2025

2024

NAACP Williamsbridge Branch Hosted Its 66th Anniversary, Sadie Campbell Honored

NAACP W.E.B. Dubois Leadership and Empowerment Luncheon on Saturday, August 24 at Eastwood Manor in the Bronx, New York

CALA Gala 2024

The Caribbean American Lawyers Association (CALA) held its inaugural Gala on June 26, 2024, at El Caribe Country Club in Brooklyn, New York, and it was indeed a gala evening. CALA was organized four years with a mission to foster unity and congeniality among Caribbean American Judges, lawyers with a vision to educate, advance, inspire and mentor the Caribbean American legal community through scholarships and professional development programs. Judge Michele Rodney, New York State Supreme Court, was given the distinguished award of Jurist of the Year. Other honorees of the evening were His Excellency Dennis Francis, President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly from Trinidad and Tobago, Michelle Stoddart, Senior Vice President of Community Development and Public Relations of Resorts World, New York, Charles Small, Esq., Chief Clerk, New York State Supreme Court, Civil Matters, Kings County. The evenings mistress of ceremony was Crystal Cranmore, the Race and Culture reporter of WABC-TV Eyewitness News Channel 7 (New York). Photos courtesy Leonard McKenzie.

HCCI Annual Break Bread Together Gala 2024

Celebrate Northside Gala 2024

Northside Annual Gala Celebrate Northside saluted their distinguished honorees, Dr. Thelma Dye Holmes, PH.D., Northside Center Hilde L. Mosse President and CEO, with the Mamie Award, which celebrates Northside Center Founder, Mamie Clark.Dr. Thelma Dye-Holmes is the longest reigning Executive Director of Northside Center for Child Development founded by famed Child Psychologists Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Clark. It was the duo research and their famed black and white doll study that contributed to the 1954 desegregation of the United States Supreme Court decision ” Brown Vs. The Board of Education. Under her leadership, she has grown Northside Center to 5 locations in all five boroughs and includes Head Start in NYC. She recently in the last year opened their new headquarters building in East Harlem at East 108th Street and Park Avenue. The other illustrious Honorees were: Racquel Oden, Head of Wealth Management and Personal Banking, HSBC, USA; Walter Oden, Managing Director, Oden Development LLC.; Verdun Perry, Global Head of Strategic Partners, Blackstone; Adam Sloan, Executive Creative Artists Agency; Karen Sloan, Entrepreneur and Wellness & Education Advocate; and Marva Smalls, EVP, Global Head of Inclusion and EVP, Public Affairs, Kids&Family Entertainment Brands, Paramount. Northside Center provides children and families the support they need to overcome adversity and thrive. Their high-quality outcome-driven behavioral, mental health and education services propel struggling children forward away from the ill effects of poverty and racism; toward a future limited only by the scope of their dreams.

2024 Penn Relays - Pennsylvania

The Penn Relays presented by Toyota has evolved to become one of the world’s most prestigious track and field meets, and its history spans nearly 130 years.Along with elite athletes of all skill levels from across the United States among the more than 15,000 participants, the meet also attracts top talent from around the globe. Jamaica, known for turning out countless track and field stars, has the biggest representation of all the international locations with 47 high schools represented this week at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. This year included Caribbean teams from the Bahamas, Belize, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos.

Photos by Leonard McKenzie

American Foundation For The University of the West Indies Gala

The American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) held its 27th Annual Gala on April 18 at the iconic

583 Park Avenue in New York City. This landmark event celebrates the University of the West Indies’ unwavering commitment to funding scholarships, opening doors, and transforming the lives of countless students, setting a new standard for

philanthropy and academic excellence. Photos by Margot Jordan

New York Urban League Champions Awards

The Champions of Diversity event is New York City’s signature celebration of diversity, equity, and inclusion. It recognizes organizations and respected thought leaders for their outstanding corporate citizenry and positive advancements in embedding DEI practices into their organizational culture. Winning the award not only brings praise to the winners but also exemplifies to others how DEI practices contribute to the success of an organization. Honorees are exemplary leaders committed to creating an inclusive and equitable future.

(Photos courtesy Leonard McKenzie and NYUL)

Grenada's Golden Jubilee Celebrations

Grenada’s Golden Jubilee, Military Parade & Cultural Show

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell at Grenada’s Golden Jubilee, Military Parade & Cultural Show

Cultural performers with Pm Dickon Mitchell

Her Excellency Dame Cécile La Grenade at Grenada’s Golden Jubilee, Military Parade & Cultural Show

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke congratulates Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell on Grenada’s 50th Independence Golden Jubilee Gala at Antun’s in Queens, NY

Sandals Resorts and Island Outpost Celebrate the Publication of “Jamaica Vibes"

Dennis Basso, Maggie Rivera, Adam Stewart

Martine Assouline, Prosper Assouline, Lisa Lovatt-Smith

Marika Kessler, Elisabeth Noel Jones, Chris Blackwell, Cricket Azima

Jason Weinberg, Adam Stewart, Gina Gershon, Griffin Dunne

World Steelpan Day in Times Square, New York

JAMCCAR's 33rd Anniversary and Jamaica’s 61st Year of Independence

The Jamaican Civic and Cultural Association of Rockland, Inc. (JAMCCAR) celebrated its 33rd Anniversary Gala and Scholarship Awards and commemoration of Jamaica’s 61st year of independence on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at GREENTREE Country Club, 538 Davenport Avenue, New Rochelle.

The Distinguished Patronage of the Consul General of Jamaica to New York, Alsion Wilson, Her Excellency Audrey P. Marks, Ambassador of Jamaica to the United States of America will joined the elegant black-tie event.

In support of this year’s theme, “Celebrating Community Excellence”, JAMCCAR saluted the following 2023 Honorees at the Independence Gala: Louis Grant and Robert “Bobby” Clark of Irie Jam Radio, Donna Duncan-Scott, CEO of Jamaica Money Market Bank (JMMB), Lorna Hawthorne, Owner of LLHOMD Beauty Care, Cynthia Ramos, CSO of Krasdale Foods Inc, and Karl & Faye Rodney, Owners Carib News.

Additionally, JAMCCAR awarded six (6) scholarships to college-bound students who have demonstrated academic excellence and community service. A special scholarship was presented by Sabrina HoSang-Jordan, Director of the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation to Shaniah Smith who is pursuing entrepreneurship. The remaining 2023 recipients are: Christian Brewster, Mekaeli Cox, Randie Davies, Sequan McLaren, Joshua Morgan. It is particularly noteworthy to highlight that over these past 33 years, JAMCCAR has awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to deserving students and we hope to continue to do so for many more years to come.

In the spotlight was esteemed Keynote Speaker, Jamaican Donna Duncan-Scott, CEO of Jamaica Money Market Bank (JMMB). Orchestrating the evening’s event was Mistress of Ceremonies, Sharon Gordon, a multi-talented, acclaimed journalist, publicist, producer, and actress within the Jamaican Diaspora. JAMCCAR’s own Ekklipse Steelband wowed guests at the grand cocktail reception along with live entertainment throughout the night by the dynamic JAMORE BAND (popular festival & reggae songs) and dancing to the melodious tunes of Soul Tone Music by DJ Prentice & the Crew that provided a very memorable night.

Reflecting on JAMCCAR’s thirty-three years of service to the community, and the 2023 theme “Celebrating Community Excellence”, Sonia Tracey, one of the founding members of JAMCCAR and Gala co-chair said, “On this special occasion, let us note that it is not just our rich culture that defines us, but also the great collective and collaborative contributions of Jamaicans and Friends Working Together.” President Hope Wade also added “JAMCCAR is fulfilling its mission with our reach in the immediate community and extending our reach internationally by awarding a scholarship to a Jamaican student. We are inviting everyone to come out and support this gala as funds raised goes towards the scholarship program.”