FT. LAUDERDALE – Sistrunk Historical Festival, the oldest historically black festival in Florida, and the country, will award Trinidadian, Andy Ansola a jetBlue employee with the Community Service Award for 2008, on Saturday May 30, 2009 at Broward County Convention Center.
Mr. Ansola who joined jetBlue in 2008 will join 4 other recipients at the Awards 6th Annual Sistrunk Historical Festival Gala for his outstanding work in the South Florida community.
Mr. Ansola, a former police officer, is entrenched in every segment of this multicultural community. As an activist Mr. Ansola is one of the leaders in the Caribbean community and is an avid volunteer in many activities in South Florida.
Andy Ansola
Mr. Ansola sits on the Broward County Diversity Advisory Board which allows him access to all the government officials and decision makers without much ado. In addition he sits on many other boards and committees too numerous to mention. He has worked in collaboration with Broward and Miami Dade County Public Schools in creating programs benefitting the underserved children in our communities.
Because of his invaluable knowledge of the South Florida landscape and his impeccable marketing skills, in 2005, Andy was tasked by FEMA to locate the almost 5000 survivors of Hurricane Katrina who relocated from New Orleans to South Florida. Currently Mr. Ansola is the President and CEO of Broward Caribbean Carnival Inc.
Broward Caribbean Carnival is the fastest growing carnival in the United States. “Andy is a people person who enjoys every ounce of what he does.” said Margaret Birch who is the seated Chair of Sistrunk Historical Festival Incorporated. “He is always willing to help when called upon. He is most deserving of this award.”
After relocating from New York to Florida, Mr. Ansola a native of Trinidad and Tobago, in 1992 graduated valedictorian from St. Thomas University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later went to earn his Masters Degree in Science at the same institution. After starting to pursue his PhD studies at Nova Southeastern in Davie, Mr. Ansola took a sabbatical in order to work on to completion a very noteworthy community project.
Ansola is married to his wife Karen for the last 17 years and has 7 children and 2 grandchildren. He is a poet and writer, loves all sports, and working with children is a favorite passion. Andy is an Event Planner, Business Consultant, Disaster Manager, Program Developer, Print and Broadcast Journalist, and a Trainer in several fields of study.
“I thank the Sistrunk Historical Festival Committee for making a public recognition of God’s secret work.” says Mr. Ansola who prides himself on being a Christian. “Changing lives and awakening the sleeping genius in people is my way of giving back to society with the gifts that God has blessed and favored me with.”
