Honorees with members of the South Jersey Caribbean Cultural and Growth Group Inc. From left, Star Benjamin, Livingston Benjamin, Kordell Baily, Dave Benjamin Watkis, Rohan Pierre, Berdine Gordon-Litterean, Niger Ali Sr, Denise Willoughby, Keith Mitchell Morgan, Eldiean Morgan, James Cordice, and Kylla Herbert.
Picture by Wesley Mitchell
The South Jersey Caribbean Cultural and Growth Group (SJCCDO) on Saturday, Jan. 6 hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Reception on the Victor Constructing in Camden, NJ, expressing gratitude to all volunteers and honoring six.
“The aim of the Volunteer Appreciation Reception was to honor a few of the gifted volunteers who donate their time to help with the South Jersey Caribbean Competition,” SJCCDO President Kylla Herbert, the daughter of SJCCDO founder, the late Nkem Tshombe, a local St. Kitts and Nevis, informed Caribbean Life.
She stated the 2023 honorees have been to be honored on the group’s 23rd Annual South Jersey Caribbean Competition, on July 8, 2023, nevertheless it was postponed due to a really extreme rain storm.
“So, we had this Volunteer Appreciation Reception to thank all the volunteers and to acknowledge the chosen 2023 honorees,” stated Herbert, stating that the 2023 honorees have been: Jamaican Niger Ali, Sr. and Dave Benjamin Watkis; Vincentian James Cordice and Rohan Pierre; Bahamian Dr. Berdine Gordon-Littrean; and Kittitian Keith Mitchell Morgan.
Herbert stated Miss Caribbean-US Magnificence Pageant 2023 Queen Sabrine Semper and Miss Caribbean-US Magnificence Pageant Teen 2023 Nya Ryan assisted with presenting trophies to the honorees.
She stated Ali is a spoken phrase and reggae music artist, who has carried out on the South Jersey Caribbean Competition through the years; Cordice has been an “integral particular person in lots of facets of the general manufacturing of the South Jersey Caribbean Competition”; Dr. Gordon-Litterean volunteers as cultural ambassador through the South Jersey Caribbean Competition; Mitchell Morgan is a long-time SJCCDO member and “an integral a part of the planning committee and growth workforce, who additionally assists the stage supervisor through the South Jersey Caribbean Competition”; Pierre assists with onsite logistics through the South Jersey Caribbean Competition; and Watkis has served as host, stage supervisor and helped with coordinating leisure.
“To be honored for doing what’s a ardour is in itself the dignity,” Ali informed Caribbean Life. “I particularly thank Kylla Herbert, president, for permitting my kids and me a serious platform to showcase our skills. The love is actual. Huge up and blessed love all the time.
“We are going to all the time discover time to reply the decision of Kylla and the SJ Caribbean Cultural and Growth Group, aka (often known as) SJ Caribbean Competition,” he stated. “Thanks once more for the award; it re-ignited the musical journey.”
Cordice stated he was “grateful and honored to be one of many six honorees,” stating that “every one contributed their time and efforts to making sure that Caribbean artform and tradition reside on.
“Nkem Tshombe, the late founding father of this group, as soon as inspired me to do no matter little I can for my individuals, however do it laborious; don’t ease up,” he stated. “So, I’m completely satisfied to be amongst these few who select to volunteer with satisfaction.”
Cordice stated he accepted the award on behalf of his 101-year-old aunt, Isla Nanton, at present residing in Trinidad and Tobago; his mother, 98-year-old Liliath Cordice, dwelling in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and his 4 kids.
“Thanks all for permitting me to serve,” he stated.
Dr. Gordon-Littréan stated she was “humbled to be acknowledged by my friends for my volunteer contributions.”
She stated she had met Nkem Tshombe whereas merchandising on the South Jersey Caribbean Competition and “discovered that he knew of my father.”
“My discuss with Nkem ignited my spirit and inspired me to turn into an energetic participant at Caribbean cultural occasions,” Dr. Gordon-Littréan stated. “I’m grateful to be given my flowers and proven appreciation whereas I’m on the earthly facet.
“In the end, my motive for volunteering annually is to honor my Bahamian father and our wealthy Caribbean heritage,” she added.
Mitchell Morgan stated he was “completely thrilled and honored to obtain the volunteer award.
“This recognition fuels my dedication to creating a optimistic impression in our neighborhood,” he stated. “Thanks for the chance to contribute.”
Pierre stated he was additionally “grateful to be honored by the South Jersey Caribbean Cultural and Growth Group for my volunteer work on the South Jersey Caribbean Competition and at their different cultural occasions.
“I’m proud to help with the promotion of Caribbean arts, tradition and music in my neighborhood,” he stated.
Watkis stated he additionally felt “honored to be an honoree within the sense that myself together with the opposite honorees are fulfilling the heritage and finishing up the legacy of Nkem Tshombe.
“My household has maintained involvement in some capability, and the dignity lies within the work of sharing the wealthy tradition of the Caribbean by music, meals, arts/crafts and historical past,” he stated.
“The collaborative side of neighborhood constructing and humanitarian efforts are the fruits that blossom, once we work collectively as a household, and invite different races to expertise our tradition,” Watkis added. “In so doing, we present appreciation for the previous, a dedication to the current and rejoice the longer term.”
Herbert thanked “all the volunteers which have assisted through the years,” stating that “there are too many individuals to call, however we plan to acknowledge volunteers annually to indicate our appreciation for every particular person’s contributions through the years.
“I’m overjoyed that we have been capable of honor a few of the spectacular people who helped to make the South Jersey Caribbean Competition profitable,” she stated. “The Volunteer Appreciation Reception turned out nice. We had the privilege to acknowledge six wonderful those that have made an impression on the South Jersey Caribbean Competition.”
Herbert stated SJCCDO is at present on the lookout for youth, from six to 18 years, to enroll to learn to play the metal pan. She stated the Youth Metal Drum lessons will resume this spring in Camden.
She additionally stated SJCCDO will host the 24th Annual South Jersey Caribbean Competition on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Wiggins Park in Camden.
Herbert stated SJCCDO was established for charitable and educations functions by her father, and that the group’s mission is “to advertise understanding and consciousness of Caribbean tradition by arts, music, cultural and academic applications.”
For extra info, go to sjcaribbean.org; name 856-580-0178; or e-mail: [email protected].
