We Salute Claire Nelson PH.D Caribbean American Heritage contributio

Institute of Caribbean Studies
Fouder and President Claire A Nelson PH.D.

On February 14, 2006, the US Senate approved the Bipartisan House Concurrent Resolution

71 declaring June as N...

Institute of Caribbean Studies <br />
Fouder and President Claire A Nelson PH.D.<br />
<br />
On February 14, 2006, the US Senate approved the Bipartisan House Concurrent Resolution<br />
<br />
71 declaring June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. As the Campaign Chair<br />
<br />
and leading supporter of this initiative, ICS thanks everyone for their unwavering<br />
<br />
commitment for the passage of this Bill. <br />
<br />
<br />
It has been a long journey. Since 2000, ICS has orchestrated celebrations of June as<br />
<br />
Caribbean American Heritage Month in Washington DC, taking over from the AdHoc DC<br />
<br />
Council who crafted the Washington DC Bill in 1999. This effort was a natural next step<br />
<br />
after ICS successful White House Briefing on Caribbean American issues staged in 1999,<br />
<br />
when it became obvious that we needed to gain voice and agency in order to be an influential<br />
<br />
part of this democracy; and that such agency and voice would only happen with national<br />
<br />
organization. This dream was kept alive since 1999, with the support of our community<br />
<br />
partners in Washington DC including the Caribbean Association of the World Bank and IMF;<br />
<br />
and the Caribbean Professional Networking Series. <br />
<br />
<br />
In working with Congressional staffers the Bill in late 2003 was crafted and we were aware<br />
<br />
of the fact that our dream of a national commemoration of the contributions of people of<br />
<br />
Caribbean heritage, to America was likely to be viewed by many as the efforts of a heretic. <br />
<br />
Nonetheless, we persisted in the dream because we know that as immigrants we too have<br />
<br />
contributed to the heights of Americas achievements We Too Sing America. <br />