The Legacy Continues theme of the upcoming American Foundation for the University of the West Indies gala is aptly titled considering the group’s steadfast, decadeslong commitment to the Caribbean institution, its students and alumni.
To this goal, the foundation’s historic 20th annual awards gala will be held Thursday at The Pierre hotel, 2 E. 61st St. (at Fifth Ave.) in Manhattan, starting at 6 p.m.
Honorees include Rep. Yvette Clarke, recipient of the American Foundation’s inaugural Hon. Shirley Chisholm Award. And Ky-Mani Marley, son of late reggae great Bob Marley, is due to present the Bob Marley Award to Barbados-born American hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh.
Among the honorees are outstanding institutions that will receive “Champions of Community Engagement” awards. They are Dennis Shipping Co., Finn Partners, The Door Restaurant Corp., the Kimberly Hotel and Sesame Flyers International. There will be an individual recognition for Transport Workers Union Local 100 Secretary-Treasurer Earl Phillips.
Other awards, and their recipients, are the Vice Chancellor’s Achievement Award: Rachel Baker; the Humanitarian Award: Paul Salmon and The Rockhouse Foundation; and the Caribbean Luminary Award: British-born singer Estelle, whose father in from Grenada.
Former Mayor David Dinkins, entertainer Harry Belafonte, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill President/CEO Lowell Hawthorne and Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Lloyd Williams are among the gala’s patrons and planners.
WCBS-TV news anchor Maurice DuBois, WBLS-FM disk jockey Dahved Levy and “The Breakfast Club” radio personality Angela Yee will host the affair.
Since its establishment in 1956, the foundation has provided scholarships and grants, and funded projects to aid the University of the West Indies, the largest higher education institution in the English-speaking Caribbean.
For information on purchasing seats or tables, contact Ann-Marie Grant at the foundation by calling (212) 759-9345 or send email to admin@afuwi.org. And visit the foundation’s website at www.afuwi.org.
COME & NETWORK— AFTER WORK
The next edition of the monthly “Afterwork Networking Wednesdays” professional business networking event will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Trelawni Place seafood bar and grill, 1440 Utica Ave. (at Farragut Road) in Brooklyn, said co-host and coordinator Gerry Hopkin. For information, send email to hopkinscg@gmail.com.
MARKING ST. LUCIA’S BIRTHDAY
With their “the land, the people, the light” motto and the “Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia” anthem, the Independence 38 Ecumenical Service, marking the 38th anniversary of St. Lucia’s independence, will be held Sunday in Brooklyn.
The event begins at 1:15 p.m. sharp at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 2530 Church Ave. (between Bedford and Rogers Aves.), presented at by the Consulate General of St. Lucia and the Saint Lucia House Foundation.
Under the theme “I am St. Lucia,” the church service features prayers from clergy members and presentations by St. Lucia’s Children of Culture and the St. Lucia Folklore Organization. Cosmos Richardson, St. Lucia’s recently appointed permanent representative to the United Nations, is among the dignitaries due to attend the event.
Following the ecumenical service, there will be a reception at the Saint Lucia House, 438 E. 49th St. (between Church and Snyder Aves.) in Brooklyn. For information, contact the St. Lucia Consulate by calling (212) 697-9360, ext. 203, or sending email to sluconsulateny@govt.lc.
D.R. INDEPENDENCE FETE IN B’KLYN
The Brooklyn’s Southside United HDFC-Los Sures community organization will present music, food and costumes and awards on Feb. 23 to commemorate the Dominican Republic’s 173rd anniversary of independence. The Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti in 1844.
The event — the Brooklyn organization’s 15th annual Dominican Independence Day Celebration — will be held at the Brooklyn Arbor Elementary School, located at 325 S. Third St., will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Every year, we have more to celebrate as a people. This year, as we proudly celebrate the Dominican Republic’s 173rd birthday, we are especially pleased to acknowledge the achievements that our community has made globally,” said Southside United HDFC-Los Sures executive director Ramon Peguero, a Dominican national. “In New York City, we are happy that we finally have a Dominican representative in the U.S. Congress and we look forward to seeing Congressman Adriano Espaillat serve with distinction.”
For information on the affair, send email to event coordinator Raul Flores at rflores@lossures.org. Get information on the programs and activities of Southside United HDFC-Los Sures at www.southsideunitedhdfc.org.
HONORING ‘WOMEN OF POWER’
The CBC organization is kicking off the start of Women’s History Month by honoring 10 trailblazing women and their significant contributions at its annual Women of Power event, at Mirelle’s Restaurant, 170 Post Ave., in Westbury, L.I., on March 1, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music cofounder Sharon Gordon; Promoting Health in Haiti organization cofounder Carmelle Bellefleur and Janice Julian, Real Island Radio cohost and Caribbean Food Delights company public relations executive, are among the honorees for the affair.
The other distinguished awardees are:
Rhonda Binda, executive director of the Jamaica Business Improvement District
Shantay Carter, founder of the Women of Integrity organization
Cloyette Harris-Stoute, founder of Guyanese Girls Rock, Inc. and owner of Guyanese Girls Rock Apparel
Linda Ihesiaba, vice president and a senior branch manager at Astoria Bank
Vrinda Jagan, owner/principal attorney at the Jagan Law Firm and owner at Jagan Realty
Suzette Grant McTaggart, CBC Strategic Partner and board member of Long Island Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce
Yesenia Vasquez, CEO and president of Laser Now and member of the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Tickets are $15 in advance. To purchase tickets, visit http://bit.ly/cbcwomenofpower2017. See a full list of the awardees and get other information at www.caribbeanbizconnections.com.
AUTISM ADVOCATE JAMAICA-BOUND
St. Vincent-born Rosanne Small-Morgan, the enthusiastic mother, author and advocate for children with autism, will be talking her efforts on the road by holding an outreach session today in Jamaica, presented by her not-for-profit “Autism, Who Knew?” organization.
In addition to running the organization, Small-Morgan chronicled her autistic son Zane in her 2014 book “Situation Zane – Autism who Knew?” published by the CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
The Jamaica Observer reported on Feb. 12 that Small-Morgan — and a team including child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Sophia Francis-Stewart and behavioral therapist Ruth Allen — will gather in the Kingston’s Boulevard Baptist Church to have outreaches and screenings,” she told the Observer, adding that meetings are planned with the officials from the Ministry of Education and the students at the University of the West Indies.
“Our overall mission is that we can encourage, educate and empower other parents who are on the same path that they are not alone,” she told the Jamaican publication.
To reach Small-Morgan about the book or the organization, visit her “Autism Who Knew?” page on Facebook.
CHRONIXX ALBUM & TOUR
Buoyed by his debut release, sought-after reggae crooner Chronixx and the Zincfence Redemption band are coming to Manhattan to perform at Irving Plaza on March 4 and 5, as part of a big North American tour.
Forty cities in the U.S. and Canada will host the Chronixx’s Chronology tour, which also features performances by Jah9, Jesse Royal, Kelissa, Mr. Williamz and Exco Levi. The Irving Plaza shows will include DJ Max Glazer of Federation Sound, which collaborated on “Majesty,” the first single and video from Chronixx’s debut album.
The smooth singer has been garnering praise of reviewers and fans for several years. Follow his tour and get more information on the performer at www.chronixxmusic.com.
