Meet Denise, Andre, Noah & Eden from Brooklyn, NY

Meet Denise and Andre from Brooklyn, New York and their two children, Noah & Eden. Denise was born and raised in Trinidad Andre was born and raised in Jamaica Betsy knew she had to meet Denise when she spotted her in the Main Lodge, donning a lit Christmas hat and a fuzzy, green, Grinch bag. She was attempting to take a selfie with the Christmas Tree. Denise is a ray of sunshine and it’s impossible not to be drawn to her. When she was 18 years old she longed to see New York City and the rest of America. Her curiosity and sense of adventure led her to immigrate to Brooklyn where she already had family living. Her family offered her a place to stay and helped her get her start in the city. When Andre was 13 years old, his mother and younger brother left Jamaica in hope for a better life in the United States. Three years later, his mother sent for him to join her. He arrived Harlem in the 1980’s. During that time in Harlem, the community was struggling socially and economically but slowly making a come back. His mother was adamant about providing a good education for her children and felt they deserved a better education than Harlem could offer at that time. He and his siblings were sent to Queens for their education. Today, Andre is a tradesmen. He’s a licensed plumber, licensed locksmith, and a licensed electrician! Denise is a mixologist in Brooklyn for multiple establishments. When they met, she was 20 years old and he was 27. She and her best friend were heading into the city and in need of a cab. In the 1980’s, any unmarked car could be a cab. Andre saw the two young women in need and offered them a ride in the guise of being a cabdriver. After arriving at their destination, he refused any monetary compensation. Before departing, he asked Denise if she would give him the honor of a date. She accepted and he called the following day. On their first date, they went to the movies, and then he gave her, her first driving lesson. Which, by the way, they joked that she completely failed! Once in the driver’s seat, she put the car in reverse and floored it, driving the car, full speed in reverse, up a ramp. Thankfully, no damage was done and no one was hurt. The date went wonderfully until the car eventually broke down and she ended up having to take the train back to Brooklyn. The couple has been together twenty six years and have two beautiful children together. Today, they have made Brooklyn their forever home. The hardest part of the relationship is time management. Aside from being parents, they both are very hard workers and are often consumed by demanding work schedules. That being said, Denise says that her husband is the hardest working man she knows. He is an incredible provider for their family and she never wants for anything. Andre says that it’s a blessing to have a partner that understands and supports his dedication to provide for their family. Andre’s favorite thing about Denise is that she has a beautiful laugh. Her laugh is infectious and he loves to try and make her laugh as much as possible! Denise’s favorite thing about Andre is that he has a great sense of humor and he’s always making her laugh! They feel like they balance each other well. The one thing they want to tell the world is, “Be the change you wish to see in the world. Change starts within your own home and your family first. Always put your family first. We are the guidance and foundation of change for future generations by teaching our children good morals and healthy values. Communication is not the key, comprehension is.” Thank you for visiting!