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(WASHINGTON, DC, April 2021 )–
The Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), the nation’s leading Caribbean American advocacy and development organization, adopts “Our Shared History, Our Shared Future” as the charge for Caribbean American Leaders across the country counting down sixty days to the launch of the 16th Annual Caribbean American Heritage Month celebrations this June. ICS, the architect of the Campaign to Celebrate June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month (NCAHM) now has partners in over twenty cities and county locales across the country. Cities include Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence, Reno, Sacramento, South Florida, Tallahassee, Tampa, and Washington DC.
“This year’s events reflect the realization of our community on the need to wake up and show up in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 race uprising. We have to continue the work that Garvey and Malcolm X started. It is our time now.” said Dr. Claire Nelson, ICS President & Founder. Since 1999, ICS has worked together with community leaders, strategic partners and other stakeholders to successfully grow awareness of the commemoration; and more importantly, signal a sea change in Caribbean immigrant relationships with the political and policy elite. To signal this, ICS will publish an anthology of works about Caribbean history, culture, and lifeways. Among other signature programs being presented is the National Caribbean Restaurant Week (June 6-13); World Ocean Day (June 8); and the Caribbean American Legislative Forum (June 21-25). It is expected that in the continuance of tradition, members of the Congressional Friends of the Caribbean Caucus members, administration officials, and national experts and scholars will participate in timely discussions of major policy issues affecting the Caribbean American community.
After a brief COVID-induced hiatus, ICS will once again honor 30 Under 30 Caribbean American Emerging Leaders at an Awards Ceremony held at the Organization of American States or pending restrictions virtually. Officially, National Caribbean American Heritage Month has been celebrated annually every June since 2006, when President George Bush issued the proclamation. The NCAHM National Show which interviews Dr. Nelson and former Hartford Deputy Mayor, Veronica Airey-Wilson covers all aspects on the importance of this celebratory month
For ICS, the month represents an opportunity to bring together Caribbean American community leaders across the country to address common concerns; to allow Caribbean Americans everywhere to feel a sense of place in the American public discourse; and to bring highlights to the contributions past, present and future being made by Caribbean immigrants to the USA.
- June 1-4 Opening Events
- June 4-6 Caribbean Literary Conference
- June 5-8 Blue Green Economy Forum
- June 6-13 National Caribbean Restaurant Week
- June 9-13 Creative Economy Forum
- June 10-12 Caribbean Lens Film Festival
- June 14-18 Healthful Economy Forum
- June 19 Ignite Caribbean Emerging Leaders Forum
- June 21-25 Caribbean American Legislative Forum
- June 28-29 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Eco-System Forum
- June 30 ‘Bookish’ – Tales of the Caribbean Covidemicx Chronicles
