Community & Corporate Consultant

Under Nikoa’s leadership, the economic development corporation Harlem Park to Park (HP2P) has created and implemented results-driven strategic initiatives designed to integrate community engagement, economic development, corporate partnerships and cross sector collaborations. She oversees the general management, marketing strategy, business/economic development, and strategic partnerships for HP2P, which represents 300+ entrepreneurs in Harlem, NY. Successes include the creation and development of small business accelerator, Harlem Local Vendor Program in partnership with Whole Foods Market, Columbia Business School and Hot Bread Kitchen; as well as signature marketing and consumer engagement programs including Harlem Restaurant Week, Shop Harlem Artisanal Fairs, Harlem Harvest Festival, Tap Harlem Wine & Spirits Tasting in partnership with hospitality and culinary strategist, Tren’ness Woods-Black; Battle of the Bars: The Art of the Mix in partnership with Karl Franz Williams, one of the world’s top Mixologists and Cocktail Bar entrepreneurs. Nikoa also served as community consultant and executive producer for the NYCxDESIGN award winning outdoor dining program The Renaissance Pavilion at Strivers Row in partnership with Uber Eats; and the commission and public art installation of the Black Lives Matter Harlem Street Mural.

Prior to advising Harlem Park to Park, Evans served as Vice President of Investments for financial lending institution Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), managing a multi-million dollar commercial revitalization initiative designed to assess investment opportunities for retail and restaurant expansion within the Harlem market. Evans also served as the Director of New Business Development for The Rouse Company, developer of the nation’s first enclosed malls, festival marketplaces and planned communities.