The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Bronx New York Chapter, honored the publisher of the New York Carib News, Karl B. Rodney, with the ‘Ida B Wells – Barnett Social Responsibility Award’ at its annual W.E.B. Dubois Leadership and Empowerment Luncheon on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Eastwood Manor in the Bronx, New York.
The IDA B Wells – Barnett Award was presented to Karl B. Rodney in recognition of his business achievement as Co-Founder and Publisher of New York Carib News and consistent advocacy of minority business developments throughout the nation and diaspora. The New York Carib News continues to influence our collective progress to maintain diverse and audacious black voices, within the communications industry. The award was presented by Hon.
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Cleveland E. Beckett Jr, President of the branch. In his remarks, Hon. Beckett said that throughout its inception, the New York Carib News has chronicled the history, challenges, and accomplishments of the diaspora with a keen insight into Caribbean affairs and has enhanced the collective media literacy of the global community and consistently educated the readers on the political and growing economic opportunities within Caribbean nations and beyond. He congratulated Rodney on the success Caribbean Multi-National Business Conference which has been engaged annually for the past 29 years and the great business partnerships it has created and remarked that he has followed, Carib News and its activities for decades and was proud of its progress.
In response, Mr. Rodney thanked President Beckett, the board, and its members for the high recognition of the prestigious Ida B. Wells Barnett Award. He congratulated President Beckett for his dynamic and innovative leadership of the Bronx Chapter and its continued enhanced civil engagement, for equitable educational access, quality healthcare, criminal justice reform, youth development, and general issue advocacy. Mr. Rodney recalled the long and rewarding relationship they have had with the NAACP and especially with the New York Conference President, National Board member, and iconic leader Dr. Hazel Dukes, working with its Brooklyn Branch and other initiatives and Dr. Dukes regular participation in the annual Multi-National Business Conference bringing her leadership and wisdom to Caribbean Prime Ministers.
Mr. Rodney commented that we are in turbulent times and the work of the NAACP is needed more than ever and pledged continued support from him, his wife Faye, and the entire Carib News team. With their early roots in the Bronx, the Rodneys offered their special effort for the Bronx Chapter and its President, Hon. Beckett. Also honored at the event was Rev. Dr. Rashad Raymond Moore, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Crown Heights. A pastor, philosopher, and preacher dedicated to unveiling and repositioning the role of tradition and ritual in historically black institutions through prophetic disruption.
The event was held in honor of W.E.B. Dubois, a founding member of the NAACP and one of the foremost black intellectuals. The first black to earn a PhD from Harvard and a widely published author.
Dr. Gina Newton served as Mistress of Ceremonies for this event, with a Doctor of Theology and an active member of Refuge Temple Annex Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Supervisory Committee Chairperson of the 1199 SEIU Credit Union.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine – Diversity and Inclusion at Einstein was the title sponsor, the Bronx NAACP Chapter and its board members and planning team were congratulated on a well-executed and meaningful program.