After working for the New York Metropolis Transit Authority for 27 years, Yvonne Peters, the Vincentian-born founder and president of the Brooklyn-based Caribbean American Cultural Group, Inc. (CACG) and the Miss New York Continental Cultural Pageant, has retired, throwing a lavish social gathering on Could 31 at Africa Home in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
The celebration, which additionally marked Peters’s birthday, attracted members of the family and several other of Peters’s associates, associates, and neighborhood members.
“As I have fun this milestone and mirror on my life’s journey, I noticed that I’ve come this far by religion amidst my achievements and challenges – the hustle and bustle on my journey and realistically elevating my three kids,” Peters, who was born in Kingstown, the Vincentian capital, advised Caribbean Life completely.
With 26 siblings — eight of whom are on her mom’s facet — Peters mentioned she dropped out of highschool however later graduated from St. Joseph Convent Industrial Institute in Kingstown.
As a teenage mom of two daughters, supported by her dad and mom and household, Peters mentioned she spent a lot of her adolescent years taking part in netball.
Later, she mentioned she turned a certified netball umpire, a masquerader, a double second participant in Abucalypse Metal Pan Orchestra, a founding member of Avenues United Netball groups, a devoted member of Avenues United Sports activities and Cultural Membership, and a founding member of Avenues United Village Youth Pageant—all in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“My aspiration was to assist the younger individuals in my neighborhood to develop into lively, combined and mingled; (and) organized picnics, sponsored walks, bake gross sales, and many others.,” Peters mentioned.
After migrating to New York in 1984, she mentioned she was “decided to develop into part of the American dream.
“I labored as a nanny for a few years and by no means misplaced the imaginative and prescient of my goal of the brand new world, America,” she mentioned.
Peters mentioned she attended any out there coaching or instructional lessons, whether or not swimming, grownup training, pc coaching, or train.
“Daytime cleaning soap operas didn’t captivate a lot of my consideration,” she mentioned. “I had quite spent my downtime pursuing info that was educated and would encourage me,” she mentioned.
However Peters mentioned her love for netball remained “a continuing” in her life.
In Brooklyn, she mentioned she was a member of and netball participant for Hairoun Sports activities Membership; president and participant of Islanders Netball Sports activities Membership; founder and president of Antillians Sports activities and Cultural Membership; member of Vincy Overseas-Primarily based Membership; vp and treasurer of the Caribbean American Netball Affiliation (CANA); and founder and president of CACG, which organizes the Brooklyn-based Miss New York Continental Cultural Pageant.
Peters mentioned that when her nanny job turned part-time, she “discovered the braveness and enrolled” at John Jay School for Prison Justice. This resulted in an internship at NYC Transit, the place she was employed for 27 years.
“And as we speak, I’m proud to be a retiree,” she mentioned. “At this time, I am grateful and grateful for the numerous blessings which were bestowed upon me and the existence of my kids and grandchildren.
“I consider in forgiveness and luxuriate in snicker,” she added.
In paying tribute to his mom, Derone Kitwana “Kee” Woodley advised celebrants: “At this time, we have fun a girl whose power, grace, and love helped form the lives of everybody round her, particularly my sisters and me.
“As her solely son, I’ve had the distinctive privilege of witnessing firsthand the stability she’s at all times maintained: fierce, disciplined, and rooted in custom but grounded in love,” he mentioned. “Born and raised in lovely St. Vincent (and the Grenadines), she introduced a spirit of resilience and pleasure that carried us by each chapter.
“She labored tirelessly—not simply in her profession, however in elevating us and our prolonged household with no second thought, guiding us with knowledge, laughter, and unshakable help,” Woodley added. “She sacrificed a lot to make sure we had what we wanted, naturally turning into the glue that held us collectively.
“Now, it’s her time to relaxation, roam, and benefit from the life she has so richly earned,” he continued. “And I can’t consider a greater approach to mark this second than with a poem that captures her subsequent chapter.”
The poem says partially: “The emails stopped, the conferences ceased/My calendar ultimately launched/No extra alarms at daybreak/Now I simply snooze the stress away/I’m buying and selling spreadsheets for a breeze/I’ve clocked in years—now I clock out/With zero doubts and never one pout/This chapter’s mine, lengthy overdue/
To relaxation, to roam, and simply be me—too true.”
Shannon Ramona Peters, Yvonne’s second daughter, mentioned her mother is “completely phenomenal.”
“She’s the form of one that lights up each room she walks into, with a coronary heart so large it may fill a complete universe,“ she mentioned. “Her power, knowledge, and infinite love make her the perfect mother ever. There’s really nobody like her.
“She at all times is aware of simply what to say or do to make every little thing higher, and her unwavering help has formed me into who I am as we speak,“ Shannon added. “Whether or not it’s by her kindness, her endurance, or her potential to make every second really feel particular, she proves, time and time once more, why she is solely superb. I’m past fortunate to have her in my life.“
In congratulating Peters on her retirement and birthday, Adonna Lewis-Dudley, CACG director, mentioned Peters “has now moved on from the on a regular basis’ 9 to five‘ to now the life of leisure to do what she needs, when she needs and that’s if she needs.
“Nevertheless, what she has not retired from is her work for the neighborhood – being an inspiration for these in want, creating alternatives for the youth, creating workshops and areas for them to precise themselves, and, extra importantly, paying it ahead to assist one other.,“ Lewis-Dudley added. “Donating and supporting different organizations are additionally an enormous a part of her life.“
As CACG director, Lewis-Dudley mentioned she has “seen firsthand the fervour, love, and even the funds Yvonne Peters pours into the group.”
She mentioned CACG was based over 15 years in the past with the imaginative and prescient to assist the neighborhood’s youth “be nurtured into leaders of tomorrow.“
Lewis-Dudley mentioned Peters’s “aspiration was to create a bunch of well-minded people from completely different features of life to work with youth in each capability that may assist them by on a regular basis challenges.”
She mentioned CACG has efficiently supplied the youth with scholarships, work experiences, journey alternatives, funding, and way more.
“Yvonne Peters is certainly a pillar locally, and he or she has and is at all times there to assist others,“ Lewis-Dudley mentioned. “And it’s my prayers that the neighborhood is there to help her as properly.
“Know that, with retirement, she is much more dedicated to her group, CACG, although by no means wavered, to proceed with the custom of cultural pageant reveals, the tea events, meet and greet occasions, and extra,“ she added. “Love and respect to you, Yvonne, for a job properly finished.”
