Activist honored
“The entire experience was
very humbling,” Arthur, who is
also considered a cultural icon
in the Vincentian community
in Brooklyn, told Caribbean Life
afterwards. “I am extremely honored
to be receiving this prestigious
African American Day
Parade Award and to be in the
company of such distinguished
persons. It’s a privilege.
“When Madison Marlow
(from Brewer’s office) called me
to follow up on the invitation,
as she did not hear from me,
and provided the details about
the award, I asked her if she was
sure she had the right person,”
Arthur added. “After our conversation,
I immediately got up
from my desk and went into the
hallway to compose myself.
“Thanks to a very hard-working
borough president for paying
so close attention to my contribution
to the community,” she
continued. “My promise is to
continue doing what I do for
the people and the community.
My mantra is: The community
is who I am; and, as long as I
am able, I will continue to do its
work to the best of my ability.”
Arthur also said she was
“extremely proud as a Vincentian
at the reception on Friday
ment, fashion and awareness,
that will begin at 10 am, and
reflect, not only the designer’s
inspiring detailed collection,
but her passion for creating
pieces suited to all occasions.
The runway show will highlight
her latest creations of
male pieces, in Teal, the color,
that shines a light on Ovarian
Cancer.
In her support of the Green
Guyana Movement, Hughes-
Braithwaite, will show outfits
and accessories created with
the natural elements of her
homeland. The runway will
be flooded with more than
20 other designs showing her
inspirations, such as her muse,
the Chattel House, an icon
building in Barbados, where
she lived and marketed her
work for many years.
The children’s wear collection
will feature brilliant
hues to bring soothing relief
to the many cases of child
abuse cases, that children continue
to experience across the
world.
A fashion tutor at Guyana’s
prestigious Borrows School of
Art, Hughes-Braithwaite, who
honed her skills while living
and studying abroad for 13
years, credits her lavish line of
clothing and accessories to her
roots and her passion for using
natural fabric, batik and tie &
dye design elements, that lit
up runways in Barbados, where
her brand was one of the most
sought after.
Her creations were showcased
Caribbean L 46 ife, Sept. 27 - Oct.3, 2019
regionally in Barbados,
Trinidad, St. Vincent, St.
Lucia, St. Kitts and Guyana,
and at the International Middle
Passage 2004 event at Medger
Evers College.
Just last month, the designer
was honored to show her
designs at the Jazzy Jazz Festival
honoring Guyanese musical
legend, Eddy Grant.
“My current passion is upcycling
designs, giving old
jeans new life,” said Hughes,
who, when not creating and
designing, finds the time to
showcase her love of ballroom
dancing, gardening, cooking
and planning adventures with
her children.
Verna Arthur, Athena Moore and Gale Brewer. Verna Arthur
“Freight Train” and “Girl I love
You,” “which were well received
with a standing ovation.”
The booking agent said
attendees included Donna Cox,
consul, Trinidad and Tobago
Consulate General in New York;
calypso artiste Poser; worldclass
drummer and producer
Phil Young and author, Nicole
Francois.
“The evening was definitely
a memorable one,” Noel said.
Douglas said he was born
and raised in a small village in
southern Trinidad, where he
was exposed to music when he
was very young.
He credited his exposure to
community center folk music
performances as the root of his
musical journey.
This, coupled with the influences
of his older sister’s sharing
of her talent as a “young,
ambitious poet,” served as “the
inspiration and foundation” for
the development of his natural
musical talent.
But he said his vocal talent
“really flourished” while
singing at his local Pentecostal
church.
At 16, he said, he and a few
friends in the church formed
a band called “Exodus,” which
quickly became very popular
and gave him his “first real taste
of spotlight and stardom.”
While enlisting in the Trinidad
and Tobago Coast Guard
for six years, Douglas said he
continued to hone his vocal talent
while performing with the
Coast Guard band.
He said he was influenced
musically by “local greats,”
such as Blakie and Lord Kitchener,
and internationally by
Americans Peabo Bryson and
James Ingram.
Douglas said he performed
several genres of music while
enlisting in the Trinidad and
Tobago Coast Guard.
After Coast Guard duties,
he said he didn’t take long to
establish himself and be recognized
as “a true artiste of
exceptional talent,” performing
with some of the biggest bands
of the day, such as Fire Flight
and Atlantik, where larger
audiences enjoyed his uniquely
husky yet sultry singing.
Continued from Page 45
Designer, Karen Hughes-
Braithwaite wearing clothing
from her Kosmic Vibes
Fashion collection.
Kosmic Vibes
Continued from Page 45
and then to walk in the parade
Sunday showing my ‘Vincentianness’
with my flag and all
— only to hear the voice of
someone as I travelled up Adam
Clayton Powell Boulevard shouting
‘rise that Vincy flag’.
“It was a wonderful feeling,”
she said. “That sealed the entire
event for me.”
Arthur said she began her
cultural journey as a masquerader
in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, at age 5, with Fuzzy
Knights’ Mass Band.
Her journey continued as a
member of Kingstown Chorale
and Abbucalypse Steel Orchestra.
She continues to be an ardent
participant in carnival as evidenced
by her co-founding of
the former NY J’Ouvert band,
Yurumei Productions and by
founding SVG Connect J’Ouvert
Band.
A former president and public
relations officer of the Brooklynbased
cultural and educational
organization, Club St. Vincent,
Inc., Arthur was also chairperson
of the organization’s Cultural
Exposition Committee for
about 25 years.
She is now the committee’s
coordinator, working with RIDU
and Invest SVG to coordinate
and acquire products from St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, as
well as getting Vincentian performers
for the exposition in
Brooklyn.
A champion of community
volunteerism, Arthur said one
of her proudest moments was
when she spearheaded efforts
and worked tirelessly to bring
the leading Vincentian steel
band, Starlift Steel Orchestra, to
New York.
Arthur’s exceptional work with
Club St. Vincent, Inc.’s three-day
Cultural Exhibition held in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines in
December 1995 is further testament
of her leadership skills.
Arthur is also the president of
Troy Avenue H & I Block Association
(TAHIBA) in Brooklyn.
In addition, she was among
the first to introduce “some of
our Garifuna brothers and sisters
to the Vincentian Community
in New York.”
She was also a foundation
member of the then Garifuna
Cultural Retrieval Committee,
which conducted a month-long
Garifuna Cultural Retrieval
Workshop in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines in August 2012.
Arthur continues to make
significant contributions to several
organizations, such as: the
Harlem Week Senior Jubilee
Committee, a component of the
Harlem Week Celebrations (the
largest cultural event in the US);
Henry Street Senior Companion
Advisory Council; Manhattan
Community Board 9 Senior
Issues Committee; and Manhattan
Community Board10 Senior
Strategic Committee.
She is the Manhattan Community
Outreach Director and
Senior Advisory Council Liaison
with the New York City Department
for the Aging (DFTA).
Arthur said her role with
DFTA involves advocacy initiatives
and community outreach
on aging-related issues.
Continued from Page 45
Kosmic Vibes fashion Spin and scratch