about a reopening, a decision to shutter could echo what happened in 2020 in West Loop when the company closed Blackbird, a gastronomic trailblazer, after two decades. Fans of Blackbird didn't get a chance to have a final meal. One Off hopes Violet Hour doesn't face the same fate and gets a proper last call. Sign up for our newsletter.

Hooked By An Instagram Ad: The Shocking $47,000 Scam That Shattered One Man's Life In Days
Hooked By An Instagram Ad: The Shocking $47,000 Scam That Shattered One Man's Life In Days

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

Hooked By An Instagram Ad: The Shocking $47,000 Scam That Shattered One Man's Life In Days

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. A single click. A friendly voice. A promise of guaranteed profits. In 2025, that's all it takes to lose everything. A California resident's life changed forever when they scrolled past what seemed like just another Instagram advertisement. 'Guaranteed profits through crypto trading,' the ad promised. 'Professional guidance from financial experts.' The Bond Finance platform at looked legitimate, professional, trustworthy. Don't Miss: — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – . It was anything but—a reality that California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation has documented extensively through its crypto scam tracker, which reveals the alarming frequency of such schemes targeting unsuspecting investors. Within days of clicking that ad, the victim found themselves ensnared in a sophisticated web of deception orchestrated by criminals who had perfected the art of financial manipulation. 'Grigory' reached out almost immediately, introducing 'Alexander'—supposedly a seasoned financial analyst ready to guide them toward crypto riches. The script was flawless. Alexander patiently walked the victim through creating an account, explained how to buy cryptocurrency, and provided step-by-step instructions for transferring funds to the Bond Finance platform. The trades looked successful. The account balance grew. At one point, it showed $47,000 in profits. Then came the trap. When the victim attempted to withdraw their earnings, Bond Finance claimed their account was frozen due to a trade that allegedly exceeded available funds. The solution? Pay $13,000 for 'account insurance' to unfreeze everything. The victim couldn't pay. The website vanished. Every dollar was gone. This isn't an isolated incident—it's part of a financial pandemic destroying lives across America. According to FBI data, an estimated $5.6 billion was lost to cryptocurrency-related scams in 2023, representing a staggering 45% increase from the previous year. Investment fraud involving cryptocurrency specifically rose from $2.57 billion in 2022 to $3.96 billion in 2023—a devastating 53% increase. These aren't just numbers on a government report. They represent thousands of families destroyed, retirement savings wiped out, dreams shattered. The sophistication of these operations has reached terrifying new heights. Cryptocurrency romance scams have escalated in recent years, leading to billions of dollars in losses worldwide, with criminals employing psychological manipulation tactics that would make professional therapists uncomfortable. Trending: New to crypto? on Coinbase. With Instagram hosting over 1.4 billion active users, the platform provides scammers with an ideal hunting ground for their fraudulent schemes. The platform's algorithm-driven advertising system can precisely target individuals based on their financial interests, recent searches, and demographic profiles. The Bond Finance case illustrates the evolution of crypto scams beyond simple romance fraud. These operations now employ: Professional Website Design: Fake trading platforms that mirror legitimate exchanges with real-time charts, professional layouts, and convincing testimonials. Multi-Person Teams: 'Grigory' and 'Alexander' represent different roles in a coordinated operation designed to build trust and maintain the illusion of legitimacy. Psychological Manipulation: The gradual building of trust, small initial successes, and the creation of artificial urgency around 'account insurance' fees. Technical Sophistication: Platforms that can display fake trading results, manipulate account balances, and create the appearance of profitable investments. The Bond Finance scam contained multiple warning signs that every cryptocurrency investor must recognize: Guaranteed Profits: No legitimate investment offers guaranteed returns. Period. The crypto market's volatility makes such promises mathematically impossible. Unsolicited Contact: 'Grigory' reaching out after a simple ad click represents a major red flag. Legitimate investment platforms don't cold-call potential clients. Withdrawal Restrictions: Any platform that prevents withdrawals or demands additional fees to access your money is operating a scam. Pressure Tactics: The demand for $13,000 in 'account insurance' represents a classic extortion technique designed to extract additional funds from victims. Unverified Platforms: The domain was likely registered recently and lacked proper financial licensing or regulatory oversight. Protection in the cryptocurrency space requires a multi-layered defense strategy that treats every investment opportunity with extreme skepticism: Verify Everything: Search for any cryptocurrency or platform using the word 'scam' and examine what you find. Visit official consumer protection sites like the FBI, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Federal Trade Commission. Use Only Established Platforms: Stick to well-known, regulated exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, or Binance that have proper licensing and insurance protections. Never Share Private Information: Do not disclose private keys, passwords, or sensitive details over the phone to unverified individuals. Verify legitimacy through official company emails or verified social media interactions. Trust Your Instincts: Be cautious of investment advice or promotions from someone you meet online and have never met in real life, even if you have spoken on the phone or video chatted. Implement the 48-Hour Rule: Never make investment decisions immediately. Wait at least 48 hours and discuss any opportunity with trusted friends or family members before proceeding. If you suspect you've fallen victim to a crypto scam, immediate action can sometimes limit the damage: Cease all contact immediately and report the incident to your financial institution and the FBI at Filing a complaint with IC3 allows the FBI to identify patterns to aid federal investigations and public awareness efforts. Contact your bank or credit card company if you provided payment information. While cryptocurrency transactions are typically irreversible, you may be able to stop additional unauthorized charges. Document everything: screenshots, email communications, phone numbers, website addresses, and transaction records. This information can prove crucial for law enforcement investigations. The Bond Finance victim's story represents more than financial loss—it's a cautionary tale about the predatory nature of modern cryptocurrency scams. These operations specifically target individuals seeking financial security, exploiting hope and trust for criminal gain. Online criminals woo targets with promises of love and risk-free cryptocurrency investments, but end up stealing millions and breaking hearts. The psychological damage often exceeds the financial impact, leaving victims feeling violated, embarrassed, and financially devastated. In 2025, financial survival requires treating every investment opportunity as potentially fraudulent until proven otherwise. The sophistication of modern scams means that traditional warning signs—poor grammar, obvious spelling errors, unprofessional presentation—no longer apply. The criminals behind Bond Finance and thousands of similar operations employ professional web developers, experienced marketers, and psychological manipulation experts. They study their victims, exploit vulnerabilities, and perfect their techniques based on successful frauds. Question everything. Verify independently. Never invest money you can't afford to lose completely. And remember: in cryptocurrency, if something seems too good to be true, it absolutely is. The $47,000 that vanished from that California resident's life is gone forever. Don't let your story become the next cautionary tale. Read Next: A must-have for all crypto enthusiasts: . Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Image: Shutterstock This article Hooked By An Instagram Ad: The Shocking $47,000 Scam That Shattered One Man's Life In Days originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store