‘Homegrown Heroes’ Celebrates Local Impact, Inspires Next Generation

GARDEN CITY, NY — Community leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from across Long Island gathered Saturday, March 14, at Adelphi University for the inaugural Homegrown Heroes of Long Island celebration, an event focused on honoring those who built success in their own communities — and continue to give back.

The event, curated by longtime advocate Shirley Darkeh and held in partnership with regional organizations including the 100 Black Men of Eastern New York, the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, and the African American Small Business Foundation, brought together leaders across business, nonprofit, and civic sectors for an afternoon of recognition, networking, and reflection.

Created and curated by Shirley Darkeh, a 91-year-old Westbury community advocate and longtime promoter of African American history, the exhibit features 38 honorees working in fields such as law, medicine, education, business, social work, and the arts. Darkeh said the project aims to inspire young people by showcasing successful Black professionals who came from local communities.

“When people do well, they leave,” said Charlene Jackson, who was among the honorees and running for assemblywoman in the 18th assembly district in Nassau County. “So I think it's important to honor those people who grew up here, were raised here, and decided to come back and invest here.”

Jackson said celebrating local success stories is critical not only for the present but for the next generation.

“It’s about building legacy for our community and being an example for the people who are coming up now,” she said.

Throughout the event, speakers and attendees were given a platform for visibility, mentorship, and economic empowerment, particularly for minority entrepreneurs on Long Island.

Thompson pointed to what she described as a two-sided challenge — both a lack of access to information and a lack of engagement in seeking it out.

“There is an information deficit,” she said. “People don’t know exactly where to look, and then on the other hand, they’re not taking the time to look.”

She said organizations like the African American Chamber of Commerce are helping close that gap by connecting entrepreneurs with resources such as capital access, government contracts, and business development opportunities.

Beyond resources, Thompson said events like Homegrown Heroes play a key role in breaking down barriers between organizations and leaders.

“We often operate in silos,” she said. “An event like this allows us to network and find opportunities for collaboration.”

Honoree Dalton Gooding said he was surprised to be recognized, describing himself as someone who prefers to stay focused on his work rather than seek attention.

“I’m the type of personality who just keeps his head down, keeps working,” Gooding said. “It just feels great to be recognized.”

Gooding, who grew up in Uniondale and now lives in Westbury, said he measures his impact through the people around him — particularly younger generations.

“I’m really big on giving back and pouring into the next generation,” he said. “Seeing a good example of what it is to be a Black man in today’s America.”

As a father of two sons, Gooding said representation and visibility matter.

“When young people see someone like me where I am, they can see that they could also be there,” he said.

For honorees and organizers, the hope is that the conversations sparked at the event extend beyond the room.

“This is just the beginning,” Jackson said. “We have to be intentional about how we’re going to be working in and for our communities.”