Jeff Lindor’s Gentlemen’s Factory, Inc.: A Hub for Community Amongst Men of Color

Jeff Lindor posing amid photoshoot for New York City Tourism and Conventions - Credit: Braylen Dion

Sierra Pope | Multimedia News Intern

5-minute Read

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas – Helen Keller once said, “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” Jeff Lindor, a Black 37-year-old entrepreneur, recognized Keller’s truth, and founded the Gentlemen’s Factory, Inc. in efforts to skillfully connect Black and brown men through creativity. 

“Black men are just so isolated,” Lindor told Ariama C. Long in a report for Amsterdam News. “Where do they go to share new ideas, or invest in each other’s companies, or to navigate life? And I was looking for that.”

Over the past six years, Lindor has given members the opportunity to seek workspaces, professional development training, workshops, coaching, and conference rooms. His mission statement promotes a culture of collaboration, unity, sophistication, and accountability, attracting all ages and people of diverse backgrounds.

Jeff Lindor and a group of supporters at the grand opening of Gentlemen’s Factory, Inc. - Credit: Gentlemen’s Factory, Inc. (Website)

Born in Haiti, Lindor’s parents decided to relocate the family to Coney Island in Brooklyn due to the political unrest in 1989. Although building a life in America was a culture shock for Lindor, he made note of the outstanding potential witnessed right from his backyard.

“Coney Island was definitely a community that opened up my eyes to seeing so much talent in my neighbors—brilliant minds [and] super-talented, but just didn’t have the resources to facilitate the dreams that they had,” Lindor explained to Long.

After earning a master’s in urban policy from the New School, he gained experience as a policy advisor at the NYC Department of Correction, opening his eyes to the systemic barriers Black and brown men face. In 2012, he organized his first community event, which planted the seed for the Gentlemen’s Factory, Inc. in 2018.

Lindor also launched a podcast that gave participants a platform to share their testimonies, products, and ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWm2QCqnpzg

Since then, Lindor has received many awards and proclamations, one being from the New York City Council Haitian Delegation in celebration of Haiti’s 220th year of independence.

Are you ready to take your life to the next level alongside like–minded men? Find the Gentlemen’s Factory, Inc. on 81 Willoughby Street, or follow Lindor on Instagram (@mrcommunitynyc) for additional ways to get involved.