Washington, DC – A COVID-19 research scientist, a corporate engineer, a sculptor and a Grammy winning songwriter are among the individuals that will be honored by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) at the 28th Annual Caribbean American Heritage (CARAH) Awards Gala on Friday, November 19, 2021. The prestigious honors recognize the contributions and accomplishments of Caribbean diaspora leaders in various fields while celebrating Caribbean pride and the great promise of Caribbean immigrants to America and the world. The 27th staging of the Caribbean American Heritage Awards (CARAH) will go virtual this year. This came about as the world grapples with the novel coronavirus, and the USA with the racial uprising, and a national election.
ICS’ Caribbean American Heritage Awards is the leading honors event by Caribbean Americans for people from the Caribbean diaspora. The 2021 honorees include Vidia Roopchand, research scientist, of Guyanese heritage; Dominica-born Justina Nixon-Saintil, engineer and corporate social responsibility maven; Trinidad-born, Dr. Cindy Duke, medical doctor, and public health influencer; Lloyd Carney, corporate executive, entrepreneur and philanthropist as well as Basil Waston, award winning sculptor and rhythm and blues songwriter Gordon Chambers all of Jamaican heritage. Announcements of additional honorees will continue over the coming weeks leading up to the event, which will take place on November 19 live online with hybrid after-party in Washington D.C.
The Caribbean American Heritage (CARAH) Awards, which is held under the patronage of the Caribbean Diplomatic Corps celebrates members of the Caribbean diaspora who have been exceptionally successful in their fields at the national or international level. “ICS started this event more than 25 years ago in an effort to highlight to the American society at large the caliber of individuals that claimed Caribbean American ancestry, and to provide a forum for honoring and recognizing their contributions to America and the world,” said Dr. Nelson, Founder and President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies. “This remains important today when we consider that there is now a woman of Jamaican heritage serving as Vice-President of these United States of America.”
Since its founding in 1994, over 100 leaders such as Susan Taylor, former editor-in-chief of Essence magazine; Rita Marley, reggae matriarch and philanthropist; Dr. Velma Scantlebury, transplant surgeon; George Willie, CEO of Bert Smith and Company; and Aubrey Stephenson, CEO of Federal Management System have received a CARAH Award.
Friends of the Caribbean honored have included Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Congressman Elliot Engel.
Entertainment for the evening will be anchored by top Caribbean Band in Washington DC, IMAGE Band and others. Event partners include CaribNation TV which will co-executive produce the Gala for broadcast television.
To learn more about the Caribbean American Heritage Awards, visit www.caribbeanheritageawards.org.
