Jaime-Faye Bean

Jaime-Faye Bean is the Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines, a Business Improvement District in Sunnyside, Queens. She is a community leader with an extensive background in non-profit leadership.

Under her direction and leadership, Sunnyside Shines has dramatically expanded its public programming and outreach, as well as its merchant services program. In December 2018, Ms. Bean led a coalition of neighborhood organizations responding to the devastating Queens Boulevard fire that destroyed six businesses. Her efforts resulted in over $165,000 raised for the 103 employees displaced by the fire. Because of her selfless and tireless work, she helped coordinate job placement for those who had lost their livelihoods that day.

A natural born leader, Ms. Bean continues to secure new resources to directly assist and support small businesses and entrepreneurs in Western Queens through new microgrant programs, community-crowdfunded small business loan partnerships, and intensive one-on-one relationships with vulnerable, immigrant-owned businesses. Ms. Bean consistently searches for new ways to help support local businesses within her community. Her tremendous work has been truly remarkable.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Bean became active in food security issues. In March 2020, she co-founded Queens Together with Chef Jonathan Forgash, granting support for small businesses while providing meals to Queens families facing food insecurity. She also partnered with the BlaQue Resource Network to share food and small business resources and information with communities in Southeast Queens. In late 2020, Ms. Bean joined the board of Chae Corp, which works to build food sovereignty through farmers markets, including the Laurelton Farmers Market, a center of Black, Indigenous, and people of color farms and vendors.

Ms. Bean serves on the Board of Directors for the LOVE, HALLIE Foundation, the St. Pats for All Parade, the Old Astoria Neighborhood Association, and the New York City BID Association.

Originally from Vermont, Ms. Bean lives in Astoria with her two wonderful sons, Razi and Amin.