The Caribbean American Center of New York Turns 30

CACNY’s Founder and Executive Director Jean Alexander

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Friday Sept. 8, 2017: It’s been three decades already since Trinidad & Tobago-born national, Jean P. Alexander had the vision to co-found the Caribbean American Center of New York, (CACNY), based on her own life experiences as a new immigrant after arriving in 1971.

Alexander says she is still stunned at the rapid passage of time and cannot believe it’s been 30 years already. This September, in honor of the 30th anniversary of CACNY, the organization’s Board will celebrate 2017 with their 6th Role Models of Distinction Awards & Scholarship Benefit Gala, while also putting the spotlight on its scholarship and mentoring program and several top executives and role models citywide.

The 30th anniversary Role Model Awards this year will be presented to a prominent NYS Supreme Court Judge; Vice President at Goldman Sachs & Ionic 6, Georgia Forbes; Founder & Producer-Blue Channel Films, Chauncey C. Chester; President & CEO of The Eagle Academy Foundation, David C. Banks; VP External Affairs, Brookdale Hospital, Khari Edwards; Entertainer/Performer, Devon Martin, aka Lyrikal; President & CEO of Caring for Others, Eslene Richmond Shockley; President & CEO, Trinbago Shipping, Pamela Lindsay; VP-Govt. Affairs, Charter Communications, Camille Joseph-Goldman; President & CEO- WIN TV, Raquel Jaikaran and General Counsel, NYC Dept of Probation, Wayne S. McKenzie, Esq.

The CACNY 2017 Role Models of Distinction Awards & Scholarship Benefit Gala is set for tonight, Friday September 8, 2017 at the Grand Prospect Hall, 263 Prospect Ave, Brooklyn, NY, from 7 p.m. and its goal is to raise funds for scholarships and the Center’s Youth Ambassador Mentoring & Training Program. Additionally, CACNY will donate 5 percent of its profits this year to the American Diabetes Association and the ASH American Society for Hypertension, because of the devastating impact of these diseases on the Caribbean and minority communities.

Corporations like MCU, NY Daily News, Con Edison, HealthFirst, Ireland Chamber of Commerce, JW May’s & Co, Spectrum and the Caribbean Life are all stepping in to assist the CACNY mission this year. Other corporate partners can give back with as little as $2,500 this year or sponsor a child for college directly with a $1,000 donation. Corporate tickets are $200 each and community partners can support the cause with a $125 ticket. To support CACNY contact 917-651-4499 or 718-625-1515 or email: caribbean195@gmail.com.

ABOUT CACNY

The Caribbean American Center of New York, (CACNY), is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 to provide a range of free services to New York City’s underserved, immigrant and needy population with a strong focus on residents in homeless shelters, minority and immigrant youth and their parents in the Caribbean immigrant communities of Brooklyn and New York.

CACNY fulfills this mission by assisting youth from needy families to access quality education through job and skills training and talent development through STEM, SAT and Regents Prep tutoring and counseling; through voter education and registration services and partnerships with Foundations and groups that provide youth with opportunities in the tech industry, media and other businesses; via initiatives in conjunction with national and international organizations such as CARICOM and by partnerships with law enforcement, local, state and federal government, corporations and foundations and consular offices to promote cross-cultural exchanges among diverse ethnic, cultural and religious groups to address common issues of unemployment, youth gangs, gun violence and violence prevention. CACNY fulfills its mission through a voluntary board of directors, part-time staff, a youth council and tireless volunteers. For more information see caribbeancenterny.org