News Americas, HOUSTON, TX, Fri. June 6, 2014: Members of Houston’s Caribbean-American and immigrant community gathered at the chambers of City Hall on Tuesday June 3rd and joined City Council Members and Mayor Annise Parker for a ceremony to proclaim June as Caribbean Heritage Month in Houston Texas.
The ceremony was attended by members of Houston’s Pan Caribbean Network, a group of community organizations from Panama, Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Kitts & Nevis. In addition, members of the Caribbean-American Heritage Foundation of Texas and The Mayan Community Association joined the various leaders for the special and historic occasion.
“On behalf of Houston’s growing Caribbean-American and Immigrant community,” said Mrs. Leonie Castro-Cayetano, a native from Trinidad & Tobago, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the city council and Mayor Annise Parker for this special occasion. Special thanks to Council member Larry Green for his leadership and his hardworking staff in playing an important role in partnering to advance Houston’s Caribbean community visibility among our friends, family and neighbors.”
Joining the celebration was also 2014 Miss Houston Trinidad & Tobago, Ebony Brown, who was thrilled to join the mayor, community leaders and city officials for the special occasion. Ms. Brown is seeking to obtain a degree of Criminal Justice from TSU when she completes here 2 year commitment at Houston Community College.
Houston Council Member Larry Green who represents District K in the Council which shares one of the large portions population of the Caribbean community which includes grocery stores, restaurants and social clubs, have worked with community groups to ensure the proclamation and space for the community’s visibility at City Hall.
In 2013, he served as the guest speaker at the Caribbean Heritage Month Open for Business Forum, which featured financial organizations providing free assistance to Houston Caribbean entrepreneurs on how to start, maintain and expand a business. In 2014, Texas House Representative Alma Allen will be the Guest Speaker to Forum.
“Today, we had both generations share and celebrate a historic occasion for our community,” said Andrea-Jean Baptiste, the Coordinator for the Houston Pan Caribbean Network.
The efforts which was organized in a year by the Caribbean Resources Alliance CDC, is part of the group’s long-term strategic planning which includes community visibility, engagement, inclusion and development.
