GGR Book Club: The Black Man Drought by Lorraine Jonelle Stephens

It’s said that true charity begin at home and Keshia Adams is determined not to keep it there.  The Brooklyn-Based Executive Director/Founder of Lifting You For Tomorrow’s Success (L.Y.F.T.S) is on a mission to break the cycle of poverty for families in her community and in Guyana.  L.Y.F.T.S. is a  non-profit organization that tackles many social problems like poverty, at-risk youth, and hunger. Another passion of Keshia is the The Adams Project (T.A.P.); a subsection of L.Y.F.T. that…

Guyanese-born art curator Grace Aneiza Ali has made it her mission to create spaces for works of art that bring more visibility and awareness to the many experiences of the little-known Guyanese community across America. Migrating to Washington D.C. at the age of 14, her curatorial work heavily focuses on migration, particularly from Guyana, and examines the intersections at which art, activism and social change connect. Ali spoke with Brown Girl Magazine recently about the…

In Nirmala’s Kitchen: Everyday World Cuisine ABOUT THE BOOK:  Through her travels to such exotic locales as New Zealand, North Africa, India, and the Caribbean, to name a few, Nirmala Narine has scoured local markets and remote hillsides for herbs and spices to bring home to her own kitchen. In this collection of recipes and personal anecdotes, Nirmala includes a thorough glossary of herbs and spices to guide even the most inexperienced cook beyond table…

Toronto-based Caterer Shaunna Marto never thought she could have a career doing what she loves.  Trained in culinary arts, Shaunna founded Party’s By Shaunna in 2006; a full service catering and party business. Born in Georgetown, Guyana to a middle class family, Shaunna started cooking at the of 11; much to the horror of her parents who were concerned that she would hurt herself at the stove. They soon realize she had a talent for…

Zorena Jagnandan, who is Guyanese, and her staff offer many different medical and nonmedical services — wound care, occupational and physical therapy, nursing care, post-surgical care, speech therapy, medical social worker, shopping and errands, cooking and meal planning, help for new and expectant parents, light cleaning, help with paperwork, assistance to outside medical appointments, laundry, help with bathing and companionship. Jagnandan’s background in nursing and her experience in different nursing settings is what helped her…

Nola Ro spent the first 10 years of her life in Guyana before migrating to the United States. Most of her family (maternal side) lived on the East Bank of the Demerara River, stretching from Timehri to Coverden.  The daughter of Restaurateur, Doris Rodney, Nola inevitably caught the cooking bug and developed a passion for the culinary arts herself.  In 2015, she founded Sumptuous Bites Catering, which specializes in the Caribbean/American cuisine all made from natural & organic ingredients….

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…

Krista Martins is a professional choreographer, ACE-certified group fitness instructor and founder of Wukkout!® She has been teaching and performing professionally for over 15 years; she is also a Professor at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus where she teaches hip hop dance to undergraduate students. Krista has performed in a wide variety of music videos, commercials and television shows including but not limited to performances with MTV, BET, and the NFL. Most notably, her choreography…

Faudia Baijnauth is the co-founder and Chairperson of Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Inc. (ICA). She is responsible for the overall governance and direction of the organization which has grown to become one of the leading Caribbean organizations in Queens. Faudia’s primary role is to ensure that ICA advocates and creates programs and services for Indo-Caribbean residents in South Queens. Faudia  holds a BA Degree in Political Science from Baruch College and earned her Master’s in Social Work…

Mrs. Sita Nagamootoo,  the wife of Guyana’s newly elected Prime, Moses Nagamootoo, says that women must be given a greater role to play in the development of Guyana and she is convinced that they will get a better deal under APNU+AFU administration. “Education is her pet concern, having been a teacher for some 35 years, a headmistress and lecturer at the Cyril Potter’s College of Education for teachers.”  This is according to a recent statement made by…

Congratulations to Guyanese-Born Businesswoman Gina Miller who has been named Britain’s Most influential Black Person. In a story published by BBC News, Gina topped the 2018 Powerlist of 100 people, which recognizes those of African and African Caribbean heritage.  The 52-year-old led the successful Brexit legal challenge which ruled parliament had to vote on whether Theresa May could trigger Article 50. Those named were decided by an independent panel – including former High Court judge Dame…

Houston Caribbean Queen, Zoe Cadore, was crowned Miss Caribbean United States 2017 on Saturday, March 11th at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center for the 10th Anniversary of the competition.  Zoe is the first Houstonian to compete in and win the title of Miss Caribbean United States and the first person of Guyanese heritage to win the title. The evening featured a lively celebration of Caribbean culture and including an opening dance in Carnival costumes designed by Jewel…

Oslene Carrington is the CEO of the Guyana Economic Development Trust,  an independent philanthropic organization that incubates and supports projects that develop the workforce and boost the private sector of Guyana.  The US-based philanthropic organization has partnered with the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) of the University of Guyana (UG) to provide funding for an annual Guyana Innovation Prize of $10,000 to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. The award provides pre-seed funding to commercially…

The newly appointed board member of the American Caribbean Maritime Foundation (ACMF), a Westchester-based charitable organization, is setting sights on increasing the group’s mission for the next generation of Caribbean youth. Michelle Nicholas, who is the vice president of development at Westchester Family Services, said she was bringing her passion and economical skills to help increase interest in Caribbean maritime. A native of Guyana, Nicholas said she was exposed to the maritime industry at a…

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  This five young women definitely epitomize this phrase. Meet Trea, Michelle, Sonya, Corlecia and Feigel who reign from the small town of Amelia Ward Linden in Guyana, and playfully call themselves the “Amelia’s Ward USCians.” These “beauties with brains” all attended the University of Southern Caribbean (USC) in Trinidad; an affiliate of Andrews University in Michigan and over the years have form a…