Caribbean Life honors 33 at Caribbean
Impact Awards virtual event
By Nelson A. King
At a virtual ceremony last week,
Thursday, Caribbean Life recognized
the achievements and contributions of
outstanding individuals of Caribbean
background, who have created the most
impact in their respective career fields
— from healthcare, the arts, to advocacy,
entrepreneurship, and much more.
These honorees helped continue opening
the path for incoming immigrants
and inspiring generations to come.
In her brief introductory remarks, Victoria
Scheps-Yunis, president and publisher
of Caribbean Life and Schneps
Media, said “we’re delighted to bring you
very special people who are stars in the
community,” thanking “the people who
planned this event.”
Viewers tuned in from all areas of New
York, the tri-state area and relatives and
friends also tuned in from the Caribbean
islands to celebrate. Viewers were able to
participate through the chat portal and
many congratulations were shared and
support was given by the viewers at home
as the event was emceed live by Jamaican
born Ruschell Boone, a three-time
Emmy-nominated and award-winning
reporter and anchor at Spectrum News
NY1. The awards were held virtually and
as a live broadcast for the very first time
because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time two special award
categories were presented:
Renee Hastick-Motes, vice president of
external affairs,
Episcopal Health Services/St. John’s
Episcopal Hospital (SJEH), created history
by being the first recipient of Caribbean
Life’s Lifetime Achievement Impact
Award.
Hastick-Motes, the daughter of the
late Dr. Roy Hastick, the Grenadian-born
founder and president of the Brooklynbased
Caribbean American Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (CACCI), was
bestowed the honor during the Annual
Caribbean Life Impact Awards,
“I’m a proud first generation Caribbean
American,” said Hastick-Motes in
her acceptance speech, stating that her
family migrated from Grenada in the
1960s “to achieve that great American
Dream.”
“It was through their tenacity that I
learned my personal attributes of hard
work,” she added. “Professionally, I learned
my business attributes from my father.”
After pausing and choking up, Hastick-
Motes said that “my environment and
what I saw around me cultivated who I
am today.
“This past April, I lost my father to
COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic,”
she disclosed. “As I see the United
States with social unrest, I couldn’t help
but reflect on my rich Caribbean heritage.
Thank you for the award. I still have
much work to do. I’m truly honored and
Caribbean L 30 ife, FEB. 26-MAR. 4, 2021
Mendes De Griot aka Baby Mpho with Mama Nyaah, Jaime Brown, and Sundiata King provided entertainment.
humbled.”
Gerard Walsh, SJEH’s chief executive
officer, the only hospital located on the
Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, said he
was “proud” that Hastick-Motes is “part
of our team.”
“She has put together many, many
programs to make sure the needs of the
community are met,” he said. “She’s done
a tremendous job.
“I’m happy she’s receiving this award,”
Walsh added. “It’s very much deserved.
Renee, no one deserves this more than
you.”
Hastick-Motes was among 33 honorees
at the spectacular event, hosted
by Schneps Media, Caribbean Life’s parent
company, in honor of Black History
Month.
Janet E. Larghi, Associate Director of
Therapeutic Recreation for NYC Health
+ Hospitals/McKinney on Albany Avenue
in Brooklyn, also created history by
being the first recipient of Caribbean Life’s
Friend of the Caribbean Award.
In introducing Larghi, Angela Cooper,
one of the presenters, who serves as
Assistant Director of Communications/
Public Affairs at NYC Health and Hospitals/
McKinney, said: “It means the world
to me to have the honor of presenting this
very special award ‘Friend of the Caribbean’
to Janet Larghi.
“She was born with a severe to profound
hearing loss, mainstreamed into
the community with the encouragement
and support of her parents,” said the
Tobago-born Cooper, who is also chief
executive officer and founder of the Coral
Reef Experience. “Because of her hearing
Opening remarks from our own Victoria Schneps.
loss, Larghi had to study harder than the
average student, hitting the books on
weekends and during vacations to keep
up. A process that gradually became her
work ethic.
“Larghi has been serving as a healthcare
professional and has been working
in the field for over 30 years in many
capacities,” added Cooper, stating that
after she and Larghi travelled to Tobago,
“she immediately embraced the people,
because of her experience of working in
predominantly West Indian Caribbean
environments.
“Her humanitarianism surfaced, and,
together, Janet and I adopted three nursing
homes,” Cooper disclosed. “Janet continues
to dedicate herself to our Carib-
Ruschell Boone from Spectrum
News NY1 emceed the evening live.