Dr. Claire Nelson, Founder And President Of The Institute Of Caribbean Studies, To Serve As A National Profile Partner Of The U.S. Census

CaribPR Wire, DETROIT, Michigan, Mon. Aug. 31, 2009: Dr. Claire Nelson, Founder and President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS), will collaborate with the U.S. Census and serve as a National Profile Partner to increase participation among Caribbean and other immigrant communities.  ICS is an organization that promotes initiatives that strengthen the Caribbean-American community.  Nelson also serves as Chair of the National Caribbean American Complete Count Committee.
 
In her role as a National Profile Partner, Nelson will act as a liaison between the U.S. Census and the Caribbean American audience.   Nelson will stress the importance of Caribbean communities participating in the Census, as well as the direct connection between the Census, government representation and support. 
 
Because of that direct link, Nelson also will communicate how an accurate Census protects the interests of Caribbean-American organizations, public institutions and social service programs that are directly relevant to the survival and growth of these communities. 
 
“The Caribbean population in America must be represented in full for continued economic and political progress in our community,” said Nelson.  “We must communicate to all Caribbean Americans that participation in the U.S. Census will not adversely affect our communities, but instead will allow them to flourish and be strengthened.  Whether you are immigrant or native born; whether documented or not; whether Barbadian, Haitian, Jamaican, whether African descent of Asian origin, it is important to us and our children that we stand up and be counted.” 
 
At this time, the Caribbean-American population in the U.S. is estimated at 5 million.  Many African Americans are second-generation Caribbean immigrants.
 
Since its founding in 1993, ICS has worked to ensure the well-being and future prosperity of Caribbean Americans, by placing Caribbean American interests in the center of U.S. policymakers.   Nelson has been a longstanding pioneer for public policy that affects Caribbean Americans, using ICS as a means to tout the contributions of the Caribbean population to America and serving as Campaign Chair for the Commemoration of June as Caribbean American Heritage Month.  She has also been a forerunner in shaping dialogue processes between immigrants of African descent and the African-American community, and serves on a variety of Boards and advisory groupings such as the Black Leadership Forum, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and the African Federation.