Celebrating Our Graduates: Congratulations to National Honor Society Scholar Keanna S. McGarrell

We often hear people say it doesn’t matter where you come from, it only matters where you are going but Social Media Producer, Sabrina Mohan, aims to challenge that. As an Indo-Guyanese-American (the pinnacle of hyphenated identities) born and raised in New York, while living part-time in London, Sabrina’s Guyanese heritage keeps her grounded, regardless of what continent she’s on. Through her career in technology, entertainment, and media, she wants to show her community that…

Charisse Holder is on a mission to preserve her legacy. The young first generation Guyanese-American filmmaker recently wrapped up production of  “Where’s My Inheritance?“,  a film she co-produced with Randy Harris that documents their journey back to Guyana, the land of their ancestors in search of the missing pieces of their identity. The much anticipated film will premiere at Metro Tech Center’s Pfizer Auditorium in Brooklyn, New York  on Friday, June 21, 2019. Film Synopsis…

Many of you will agree that Deborah Cox is one of the music industry’s most notable voices.   A multi-platinum selling artist and self-proclaimed diva, Deborah was born on born July 13, 1974 in Toronto to Guyanese parents.   She began singing for TV commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows with the help of her mother. She performed in nightclubs as a teenager, and began to write music around the same time. Deborah entered the music…

R&B songstress Melanie Fiona broke out as a rising star in 2009 with her debut album “The Bridge” and Billboard-topping single “It Kills Me”.  She was born Melanie Fiona Hallim on born on July 4, 1983, in Toronto, Canada, to Guyanese parents who immigrated to Canada in the late 1970s. Melanie began writing songs at the young age of 16.  Her father was a guitarist in a band and would allow her to sit on…

Nine-year-old award winning author and poet, Anaya Lee Willabus, will be launching her second book, ‘A Bully’s Disguise.’  Anaya Lee published her first book ‘The Day Mohan Found His Confidence,’ at the age of 8, which earned her five awards, as well as local and international recognition for her outstanding literary contribution. A Bully’s Disguise, sheds light on peer pressure and how it may influence one’s decision in elementary school.  Mohan, the nine year old…

Shirley Chisholm  is the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first to campaign for the Presidency. She was an outspoken advocate for women and minorities during the seven terms she served in the House. Her legacy of political and social activism laid the foundation for the rise of women and Blacks in American politics. Born Shirley Anita St. Hill on November 30, 1924,  she was the oldest of four girls of…

Janice Elizabeth MacGregor is a second generation Canadian born to parents who emigrated from Guyana and became Canadian citizens. Her father, Frank Moorgen (RIP 2010), was born in Hampshire Village, Berbice and her mother, Mary Moorgen (née Deonarine) was born in Corentyne, Berbice. ‎ Janice, her brother, and her sister were born in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). She attended Millwoods Christian School where her strong commitment to academics and faith were formed. She fondly recalls visiting…

Deborah Nirmala Misir is a Guyanese/American attorney and founding partner of Lally & Misir, LLP. She is the daughter of New Amsterdam, Guyana-based attorney Jorawar Misir. A leading federal litigator and expert on administrative, constitutional and government regulatory law, she has over fifteen years of experience in both government and private practice, including briefing over seventy federal appeals cases up to and including the U.S. Supreme Court, and making seventeen federal appellate oral arguments. She…

Cecily Joseph, is the vice president of Corporate Responsibility at Symantec Corp. World Headquarters. Born to a German mom and Guyanese dad, Cecily Joseph oversees Symantec’s corporate responsibility efforts and serves as the company’s chief diversity officer. In her role, she oversees Symantec’s global corporate responsibility efforts, which encompass environmental, social, and governance program development as well as diversity and inclusion, integration and alignment. Cecily drives the implementation of community investment efforts including the Symantec Foundation, leads the…

Janice MacGregor is a first-generation Canadian of Guyanese heritage. She recently won the title of the very first Miss Regal World; a new online pageant that welcomes females from around the World to compete at an international level. No stranger to the world of pageantry, Janice was the winner of the 2007 Miss Saskatoon 2007 title. She also won Miss Saskatchewan International 2007, Miss World Saskatchewan 2008, and Miss Petite Saskatchewan 2009. Janice has held…

In some ways, Shion Fenty’s campaign is similar to that of many others taking place this year across the U.S. She’s a 37-year-old Black woman, a first-time candidate, and is facing two middle-aged white men in the primary. But there’s something that sets her apart from the wave of other women of color running for office this year: Fenty is a Republican. The fact that she’s a Black woman and the daughter of immigrants in…

Originally reported by Jerry Bembry – The Undefeated As Sachia Vickery prepares for Wimbledon in this, the breakthrough year of her career, she’s asked about the lowest moment she faced to get here. She’s silent for a moment, reflecting. For Vickery, the 23-year-old from Miramar, Florida, there are many from which to choose. Maybe it’s the hotel room she stayed at during an International Tennis Federation (ITF) stop early in her career in Europe, where…

Delece Smith-Barrow is a lifelong writer and journalism enthusiast. She is a higher education reporter at U.S. News & World Report, where she covers admissions challenges and student life issues for graduate students, as well as minorities in college and graduate school. She also edits stories on trends in online education and how to pay for an education. Prior to working as an education reporter, she worked as a producer, online editor and writer at…

Sasha Wintz, 18, who is born to Guyanese parents, was crowned Miss World BVI 2015 on Sunday, October 3rd. She is known for her stunning performance at BET Music Matters last year and her ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ project will be focused on persons with special needs. During her introduction, the teenager shared her personal experience, having an 8 year-old nephew who has Down Syndrome. Her nephew, Jaquan Wintz also shared the stage with Wintz after…

Aubreana Stephenson Holder lives by the motto, “You can do anything you put your mind to, and given an opportunity to prove herself, she will show you her worth.” As such, she has achieved the title of Chief Operating Officer of Federal Management Systems, Incorporated (FMS), a government contracting company with over 25 years of working with the federal, state, local and international government, at a young age. Additionally, she is on the Board of…