Meet Denya
Meet Denya, a new Harlemite who has great respect for community and is excited to continue growing her roots here with her family.
Denya is a Filipino American and was born and raised in Maryland, “So my family, …they were from the Philippines… My grandfathers, both, were in the Navy, so they were able to come over to Maryland… [to start] our family and upbringing….” She moved to New York after getting her degree from the oldest HBCU in Maryland, Bowie State where she studied Business Administration and Marketing. Describing her journey to Harlem she says, “...In 2018, I started my business full time doing marketing and doing social media for clients… I started… in Inwood and made my way down to Washington Heights... [In 2018] my husband and I got married… [and] we decided to stay in the Heights because [that’s where our original church was].” Unfortunately, during the pandemic the church closed. But, finding a new church in Harlem led to their start in the community.
Through exploring the neighborhood, patronizing local businesses, like Sugar Hill Creamery, Mushtari Hardware & Garden, Ginjan, and FIELDTRIP, she has been able to find community, making some of her best friends at local events and at her church. In her apartment building she also finds community by connecting with other residents, whether it’s her Super venting to her while he fixes something in her apartment, or a neighbor in her building inviting her to a gathering although they don’t know each other well.
“...Harlem is home. I plan to be here for the long run… There is just something about Harlem that is just so different… And I am so excited to raise my kid here… and to build our roots…”
Being engaged locally is one of her family’s pillars, “I think it's important wherever you're rooted or planted, you literally want to be rooted... Because I’m a transplant and I haven't… lived in New York for a long time, or even Harlem, I’m… super intentional with getting to know the people…”. She continues, “...What can I pour into? …And how can I be of service to this beautiful community? …But also not assum[ing] what the problem is and [asking residents] what the problem is… Because I'm not gonna try to come in and be like, ‘Well I think y’all need to fix this, this, and this.’ It’s like, ‘Well, we didn’t ask you to fix this and this. This is the actual issue, and so we need to make some things happen regarding that.’”
Harlem has a special personal significance for her as well, “...I have… a heart for Harlem because Harlem gave me my first kid. We gave birth to him in our home…” Regarding raising her son in Harlem, Denya remarks, “...we are intentional with him even learning the culture so we don’t even be using the stroller no more, like you could walk. He loves saying ‘Train! Train!’ ...Every time we pass by the 4/5/6… We also take him to… the local playground… And even the foods... I mean, he's a picky kid… but he definitely tears up that fried chicken bowl from FIELDTRIP and ice cream from [Sugar Hill Creamery] and I have a video to prove it.”
“...[Harlem]... changed me to be more confident… I feel like here I could just… be authentically who I am because that’s what everybody else is doing.” She says, “...I think I feel really supported and loved here and also very safe… And so I really do feel like I can trust… the community here to number one, support me as a woman or a business woman, a married woman, and also a mother…” Thinking of the future, Denya says, “...Harlem is home. I plan to be here for the long run… There is just something about Harlem that is just so different… And I am so excited to raise my kid here… and to build our roots…”