WASHINGTON, DC – The Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) will hold the 15th Annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards (CARAH) Gala on Friday, November 14, 2008 at The Historic Capitol Hilton Hotel on K Street in Washington, DC.
The 2008 CARAH Gala, chaired by Congresswoman Donna Christiansen (D-USVI); and held under the patronage of the Caribbean Diplomatic corps, honors and celebrates individuals of Caribbean heritage or friends of the Caribbean who have been standard bearers of excellence, and who have made positive contributions to the American and international landscape.
Congresswoman Donna Christiansen
Nominees for the 2008 CARAH Awards include: Dr. Garth Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary, US Department of Health and Human Services; Karl & Faye Rodney, Publishers, CaribNews Newspapers; Dr. Cato Laurencin, Medical Technology Inventor & Vice President Research, University of Connecticut; Beryl Levi, Founder & CEO, Tower Isles Patties; Ato Bolden, Olympic Medalist; Congressman Gregory Meeks; and Wyclef Jean, HipHop Humanitarian.
The Gala will be co-hosted by John Blake, Host, Caribbean Experience, WHUR FM 96.3, Maureen Bunyan, Anchor, ABC TV7, and Neki Mohan, Anchor, ABC TV10, Miami. Hon. Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and Chairman of CARICOM Heads of Government has been invited as Special Guest.
The event has come to be recognized as the premier celebration of Caribbean American achievement. Past keynote speakers and honorees include Prime Minister Kenny Anthony of St. Lucia, Prime Minister Owen Arthur of Barbados; Black Enterprise publisher Earl Graves, legendary actress Cicely Tyson and former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young.
The CARAH Awards gala will follow the Caribbean American Leadership Dialogue: Invest Caribbean 2008 under the theme, “Setting a Gold Standard in Sustainable Development”. Invest Caribbean 2008 to be held November 13-14 will focus on emerging opportunities in Energy, Tourism and Offshore Financial Services.
Estimated to number over 5 million, the Caribbean diaspora in the US is recognized as an increasingly significant political and economic force.
