It’s National Women’s Small Business Month: Meet Queensbridge Houses Small Business Owner Bernadette Alvelo-Miller 

Until the late 1980s, if a woman wanted to apply for a business loan, she needed a male relative to co-sign with her. Thankfully, women today can strike out on their own, and in October, National Women’s Small Business Month celebrates these women entrepreneurs. There are more than 13 million businesses owned by women in the United States, and Queensbridge Houses resident Bernadette Alvelo-Miller’s catering business is one of them.  

Ms. Alvelo-Miller is the owner of Bernadette’s Place, a catering company she opened in 2015 after graduating from NYCHA’s Food Business Pathways program (FBP). Operated by NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES), FBP provides free business development training to help NYCHA residents and Section 8 voucher holders reach their dreams of starting or growing their own food businesses. 

“Having my own business is a pleasurable stress because I’m working for myself,” Ms. Alvelo-Miller said. “I appreciate all the assistance I’ve received through the City. People sometimes believe that NYCHA residents are not on the same status, but there’s a lot of hardworking people and there’s a lot of opportunity through NYCHA. If I can do it, anybody can do it.” 

Ms. Alvelo-Miller is a mother of three children and a former NYCHA employee who worked as a Community Associate in Queens for 12 years. While on maternity leave with her youngest child, she decided to take the next step with her cooking business and applied for FBP. 

Through Bernadette’s Place, Ms. Alvelo-Miller caters for private clients and participates in pop-up food events with food that reflects the diversity of New York City. 

Her interest in cooking began when she was young: “I was the type to get in trouble and the only place I would be allowed was the library. So, I would take cookbooks out and try new things.” Her quest to learn more about cooking continued after FBP, when she received an associate degree in culinary arts from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. Last month, she graduated with another associate degree from the same school in hospitality and restaurant management. 

“Through the hospitality and restaurant management program, I learned leadership skills that are necessary in the hospitality industry and how to handle different types of people and various issues when it comes to food,” Ms. Alvelo-Miller said. “I learned a lot of information on managing the entire business, including the front of the house, the back of the house, and marketing.”  

Ms. Alvelo-Miller would eventually like to open a restaurant in New York and Norfolk, Virginia, where her son, who is in the Navy, lives.  

While working to make her restaurant dream come true, she’s always happy to help other small business owners with her knowledge and resources, and she encourages women and all NYCHA residents to do what they love: “Do what you want to do, open the business you want. You can be successful, and it never hurts to try, especially if you live in NYCHA, because we receive a lot of resources. Also, in New York City we have so many resources to help you get your business started – you can get information for free at the public library, and NYC Small Business Services is also there to help.” 

“Bernadette has continued to grow and shine as an entrepreneur, and I have appreciated the opportunity to work with her as one of our preferred Food Business graduate vendors,” said Audrey Washington, Assistant Director of Financial Capability & Business Development in NYCHA’s REES Office. “She always gives her best but has a special place in her heart to provide her delicious meals to other NYCHA residents.” 

NYCHA residents and Section 8 voucher holders interested in learning more about Food Business Pathways or starting their own business can visit the REES website OpportunityNYCHA – REES or call the REES hotline at 718-289-8100.