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Chefs and Restaurants
Chef Sylva Senat (often misspelled as Synat) is a highly acclaimed, twice James Beard-nominated chef who rose to widespread national fame as a semi-finalist on Season 14 of Bravo’s Top Chef. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he grew up with a passion for fine dining and built a formidable career spanning top kitchens in New York City, Philadelphia, and beyond.
Tashan which means “style or “flair” delivered that and Indian food that was head-and-shoulders above the region’s bargain buffet Indian restaurants that dictate what many think of the cuisine. In addition to the local accolades, opening chef Sylva Senat received two James Beard Award nominations while manning the kitchen.
Coffee Shops
Good Karma Café is a local, Black-owned business in Philadelphia founded by owner, president, and CEO Shawn Nesbit. Open since 2008, the popular local spot focuses on community, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. Locations & Atmosphere Good Karma Café operates multiple neighborhood spots in Center City and surrounding areas: Fitler Square (Original Location)Address: 331 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Features: Cozy, studious environment with a quiet back patio, sidewalk seating, and dog-friendly touches. Society Hill / Antique Row Area Address: 928 Pine St, Philadelphia, PA 19107Features: Spacious teak work tables, free Wi-Fi, and a relaxed, welcoming vibe hosting occasional live music events. Broad St. Theater District Features: Flagship location featuring a private event room and an outdoor zen garden.
Evan Inatome was born in Michigan, spent much of his childhood in the Bay Area, and attended college in Southern California. In 2010, he visited his sister, married to then-Eagles tackle Winston Justice, in Philadelphia. After falling in love with the food scene and the lower cost of living, Inatome decided to stick around to help his sister with childcare. Seeing opportunity in specialty coffee, Inatome took his passion for roasting and started a small coffee business. Elixr Coffee was born in 2010 and originally served coffee roasted by other companies, including Counter Culture. In 2011, Elixr started doing its own roasting, focusing on lighter roasts, rare, and single-origin coffees.
Kenneth D. Smith, PhD is a health economist and public health practitioner. He received his doctorate from The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he studied economic demography and health economics. His postgraduate research focused on risk adjustment, healthcare financing, pharmacoeconomic evaluation, provider practice behavior, health professional supply and demand, and the evaluation of large national healthcare demonstration projects for persons with chronic disease.
Dr. Smith became a public health practitioner after he was appointed Director of Chronic Disease Prevention, Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
Anthony Monteiro is born at Temple University Hospital in North Philadelphia. He is the firstborn son of Almena Monteiro, a Black woman whose family came from Greenwood, South Carolina, and John Barris Monteiro, an African immigrant from Cape Verde. He begins graduate school at the University of Chicago. In 1967 he is arrested on fabricated charges connected to the Revolutionary Action Movement (RAM) and released on bail. In Chicago he meets Robert Rhodes, a Marxist-Leninist who introduces him to the Soviet Social Science Academy. He starts a study group with Fred Hampton, deputy chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and others to study Das Kapital and Soviet literature. He is invited to bring these Du Bois conferences to Temple University with the promise of tenure. This promise is not honored by the department of African American Studies, even while he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on Du Bois as a full-time Associate Professor. In the early 2000s he begins to rethink Du Bois, Lenin, and other philosophical questions. He receives an honorary doctorate from Lincoln University in 2006. While still at Temple, he starts the Saturday Free School for Philosophy and Black Liberation as a project to bring students together with the Black community in North Philadelphia. In 2013 the Free School moves to the historic Church of the Advocate.
TBN Founding Board Members
Hop Sing Laundromat owned by Lê, A former day trader born in Saigon turned restaurant owner.
Bower Cafe 1213 owned by Thane Wright, an owner with two decades of coffee experience, and a collaborator with The Brothers’ Network.
Thane Wright creates a unique experience at Bower Cafe. The name of the cafe “Bower,” comes from a bowerbird, a species that decorates its nest with bright colors to attract mates.
Holding true to its symbolic name, Bower Cafe believes in good vibes and simplicity of service: this means less complicated brew methods and less pretentious everything. Bringing it back to soulful basics: genuine hospitality. Thane has curated two special places in Philadelphia — inviting coffee cafés where everyone is invited into the experience of being cared for.
Tony Williams holds a Masters in Journalism from American University and a bachelor’s from Macalester College. He currently serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Local Advocacy for Comcast NBCUniversal. Antonio, or Tony, is the son of Panamian news analyst Juan Antonio Williams. Juan Antonio Williams is a Panamanian-American journalist and political analyst for Fox News Channel. He writes for several newspapers, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, and has been published in magazines such as The Atlantic and Time. He won an Emmy Award for his television documentary writing and contributed to historical and civil rights projects, including A. Philip Randolph: For Jobs and Freedom and companion pieces to his book This Far by Faith. He wrote several books, including Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, 1954–1965 and Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary.
Paule Turner, who started as an adjunct at Rowan in 1998 before becoming a full-time faculty member in 2000, embraces his reputation for being provocative. His bio proclaims that his work as a choreographer is about “confronting politics full force” and he’s dedicated to creating a platform of freedom and expression. “I’ve found freedom in being a Black, gay performance artist,” he stated, understanding that this means he pushes the envelope and pushes buttons. He knows it makes an impact, though, whether it’s on audiences or people around him on a daily basis. “I find value in being seen fully and honestly as I bravely display my unique points of view on life and art,” he added.
Brett Mapp is a seasoned professional with a diverse background that spans various sectors of business and community development. Currently serving as the Director of Operations for the Old City District, a vibrant and historic district in Philadelphia, Brett brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role.
With a career that boasts both small business ownership and corporate experience, Brett transitioned seamlessly into the realm of municipal administration. Since November 2009, he has been an integral part of the Old City District, contributing significantly to its growth and development. As the Director of Operations, Brett oversees key aspects of the district's functioning, ensuring its success as a thriving Business Improvement District (BID).
Brett is a Theater Advocate, Theater Board Member, and dedicated to engaging community with live performances.
Kevin Sbraga- Chef and Restauranteur
In 2008, Sbraga—who had previously held positions in Atlanta and Philly kitchens—applied that philosophy to his consulting work with Jose Garces to test recipes for the chef-proprietor’s Latin Evolution cookbook. Sbraga impressed Garces with his dedication, which ultimately earned him a full-time role as culinary director of Garces Restaurant Group. Sbraga went on to win the award for Best Meat Presentation in the Bocuse d’Or USA culinary competition in fall 2008, which he fondly remembers as “one of the toughest meals I’ve ever created,” before working as executive chef for Stephen Starr at Rat’s Restaurant at the Grounds for Sculpture, an arboretum in Hamilton, NJ.
In 2010, Sbraga relished the opportunity to join the cast of the popular TV show “Top Chef.” In between the taping of the regular season and the final episode, Sbraga experienced a moment of clarity. “I realized I needed to do my own thing,” he says. “Even though I hadn’t won yet, I felt like I had because I the found the confidence I needed to open my own restaurant.”
