Announcing the Launch of the Inaugural Caribbean Youth Summit, April 25, 2014, Philadelphia, PA

The Caribbean Youth Summit Planning Committee is proud to announce the first ever Caribbean Youth Summit to occur on the evening of April 25 2014 (6-9 P.M) at First District Plaza, Philadelphia PA with the theme Reclaiming Our Caribbean Identity . The Summit is the result of an inclusive partnership approach to the Caribbean Youth Agenda and is spearheaded by prominent youth-led Caribbean organizations, including the Institute of Caribbean Studies, Haiti in Transition, Jamaican Heritage Society with support from Presenting Sponsor RealVibez Group LLC and additional support from ELJ Consulting and IslandMedia Entertainment Group.

Local groups to participate include : Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia, Students Organized for Caribbean Awareness (Temple University), Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (Drexel University), Caribbean American Student Association (University of Pennsylvania), and the African and Caribbean Business Council of Philadelphia.

With the purpose of creating a platform for youth of Caribbean descent to engage on topics related to the Caribbean and its Diaspora, the inaugural Caribbean Youth Summit will launch the dialogues with the fundamental question: Who are we? The Summit will be structured as an interactive town hall style discussion featuring 4 panelists of diverse background and origin from the Caribbean. They are as follows:

(1) Marielle Barrow the scholar from Trinidad & Tobago. Barrow is a Fulbright Scholar, a Cultural Studies PhD candidate at George Mason University and a visiting scholar at Columbia University. In addition to academia, she is a practicing visual artist and social entrepreneur and serves as President for Caribbean in transit.

2) Genymphas Higgs, the student leader from Bahamas. Higgs, a PhD candidate at Drexel University, focuses his research on improving the performance of orthopedic implants. His past achievements include : presenting for organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials, the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, and the World Congress on Biomaterials. While attending Drexel University for undergraduate studies, Higgs was involved with Drexel’s West Indian Student Establishment (WISE). He credits this organization for expanding his leadership and networking skills, and allowing him to help advance the various causes of West Indian culture on campus and in the community.

3) Florcy Morriset, the Entrepreneur from Haiti. Morriset is an executive, advocate, and community organizer working at the intersection of culture and business. In 2007, her Vivant Art Collection debuted on Gallery Row. In 2011, Vivant Consulting was established allowing Morriset to work with academic institutions and art organizations, creating exhibitions and cultural programs which focus on uniting diversity.

4) Javed Jagai Aajri, the Activist from Jamaica. Aajri is a researcher and campaigner for social and economic justice. After high school, he left Jamaica to study abroad, which transformed his life and worldview. His educational background and academic achievements includes: the Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Canada, a liberal arts degree from Dartmouth College, and graduating with high honors for his thesis on transgressive gender and sexual identities in contemporary Jamaica. He is currently pursuing a PhD in sociology at Yale University.

The Summit will also feature a performance by Jamaican recording artist, Cezar, spoken word by Sofiya Ballin and a one-onone with David Mullings, CEO of RealVibez Group, followed by a networking session.