The US State Department opened the National Caribbean American Heritage Month Celebrations with an opening ceremony on June 1st at 10:00 am. The event was hosted virtually on the Zoom platform and will feature keynote speaker, Cynthia “Cindy” Kierscht, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Ms. Kiersch is a Senior Foreign Service officer; she is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Canada, Haiti and the Caribbean in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA). She previously served as the Director and the Deputy Director in WHA’s Office of Canadian
Affairs. She has been the recipient of several Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards and speaks Arabic, French and Spanish.
Other guest speakers included H.E. Ambassador Noel Lynch, Ambassador of Barbados to the United States of America, and Dr. Claire Nelson of the Institute of Caribbean Studies. A special live performance by Andrew Braata Clarke was also on the agenda to commemorate the occasion. Since 2006, June has been designated as National Caribbean American Heritage Month by Presidential Proclamation. Caribbean Americans have contributed to the development of the United States in extraordinary ways. Millions of people in the United States are connected to our Caribbean Neighbors.
“Our Shared History, Our Shared Future” is the theme for the June 2020 Caribbean Heritage Month, being celebrated across the United States in recognition of the contribution of the Caribbean Peoples to the culture and economy of the nation. The month of activities is being
organized by the Institute for Caribbean Studies (ICS), a non-profit based in Washington DC.
Other regional associations are coordinating activities in local burrows and communities with high levels of Caribbean American Nationals.
While these celebrations were traditionally held in local communities with high concentrations of Caribbean-American nationals, this year’s activities will be held almost entirely virtually due to the Coronavirus pandemic. While the COVID-19 has presented some major challenges
for the ICS, it has also created a corresponding number of opportunities.
“SMART Caribbean Gathering: A Futures BrainFest” is the intellectual component of the celebrations in which Caribbean-American people and knowledge area experts will come together on virtual platforms to discuss issues affecting the Caribbean Region and Caribbean
Americans residing in the United States.
“This year’s events reflect the growing consciousness of our community on the need to show up and show off especially in this a presidential election year,” said Dr. Claire Nelson, ICS President & Founder, who was recently listed on Forbes as one of the top 50 female futurists
in the world.
“Since the beginning, ICS has worked together with our partners and 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 here in the US. This year we have reached out Caribbean people around the world as well as in the Caribbean region to join hands across the oceans. The onus is on us as Caribbean community leaders to be present in the room, and at the table, as the powers-that-be attempt to construct a path forward in the post COVID world. Our SMART CARIBBEAN GATHERING – A Futures Brainfest will serve as an idea and innovation mas camp for Caribbean joy makers and change artistes”, Dr. Nelson added.
ICS, the architect of the Campaign to Celebrate June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month (NCAHM), and its partners is convening the first all-virtual series of events beginning on JUNE 1st with the Opening Celebrations with the US State Department and
continuing with Opening Celebrations in Boston, Atlanta and New York.
Of special note is the SMART CARIBBEAN GATHERING-A Futures Brainfest, a series of five forums bringing together Caribbean thought-leaders and academics and advocates from around the world to explore the future of the Caribbean in a Post COVID World.
It is expected that members of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus administration officials and national experts and scholars will participate in timely discussions of major policy issues affecting the Caribbean American community in Legislative Week, June 22-27th.
National Caribbean American Heritage Month has been celebrated annually every June since 2006. This year, it represents an opportunity to bring together Caribbean peoples across the world to address common concerns; to allow Caribbean peoples everywhere to feel a sense
of place in the public discourse on the post-COVID global future, and to strengthen the Caribbean Voice in the World, as ably demonstrated by the eminent Chair of CARICOM Heads of Government, the Hon. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados.
“The US State Department opened the National Caribbean American Heritage Month Celebrations with an opening ceremony on June 1st at 10:00 am.
“That caption makes absolutely no sense whatever!
If one read something like this: “The United States Department of Defense;” or some other department that would be a closed statement, so my question is; state department of what?
It should state department of something in particular.
State.gov. The United States Department of State (DOS), commonly referred to as the State Department, is a federal executive department responsible for carrying out U.S. foreign policy and international relations.
As you can see, DOS is sometimes referred to as the State Department. Hope that provides some information. If not, just google “state department” or something.
On the other hand, in my opinion, this should be boycotted.
Guy this: “The United States Department of State” commonly referred to as the State Department: is totally different to this!
“The US State Department!”
Even if it might be the same the the context in which it is written is the problem; and that’s not up for debate; period!
You see; you can google as much as you wish; I took American Government in one of my college in America; history classes you see.
First of all let us get it right, there is nothing or no one called a Caribbean American. We are Caribbean people so let America keep its designation to itself we do not need to be included in the segregation style democracy. You are either American or West Indian, or whatever your island or nationality is. Let it be categorically clear to the American Ambassador that we do not wish to be called by any other name than our nationality. This is how the racism in America works they call then African American to create a distinction as to remind you where you belong. When I went to war for America I was called American, but once you hit American soil again you are now African American. Please State Department keep us out of your self created designations. Just call us Caribbean people or West Indians that will suffice
So, if you are correct; how do you account for this?”The United Nations geoscheme for the Americas presents the Caribbean as a distinct region within the Americas.”
So, let me iterate that the entire Caribbean region are within the Americas, indeed; even New York extend into the Caribbean, and Guyana in South America, prat of the Caribbean or the West Indies right?
Although it is part of south America, one can drive from New York, or Los Angeles to Guyana; in south America; though it would be difficult because of access to major highways, and road condition.
What about Mimi part of the continental United States, does it not extend at some point into the Caribbean.
Check this before I talk:The Yucatan Peninsula is an area in southeastern Mexico that separates the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The peninsula itself is home to the Mexican nations of Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo.
It also covers the northern parts of Belize and Guatemala.
Focus on…
Focus on this; when St. Vincent fishermen lost at sea, caused by storms; normally they drift to Belize, could it be because of Belize geographic location to the Caribbean; especially the Eastern Caribbean?
I don’t know much you know; so somebody feel free to correct me!
Allan ?Jerry Samuel thank you very much. Black people who accept that nonsense are so misguided
Sir with all due respect the caption State Department is correct. The United States does have a State Department which is headed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Mike Pompeo? That’s scary, my spine just shivered