… We’LL GIVE YOU THE WORLD

by Wendy Yang Clark

Steppin’ and repeatn’ with Steven Miley, Chief Marketing Officer of Dime Community Bank and 1010 Wins Anchor Rob Walsh

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from a familiar voice.  “Hello!” he bellowed, “Rob Walsh here from radio station 1010 Wins!”  I was thrilled to be getting this phone call - I had almost forgotten that I had applied to a grant from 1010 Wins about a month before.  (At this point, I have applied to so many small business grants, specialty loans for women, opportunities for minorities, et al, that I barely recall who they are from or what they are for.  Aside from a single rejection email, up until this call from 1010 Wins, I’ve heard nary a word from any of them.)

Finding out that The Pearl made it to the final round was a huge honor. I was told that the final five finalists had been culled from several thousand applications, to a round of ten semi-finalists, and then down to us five. 

I arrived yesterday at the 1010 Wins studio in Manhattan confident that we had a good chance at beating out four other small businesses for a prize of $10,000.  We are the first Pilates Reformer studio in the Bronx, after all!  With a focus on community and inclusivity, and offerings like senior classes, kids’ classes, the borough’s only weekly perinatal class, and even a free bilingual Community Class, I thought we might have this in the bag.  That is, until, I saw the list of other finalists…  

We were up against The Nourish Spot, a restaurant working with schools to provide healthy snacks for food insecure kids in Brooklyn; Bri Marie Gourmet Popcorn, who pack and ship flavored gourmet popcorn to help fundraise for not-for-profits; Huascar & Co Bakeshop, winners of a Food Network Cupcake challenge who bake with Latino-Caribbean flavors and donate baked goods to St Judes; and Liberia Barco De Papel Comunitaria, NYC’s last and only Spanish-language bookstore, which serves immigrant communities and Spanish-language learners.  I realized that I was toast, but toast that was incredibly humbled and honored to be included with company like this.  

Telling Rob Walsh how I plan to “throw” him on to a Pilates Reformer 🤪

I was instructed to come up with a “90 second elevator pitch” to recite to the judges, telling them what The Pearl could do with an extra ten grand in the bank.  Standing in front of a live audience and a panel of judges was a bit nerve-wracking - I’m used to being behind the scenes, not in the spotlight. My heart was pounding, but I was determined to represent The Pearl with all the passion and eloquence I could pull together.  I felt like a bewildered muppet on Sesame Street, bright lights shining into my googly eyes and a real-life Guy Smiley calling me up to the stage, my mind mostly blank.  Sharing our story, our mission, and the impact we hope to make in The Bronx was exhilarating and stressful. It’s not every day that you get the chance to advocate for your dream in such a public way. Here’s the pitch I worked on non-stop to memorize, and delivered slightly flustered and completely out of order, all while wildly gesticulating:

I’m Wendy Yang Clark, & my mission is simple - to provide a space that nurtures physical & mental well-being where all feel welcome. The Pearl is a movement studio in the seaside town of City Island, in The Bronx. Opening the studio has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished already. The Bronx now has its first group Pilates Reformer classes, as well as the only weekly perinatal yoga class in the borough. We offer discounted classes for seniors, and a bilingual free Community Yoga Class.

 We’re New Yorkers - our lives move quickly! I saw the need for a space for Bronxites to exhale. A space to reset, to take a beat from the fast pace of city life.

Bronx County ranks the lowest in the state for health. Lack of access to care, food insecurity, and poluted air effect length & quality of lives. The Pearl is focused on expanding our reach & impact in our borough. With your help: we hope to make yoga accessible to more people by offering free public classes, and want to lead educational birthing workshops to support maternal health. There’s an empty lot right next door that we would love to turn into a green market!

Our purpose is to help people find joy in movement. The future of our business is bright - and we have a lot of work to do! Grant money from 1010 Wins would directly support these community-focused initiatives, helping us spread the health in our borough. Join us in creating a community where diversity is celebrated, and all types of people have the opportunity to thrive.

We were all rooting for each other, and it was heartening to see the support and encouragement everyone offered. It was a true display of entrepreneurial spirit - competitive yet collaborative.  The passionate and compelling Paula Ortiz of Liberia Barco de Papel Comunitaria deservedly walked away with the oversized check, and plans to use the money to pay for marketing to fundraise for a renovation to the sorefront in Jackson Heights.

While we didn’t win the grand prize, the experience was incredibly rewarding. I met so many other inspiring entrepreneurs, each with their unique stories, innovative ideas, and dedication to helping others. It was a reminder of the diverse and vibrant small business community we’re a part of in NYC. Hearing their journeys, challenges, and successes was incredibly motivating.

I left the event feeling inspired and even more committed to our mission at The Pearl. Being part of the challenge reinforced my belief in the power of community and the importance of supporting each other’s dreams. We may not have won the $10,000, but we gained something else: a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to the small business community.

Paula Ortiz of Liberia Barco de Papel Comunitaria takes home the grand prize while the rest of us look on in admiration