WIADCA Board of Directors at launch of Caribbean Carnival 2019. Photo by Nelson A. King
Caribbean Life, May 22-28, 2020 3
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Democratic Sen. Roxanne
on Monday hosted a virtual town hall
meeting on K-12 and higher education
for constituents in her district.
Guyanese-born Persaud, who represents
the 19th Senatorial District in
Brooklyn, said the meeting took place
on Facebook Live.
She said the first panel focused on
higher education with a presentation
on state-administered loans and grants
by Dr. Guillermo Linares, president of
the NYS Higher Education Services
Corporation (HESC), and Vice President
Elsa Magee, who then answered
various questions submitted by constituents.
Participants then heard from Tanjila
Rahman, director of Community Affairs
for the NYC Department of Consumer
Affairs, along with Community Affairs
Associate, Michelle Beliz who offered
several financial education resources
and tools to foster informed borrowing.
Persaud said the second panel, which
focused on K-12 education, began with
a presentation by Anthony Harmon,
director of the UFT Dial-A-Teacher
Program, which offers supplemental
phone-based assistance to any K-12
student across New York City.
Persaud then welcomed NYC Department
of Education Deputy Chancellor
Adrienne Austin for a presentation on
the department’s current initiatives to
implement remote learning at K-12
schools across the City of New York.
She said Austin “answered many
questions on behalf of students and
parents in SD19 (Senatorial District
19).”
“During these unprecedented times,
I looked forward to partnering with the
NYC Departments of Education and
Consumer Affairs to host an online
information session about our public
schools and student loan debt for those
in higher education,” said Persaud,
whose district comprised Canarsie,
East New York, Brownsville, Mill Basin,
Sheepshead Bay, Bergen Beach, Marine
Park, Flatlands, Mill Island, Georgetown,
Ocean Hill and Starrett City.
By Nelson A. King
The Brooklyn-based West Indian
American Day Carnival Association
(WIADCA) on Wednesday launched
“WIADCA Cares” COVID-19 response
initiative for seniors and other vulnerable
populations.
WIADCA, organizer of the annual
Caribbean carnival parade, on Labor
Day, on Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway,
said in a statement that “WIADCA
Cares,” allows the organization “to continue
the important work we do as cultural
catalysts, by engaging our community,
particularly our youth, in new
and impactful ways.
“We are excited to venture into the
unknown as we know that through
change, growth follows,” said WIADCA,
saluting its “partners and sponsors that
have supported us, especially those on
the frontlines.”
“Never in my life would I have
expected to see 2020 like this.,” said
Trinidadian Angela Sealy – longtime
WIADCA board member and current
chairperson.
“Who would have thought our city
would be at the mercy of a virus called
COVID-19K,” she added. “I pray for
everyone’s safety and loved ones lost,
but I also look forward to a new day at
WIADCA in the post-COVID era.
“We have talented young people on
our new Board and in our membership,
and I am happy to follow their lead as
they move the organization forward,”
Sealy continued.
WIADCA said it has been contacted
by many asking about its plans for
2020.
“While we are humbled by your faith
in us, we, too, are still learning how
to navigate through many challenges,”
the statement said. “COVID-19, a fluid
situation that impacts how our partners
and new board can execute our
2020 offerings, provides the opportunity
to gather valuable feedback, conduct
meetings and work together to iron out
details.
“We ask that you trust that we are
putting our community members’
health and safety first, as we are determined
to still promote Caribbean culture
and contributions to enjoy ‘at a
distance’,” it added.
WIADCA said it has turned “Partnership
into Championship” by working
with several partners, agencies and
elected officials to launch its community
arts, culture, music, business, fitness,
technology, and culinary arts programs
virtually.
In view of the coronavirus pandemic,
WIADCA said all events will held virtually
on social media platforms.
As the global community grapples
with COVID-19 pandemic, WIADCA said
last week that it plans to proceed with
its year-round community programs
and New York Caribbean Carnival Week
“with several new offerings.”
However, WIADCA’s Dominicanborn
president Jean Joseph told Caribbean
Life on Friday that the board will
meet soon to make a definite decision
on the holding of what is considered
to be of the largest carnival parade in
North America.
“We’re hoping to meet very soon to
make a decision, and I’ll let you know,”
said Joseph about the spectacular carnival
that takes place, along the 3 ½
mile-long route on the sprawling Eastern
Parkway.
WIADCA said over 3 million people
from around the world converge on
Eastern Parkway on Labor Day for the
carnival that brings millions of dollars
to New York City coffers. In a statement
to community members and supporters,
WIADCA said that “the rise of
the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has
us facing unprecedented and daunting
challenges daily.
“This pandemic has us all filled with
anxiety, as we digest information from
the latest press conferences regarding
the necessary precautions to which
we must adhere in order to protect
ourselves and loved ones,” it said. “As
COVID-19 continues to spread globally,
more and more countries have stepped
up their efforts to contain its spread,
and numerous events have either been
postponed or canceled indefinitely.
“However, based on the increasing
public health interventions and measures
being implemented domestically
and internationally, along with a considerable
amount of time to assess and
respond to developments between now
and September, we at the West Indian
American Day Carnival Association are
planning to proceed with our yearround
community programs and New
York Caribbean Carnival Week with
several new offerings,” the statement
added.
“With health as our foremost consideration
and as a precautionary and
proactive measure, we are keeping up
to date with both the Mayor’s and
Governor’s offices, the Department of
Health (DOH) and established Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommended guidelines
to limit exposure and the spread of
the virus in our local communities,” it
continued.
WIADCA said it is currently working
with a few of its community partners to
provide resource and information.
“To that end, if you have a moment,
we would love to hear from you on how
you are managing, and/or if you need
any support for you or your loved ones
at this time,” it said.
“We will continue to keep you, our
dedicated supporters, abreast of any
new developments that may impact our
events,” it added. “This includes adjusting
to any contingency plans required
to seamlessly implement our usual
celebratory programming one way or
another.”
Sen. Roxanne Persaud at the town
hall meeting.
Offi ce of Sen. Roxanne Persaud
WIADCA launches ‘WIADCA Cares’
Virtual town
hall on
education