What happens when a neighborhood deli becomes a beacon of hope for local students? In this inspiring episode of The Oasis, we sit down with the visionary brothers behind Zach’s Famous Deli and the viral Grades for Grabs initiative.

The brothers share their incredible journey from Yemen to New York City, detailing the sacrifices their father made and the challenges of growing up in Brooklyn. Wali opens up about his difficult transition from a failing business in the Bronx, where he survived a traumatic shootout, to finding a new purpose on Staten Island.

Discover how their commitment to education and their Islamic faith led to the creation of the Island Ock persona and a program that rewards students for their academic success. From rewarding 100-dollar bills for improved grades to building a global community on TikTok, this conversation explores how these brothers are fighting the stigma of the corner store and building a roadmap for the youth. We also get a sneak peek into Wali's upcoming book, Climbing Mountains, which chronicles his life lessons from the peaks of Yemen to the streets of New York.

Chapters

3:45 The Journey from Yemen to Brooklyn

7:50 Cultural Immersion and Learning English

11:30 High School Years and Sports Dreams

15:10 Struggles with Education and College

19:25 Why Yemenis Open Delis

23:40 Starting a Business in the Bronx

28:15 Surviving the Deli Shooting Incident

32:45 Facing Business Failure and Defeat

36:50 Moving to Staten Island and Starting Over

41:10 Creating the Island Ak Persona

45:30 The Origin of Grades for Grabs

49:50 Going Viral and Community Impact

54:15 How Faith Fuels Their Mission

58:30 Future Vision for the Program

1:03:10 Climbing Mountains Book Announcement

1:06:30 Final Message and How to Support

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