HNY began BYCY with the principal vision to bring together Caribbean American and Caribbean Immigrant youth and families to an event that highlights their common threads. The mission statement of the organization “to educate demands great care” is the driving force. It is the mantra wherein success becomes the policy. This is what we think about in creating an environment for youth to begin seeing real opportunities and embrace concepts of individual and collective potential.
Since the idea of BCYF, HNY have planned and implemented agenda of consciousness raising events i.e. ART ADVENTURE with subsets like Youth in Music & Dance Camp as well as an ambitious Humanities initiative.
The overall mission of HNY is to showcase and preserve Caribbean cultural heritage. We work to accomplish this by seeking out youth that are most vulnerable and invite them to participate in youth friendly events. Additionally, HNY’s team reaches out and build relationships with CBOs, Schools, Day-Care facilities and institutions. We identify needs that can realistically be met and sustained. Our CBO partners, Collaborators and Teaching Artists help to provide opportunities that develop real-world skills and supplement academic education.
HNY encourages "family unity". By installing interactive events for youth and families, initiatives that rely on the power of effort and cooperation (teamwork) over skill level. The object is to inspire cooperation with positive directional, enhance social development, nurture self-esteem, and stimulate self-confidence.
There is a celebration of diversity within all programs - Caribbean home-spun sounds of infectiously traditional patios, straight-up old traditions are simply great and is a great advance to learning. All are presented with balance of tone and connections to the global community.
HNY, like most CBOs, faces numerous challenges as it works towards becoming a leading advocate that encour-age youth to think big. The team works hard to highlight the common threads in Caribbean culture by collaborating with other groups to increase awareness of the richness of this legacy.
The organization is committed to the preservation of culture and the awareness of its value. Brooklyn Caribbean Youth Fest (BCYF) is a high quality showcase which attracts both Caribbean and non-Caribbean people who en-joys experiencing other cultures.
The presence of Caribbean cultural on stage offers a unique slice of Caribbean heritage, bringing another spotlight to Brooklyn. HNY is proud, be contributing to cultural diversity by sharing the liveliness of the Caribbean people and the colors and richness of this beautiful legacy.
We are happy to be working as a catalyst for expanding group activities among the various groups from the Caribbean region. The benefit of this event is that it’s a group oriented activity and a wonderful metaphor for a community. It inspires collaborations (cooperation) social inclusion (unity) and creativity.
Why?
Since 1965 New York State been blossoming into one of the US’s most populated Caribbean community, Brook-lyn boasting the largest residency percentage. Because growing up in America is the intermingling of cultures, this integrated lifestyle allows for few conspicuous ethnic markers. In as much as diversity and cross-culture experiences enrich lives, compendium of culture creates an environment that help to overcome barriers.
BCYF is in response to the thousands of Caribbean American who need a foundation that is built on core values taught and transferred through culture. This can build a reserve to assist them in overcoming obstacles of life in an urban metropolis where a sense of place and cultural identity is often elusive. The old tradition of storytelling, which typically taught values to youth, sing-a-long and folk dance are disappearing. Given these dynamics of modern integrated lifestyles, there is a need to re-ignite for preservation and maintenance, traditional values. Caribbean culture is resplendent with values that re-enforces as well as characterize Caribbean immigrants as achievers. This is an exceedingly, unforgettable trait specific to this subset.
Studies show that childhood is a period of conservation; therefore, passing on the values, beliefs and the living art of Caribbean heritage to our offspring is of great importance. Brooklyn Caribbean Youth Fest is a folklore tempo that captures the imagination and reminds the heart to keep this ethnic culture alive. Without knowledge and prac-tice, the historical basis of the very presence that is the strength of any group, shrinks.
What sets this event apart from other Caribbean style events?
Brooklyn Caribbean Youth Fest, presents the diversity of the Caribbean region, highlighting the influences of Af-rica, Europe, South/East Asia as well as the colonial acculturation all other influences, of which creates the legacy that is Caribbean culture.
Problems with Caribbean Immigrant/Caribbean American Youth
1). There is a seemingly abandonment of core values that are staple to Caribbean lifestyle and an apocalyptic reverence towards the pervasiveness of destructive popular street cultures. “Street Culture” that is moving at jet speed with sociological effect that are debilitating for the fragile mentality of youth. Street culture also constitutes a society of its own, one which glorify pervasive activities - habits which are perpetuated in the media through movies, video games, music video and some song. These damaging sentiment can be developed into an undesirable energy source that pulls the youth.
2.) Youngsters are bombarded with offenses to the foundation of academic excellence. The occurrences are abominable and significant, resulting into an increasing percentage of Caribbean American youth becoming men-aces to society. This abomination gives way to appalling waves of instability and imbalance in the family structure. It creates a perpetual cycle of cultural ignorance and ethnic blight that ruin individuals, families and communities, destroying future generations.
Cause
Rapid departure from core values and disciplines centered values, which are common to cultural habits in the Caribbean way of life. Younger generations are abandoning principles that normally teach self-respect, cultivates a healthy self-esteem and help to build strong self-confidence.
Effect
The older a youngster grows, the more unwilling he/she can become in embracing change. Feelings of fear, isolation, disenfranchisement…lost hopes, lost dreams…despair, are all elements that foster the journey towards DESTRUCTIVENESS. The earlier measures for debunking troubling currents which snatch up young people in the jaws of destruction is implemented, the more we increase the opportunities for positive change.
The Approach
Since empowerment comes by exposure, education is key. Academics, accompanied with cultural expressions for self-actualizing experiences helps youth in trouble from becoming adults in crisis. By exposing youngsters to a variety of concepts and disciples, we can assist in transforming their energy into sound and vigorous habits. Habits, which help to expand their minds and give them a moral reserve. Therefore, introducing youngsters to new and old thoughts and teaching customs of old traditions; with participation and practice, as well as a fun application, we tap into a young person’s physical and mental vitality. In doing so we are helping to promote the intellectual maturity necessary for a productive lifestyle.
• Solutions & Elements of Success
• Advocacy efforts
• Leadership
• Access to information
• Flexibility
• Communication
Monitoring the success
We have already claimed victory! There is victory in the creation of the organization, the selection of board members and all subsequent support staff. The maiden voyage of Brooklyn Caribbean Youth Fest was a hallmark success. With a multicultural audience and multi-cultural participants, celebrating the Caribbean experience to-gether, at a free public event in the heart of Brooklyn, Prospect Park, our youngsters performed with exuberance.
Moving forward, the team will continue to work towards strengthening the event turning it into a premier show-case and one of the most spectacular and valuable Caribbean youth/family experiences. We have begun to see increased media response, sponsorship interest and growth in attendees’ number.
The annual calendar of events is vital components. Workshops offer excellent opportunities to shape, solidify relationships and build strong individual, family/community ties. Topics are specifically chosen and developed with efforts aimed directly at maintaining the basic of setting good examples, fostering accountable and responsible citizens, handing down principles which are fundamental - which will still work, even in a new place and with each new generation
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