Bronx Day in Albany names 2026 Change Maker Award recipients

Albany, NY The Bronx Chamber of Commerce made known the 17 recipients of the 2026 Bronx Day in Albany Change Maker Award, recognizing Bronx-based businesses, nonprofits and entrepreneurs making meaningful contributions to the borough’s economy, workforce and communities.

The honorees were announced at a press conference held Friday at the New York Botanical Garden and were each nominated by a Bronx State Assembly member or state senator to represent their district’s economic and community leadership. Award recipients will be formally recognized on March 10, 2026, during the Business & Cultural Showcase at Bronx Day in Albany at the Albany Capital Center.

“Bronx Day in Albany is about elevating the people and institutions that power our borough every day,” said Lisa Sorin, president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the return of Bronx Day in Albany. “The Change Maker Awards shine a spotlight on businesses and organizations that are creating jobs, supporting communities and strengthening the Bronx economy.”

The 2026 Bronx Day in Albany Change Maker Award recipients and the elected officials who nominated them are as follows:

Bravo Supermarket (Assembly member Yudelka Tapia)

Bridge Builders Community Partnership Inc. (Sen. Luis Sepúlveda) 

Bronx Children’s Museum (Sen. Jose Serrano)

Cestra’s Bakery (Assembly member Michael Benedetto)

Conti’s Pastry Shoppe (Assembly member John Zaccaro)

DJ MadOut (Assembly speaker Carl Heastie)

Fix It With Piggy (Assembly member Landon Dais)

Johnson’s BBQ (Assembly member Chantel Jackson)

Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corp. (Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz)

Kingsbridge Social Club (Sen. Robert Jackson)

Maravillas Bar & Grill (Assembly member Emerita Torres)

Taqueria Tlaxcalli (Assembly member Karines Reyes)

The Bronx Beer Hall (Sen. Gustavo Rivera)

The Hoodspitality Group (Assembly member Amanda Septimo)

Travel with Chaz (Sen. Nathalia Fernandez)

United Bodegas of America (Assembly member George Alvarez)

Williamsbridge NAACP CEC (Sen. Jamaal Bailey)

Bronx Day in Albany is a full-day economic development hosted by the Bronx Chamber of Commerce that brings together state leaders, agencies, employers, entrepreneurs and community organizations to showcase the Bronx as a center of growth, innovation and opportunity.

The Business & Cultural Showcase, where the Change Maker Award recipients will be honored, highlights Bronx businesses and organizations as employers, community anchors and drivers of local supply chains. The event is free to attend with advance registration.

The event programming includes a Leadership Luncheon with remarks by New York State Assembly speaker Carl Heastie, as well as two panels examining the Bronx’s real estate development and housing needs and the rising cost of doing business in New York. The discussions are designed to connect Albany decision-makers directly with those navigating development, preservation, financing and regulatory challenges on the ground. Tickets to the Leadership Luncheon are $99, and space is limited.

The day will also include afternoon workshops by state agencies and other entities, which are free to attend with advance registration. Topics will include access to capital, MWBE/SDVOB certification process and benefits, procurement and contract opportunities for certified minority-owned businesses, grants and loans for businesses and nonprofits, energy savings programs, insurance and workforce development support. 

The event’s presenting partner is JPMorganChase, with additional support from the Montefiore Einstein, New York Yankees, New York Botanical Garden, Public Policy Institute of New York State, REBNY, Bally’s, DJ Ambulette, New York Apartment Association, Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, Con Edison, Amazon, DoorDash, HILB Group/Rampart Insurance Services, Simone Development, The Woodlawn Cemetery, PhRMA, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Molina Healthcare of New York, Inc. Media partners include Politico NY, News12, Schneps Media, BronxNet, and In The Room Media.

Additional information about Bronx Day in Albany, including all registrations and event details, is available at www.BronxDayInAlbany.com.