Join us as we uncover the vibrant story of Casa de Lobo, an extraordinary members-only restaurant in Jersey City. With Cesar Alvarez, a passionate Hoboken native at the helm, this dining destination captures the essence of Hudson County. Formerly VB3 Pizzeria, the space at 475 Washington Boulevard has been transformed into a charming haven, showcasing Cesar's meticulous design.

At Casa de Lobo, prepare to indulge in Latin-inspired tapas and tantalizing large plates that honor the culinary traditions of Latin America. Every bite tells a story, weaving together a celebration of bold flavors and sensory delights. Through captivating interviews, we'll unveil the passion and unwavering commitment behind Casa de Lobo's culinary vision, making it a truly unparalleled dining experience in Hudson County

Jessica Gonzalez is a cannabis and trademark attorney, a cannabis adjunct professor, policy advocate and consultant. An Ecuadorian immigrant, Jessica has dedicated her career to uplifting communities harmed by cannabis prohibition through advocacy and education.

In 2020, Jessica led the social impact committee for NJ CAN 2020, the coalition that ran the most successful cannabis legalization campaign in the U.S. Through her advocacy work, Jessica has helped shape cannabis policy on the statutory, regulatory, and municipal levels in New Jersey and has helped advise on social equity efforts in over 7 different states.

In 2021, Jessica gave the first cannabis industry presentation to the United States Patent and Trademark Office to educate federal trademark examiners on the state of the U.S. cannabis industry. As a cannabis attorney, Jessica has assisted clients navigate the legal cannabis industry in the areas of trademark and state licensing applications.

Most recently, Jessica’s consulting company, Veridis Quo, was selected by the New Jersey Business Action Center to serve as the inaugural consultant to develop and launch the NJ Cannabis Training Academy. Jessica is also an alumnus of the New Jersey New Leaders Council, a national organization that selects civic leaders in their respective fields. She's been quoted and featured in numerous media outlets such as New York Times, MJBIZ Daily, Rolling Stone, PBS, Cheddar, and the Cannabis Business Times.

Recognitions:

-High Times "Top 100 Most Influential People in Cannabis."

-Marijuana Venture Magazine "40 Under 40" Rising Stars in Cannabis.

- Cannabis Now “40 Under 40 Power Players.”

-National Law Journal "Cannabis Law Trailblazer."

-NJ Cannabis Insider "Community Game Changer of the Year."

-NJ State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce "Rising Star."

-NJBIZ “Leaders of the Next Generation.”

Ward D Councilman Yousef J. Saleh is a loyal son of Jersey City, born and raised in the Heights. He comes from a Palestinian family of immigrants that came to Jersey City to pursue the American Dream. Growing up, he attended Saint John's Head Start and P.S. 28 School in the Heights. He is a graduate of McNair Academic High School, where he was the president of the student government and the student representative to the Jersey City Board of Education for the entire 30,000 student district.

Yousef attended Rutgers University where he was the first democratically-elected student body president for all five campuses. He was a Founding Father for the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, a radio DJ, Community Service Officer for the Rutgers Police Department, and was inducted into the Cap and Skull Honor Society. He then attended Rutgers Law School for his Juris Doctorate, where he was President of the Student Bar Association and the commencement speaker for his graduating class. Yousef has 7 sisters, one of whom has Down Syndrome – which is why he is such a strong vocal advocate for families with children who have special needs.

Previously, Yousef worked in the Jersey City Law Department, and has familiarity with municipal government, and he worked at the Federal Tax Clinic at Rutgers Law School. Over the years, Yousef has been involved with countless community groups in the Heights, advocating for good government and in 2017 he ran for the Board of Education as an independent candidate, garnering 9,433 votes citywide. He has been a volunteer and was Treasurer for the Riverview Farmers' Market and helps organize the annual Ramadan Iftar in City Hall Plaza.

Councilman Saleh is committed to working hard for the residents and families of Ward D and the residents of Jersey City.

José and James recorded this episode immediately before the start of the monthly Sazón Web3 Meetup, hosted by the Move The Needle co-working space in Jersey City.

During their discussion, James reminisces about his formative years working at one of the first entrepreneurship centers.

Listen in to the beginning of this collaboration between a veteran innovation leader and a rising star in the Tri-state area.

Move The Needle is a hub for collaboration, co-creation, innovation, information, learning, sharing, investment, growth, inclusivity, diversity, community, networking & support.