A Mount Kisco restauranteur who everyone affectionately knows as simply “Mimi” was among five people recently recognized for their dedication, leadership, and ability to uplift Black voices.
Selamawit Wieland-Tesfaye, and four others from state Sen. Pete Harckham’s 40th District – Amanda Armenteros, Dereck Wright, and Cole and Faith Rivers – received their awards in honor of Black History Month at a ceremony held on March 2 at the John C. Hart Memorial Library in Yorktown.
(Black History Month is February, but the original ceremony, set for Feb. 22, had to be postponed due to the blizzard.)
Harckham was joined by Yorktown Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman, as well as the honorees’ friends and families.
“Black history is American history,” said Harckham. “The struggles and successes of Black Americans are integral to our nation’s story. Every February, we remember this legacy and draw inspiration from it. As the new federal administration seeks to force us to forget our history, it is more important than ever that we tell these stories and celebrate our heroes.”
Wieland-Tesfaye grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and immigrated to the United States when she was 16.
After 15 years working in the local restaurant industry, she founded Lalibela in Mount Kisco in 2010—the first Ethiopian restaurant in Westchester.
In 2019, she opened Mimi’s Coffee House next door, which has since become a beloved community gathering space. It was featured in Westchester Magazine’s Best of Westchester guide in 2024.
Dedicated to giving back, Mimi supports the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry and local childcare fundraisers, while uplifting women-owned businesses and showcasing local artists in her café.
“Owning a coffee shop has been my dream for a long time,” said Wieland-Tesfaye. “I am grateful and honored to do the work that I do, and I truly appreciate this award.”
Lachterman said that the awards “reflect the recognition of individuals whose work strengthens our region in meaningful and lasting ways.”
He also praised Harckham for his “commitment to celebrating local leaders” in a way that “ensures that Black History Month is not just about recognizing our past but also those making a difference today.”
Mimi’s Coffee House was presented with the New York State Senate Empire Award, which is given to businesses that make outstanding contributions to the growth, prosperity, and well-being of their communities.
Armenteros is the farm steward and manager at Peekskill Regeneration Farm, where she connects residents to the land through sustainable farming education, community meals, and the distribution of free organic produce to local families.
Alongside her agricultural work, she is a professional dancer and instructor who has performed with groups including Soul Dance Company, Djoniba, Mfouambila, and the all-female EVA Dance Company in Saigon, Vietnam.
Passionate about mentoring youth, Armenteros shares her expertise through multicultural dance programs that foster creativity, engagement, and community connection.
Thanking Harckham for the recognition, she was “deeply grateful” for the opportunity to steward the farm, which grows and distributes free food, a “space rooted in healing, nourishment, and collective care.”
It collaborates with local nonprofits such as The Place Dance School and the city’s Senior Nutrition Center, Armenteros said.
A former New York Police Department detective, Wright retired after a distinguished 20-year career that included extensive undercover work and the investigation of major crimes, including homicide.
In 2006, he founded Wright Choice Investigations and later co-founded LEVERAGE, mentoring more than 2,500 youth through safety training programs.
Wright has also been an advocate for police accountability and reform, authoring the legislation that created Peekskill’s Civilian Complaint Review Board in 2022 and serving on key policy committees.
A screenwriting certificate graduate of New York University, he has drawn on his law enforcement experience to create acclaimed creative works, including the award-winning short film When the Dust Settles and his off-Broadway debut In Equal Measure at the Spark Theater Festival.
After 20 years in law enforcement, Wright experienced two big life changes: founding LEVERAGE with one of his best friends, Vincent Beckles, and getting married to his wife, Sharon, who owns and operates one of the few Black-owned, not-for-profit dance schools in the area.
“One of our strongest bonds is our commitment to advocacy and ensuring that we give back to underprivileged neighborhoods like the ones we grew up in. I proudly accept this honor on behalf of myself, my wife, and my best friend in heaven, Vincent Beckles,” he said.
Married couple Cole and Faith Rivers took over ownership of the popular Croton-on-Hudson coffee shop The Black Cow in 2023 after the original owners retired. The two first met there as employees in 2011.
Cole steadily worked his way up through the company, eventually becoming chief roaster, while Faith pursued a degree in journalism before beginning a career in business management, marketing, and brand development.
Today, they run the establishment together. Cole is chief roaster while Faith oversees the financial and operational aspects of the business.
Under their leadership, the beloved community hub has flourished -- earning a Best of Westchester nod in 2025 -- while hosting open mic nights, knitting clubs, holiday markets, and other community-oriented events.
Dedicated to supporting their community, they’ve raised funds for the Croton-Cortlandt Food Pantry and regularly showcase small businesses, artists, and authors.
They are also passionate about creating an inclusive space for dialogue, hosting themed open mic nights for Pride Month and Black History Month, coordinating events with the LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center, and launching a banned book discussion group.
Coffee shops are more than just places to grab a brew, said Faith; they can be “where neighbors meet for the first time, where ideas spark, where hard conversations happen and where people can feel like they belong.”
“This recognition is not just ours -- it belongs to our staff, who show up every day with heart; to our customers, who choose to gather in our space; and to the Croton-on-Hudson community that continues to support local businesses and one another,” she said, adding that she and her spouse were grateful for the opportunity to “carry a 30-year legacy forward and keep the doors open for connection.”
Their café was also given a New York State Senate Empire Award, which recognizes businesses that make outstanding contributions to the growth, prosperity, and well-being of their communities.
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