CBC 2016 Women of Power

A FIRST IN THE HISTORY OF THE CARIBBEAN DIASPORA – CELEBRATION OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH BY HONORING OUTSTANDING 10 CARIBBEAN WOMEN AT CBC’S WOMEN OF POWER EVENT

On March 2nd, 2016 CBC will honor 10 outstanding Caribbean women at its Women’s History month celebration, Women of Power Event, to be held 6-8PM at Pa-Nash Euro Soul Restaurant in Rosedale NY.

March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate women’s contributions to history, culture and society. CBC celebrates Women’s History Month by honoring 10 outstanding Caribbean women who have made significant contributions to our community. CBC’s Woman of Power is the first business event in North East to celebrate Caribbean woman during Women’s History month.

These accomplished trailblazers are Sophia Sutton, Assistant Branch Manager Astoria Bank East Meadow Branch; Lesleyann V. Samuel Senior Consultant in Telecommunications, Educator, Community Leader & President of UJAA; Darlyene Mayers Educator, Civil Rights Leader, Political and Community Activist; Annette M. Gordon Community Service Advocate, Senior VP Whereitzat Magazine & Beauty Consultant; Gina Faustin Travel & Entertainment Expert, World Class Swimmer and Olympic Fencer; Dr. R Simone Lord Marcelle Pastor, Author and Inspirational Speaker; Hon Dweynie Esther Paul Esq, Kings County Civil Court Judge, 2nd Municipal District; Aminta Kilawan Esq., Legislative Counsel of NYC Council and Co-Founder of Sadhana; Rosannah Deonarine Cultural Activist, Professional Emcee and Radio Host and Faudia Baijnauth, Co-Founder & Chairperson of Indo-Caribbean Alliance.

Outlined below are some of these women’s accomplishments and contributions:
Sophia Sutton – Banking Expert & Community Leader

Sophia Sutton

Sophia Sutton

Ms. Sutton was born in Kingston, Jamaica and is a graduate of Queens Borough Community College with an Associate Degree in Accounting. Sophia started out as a Bank Teller at HSBC and was eventually promoted to Business Manager where she worked closely with The Caribbean Community. Her love for her community and passion for her work were instrumental in helping her to successfully develop and grow new businesses, obtaining as much as $250,000 startup capital for Caribbean owned businesses.

Ms. Sutton joined Astoria Bank East Meadow Branch in 2015 as Business Banker and shortly thereafter became Branch Assistant Manager. Sophia continues to work closely with business owners in the Caribbean community, offering direction with their financial challenges and helping them best capitalize on their business opportunities.

Lesleyann V. Samuel – Senior Consultant in Telecommunications, Educator, Community Leader &  President, of UJAA
Ms. Samuel has worked in telecommunications for over 35 years and takes every opportunity to share her

Lesleyann Sammuel

Lesleyann Sammuel

knowledge. She is now Senior Consultant with a telecom company where she develops and implements market development strategies. Since 2001, she has been on the Faculty of the University of Maryland University College in Adelphi, where she teaches Business and Marketing courses.

Ms. Samuel serves as the President of UJAA, the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA)  Inc., and is a Board Member of Immaculate Conception H.S. Alumnae Association. She is  the lead Mentoring “Sister” Circle for Women of Verizon – a group that she started 9 years ago. Ms. Samuel is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Management, M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering – Technology Management from the University of Pennsylvania.

Darlyene Mayers – Educator, Civil Rights Leader, Political and Community Activist
Mrs. Mayers obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Bethany College and Master of Professional Studies from Stony Brook University. Presently employed by a State University of NY as the Administrator of a unit of the LIEOC. She is a Life Subscribing member of the Freeport Roosevelt NAACP and has been its Secretary for almost 18 years.

Darleyne Mayers

Darleyne Mayers

Mrs. Mayers is a delegate for both NYS United Teacher’s Union (NYSUT) and United   Univ. Professions (UUP). She meets with legislators, as a “lobbyist”, for support of organizations she represents. Mrs. Mayers serves on the Statewide board of the UUP and Co-chair of its Affirmative Action committee and the Educational Opportunity Centers’ Concerns committee. She has served on several boards, including Freeport Library Board as its President, and the Nassau Library System, as its first Black Woman President. She is also Clerk of the Vestry to Church of the Transfiguration, sings alto in her choir, is a licensed Eucharistic Minister, a Vestry member and former Sunday School Superintendent.

Annette M. Gordon – Community Service Advocate, Senior VP Whereitzat Magazine & Beauty Consultant
Ms. Gordon has enjoyed a career in the Beauty and Modeling Industry as a coach and style consultant. She worked for the world re-known Le Wouri Cosmetic in every facet of the beauty industry, conducting workshops and seminars worldwide.

In 1993, Ms. Gordon partnered with Clive Williams Communications, a Media and Entertainment Group, and started a talk radio show. In 1994, she helped launched the Caribbean and American Mother of the year Pageant. In 2003, she founded Whereitzat Media Group which launched Whereitzat Magazine as Editor and Style and Beauty Consultant. In 2004, she is a founder of the Caribbean American Leadership Foundation Inc.
On a number of occasions Annette has received Citations for her service from the NYC Council.

Gina Faustin – Travel & Entertainment Expert, World Class Swimmer and Olympic Fencer

Gina Faustin

Gina Faustin

Ms. Faustin is the Executive Producer of Kompa Guide, a 25-year-old entertainment and travel company which produces television shows, promotes Caribbean festivals, international tours. Ms. Faustin is a graduate of CCNY with an Architecture degree and a minor in advertising. She also has a Master and Elite Certification in the Cruise Industry. She is a world class swimmer and an Olympic fencer.

Ms. Faustin weekly television shows include “Gina’s Weekend, Streets Gaming, Mizik Creole, Tele Music, Tele Education, PR Times”. She has interviewed many dignitaries of all caliber. She is the creator of Kompa Guide Mas Camp, Creole Family Concert, Creole Expo.

 

Dr. R Simone Lord Marcelle – Pastor, Author and Inspirational Speaker

Dr. Simone Lord

Dr. R. Simone Lord Marcelle

Dr. Lord Marcelle is the author of four books, the latest being, Get Out of Your Cage, Keys to Freedom in All Areas of Life. On YouTube, her workshops are on topics: Manifest Love & Money; Building Powerful Leaders; How To Prosper; Making Millions by Faith; The Power of Imagination & Faith; Walk With Power; Reinvent Yourself, Transform Your Life; Heal, Restore, Expand; MY Rich Abba (Dad); Habits of Winners; Together We Can Take Back Our Community; Building Better Communities; Extraordinary; Get Published Now! and How to Start a Business With No Money.

Dr. Lord Marcelle pastors Peoples First Baptist Church; Founder and Executive Director of Royal People Group, dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in urban communities. She is also the Founder of the Southeast Queens Chamber of Commerce, dedicated to building stronger businesses and communities. Her journalistic and media career has allowed her to meet President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and interview many powerful leaders.

Honorable Dweynie E. Paul, Kings County Civil Court Judge

Judge Paul

Hon. Dweynie E. Paul

Honorable Paul is a Kings County Civil Court Judge, currently presiding in Queens County Family Court. She is a graduate of SUNY Stony Brook University with Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Social Science, and Minor in Child and Family Studies. She also studied in London, and interned with the Labour Political Party. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and a Juris Doctorate Degree from George Washington Univ. Law School.

Judge Paul has practiced law throughout New York City and New York State. Remaining true to her Haitian decent she traveled to Haiti after the earthquake, and returned to help found a Non-profit organization called Eye of a Dream, she works to raise scholarship funds for children to attend school. She has organized immigration workshops and events and is an Honorary Board Member of The Haitian Roundtable. In 2015, Judge Paul became the First Haitian-American elected to the Civil Court in the State of New York.

Arminta Kilawan Esq. – Attorney, Community Activist, and Newspaper Columnist

Aminta Kilawan Esq.

Arminta Kilawan Esq.

Ms, Kilawan was born in the Bronx to Guyanese immigrants and her passion for social justice manifests in various aspects of her life. She writes a column for The West Indian newspaper in efforts to increase involvement and stewardship in areas such as politics and volunteerism. Ms. Kilawan is a spirited Bhajan and Bollywood singer.

Ms. Kilawan co-founded Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus in 2011 to promote the social justice values at the heart of the Hindu faith. As Legislative Counsel to the NYC’s Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, she drafts legislation, liaises with advocates, and shapes New York City. Ms. Kilawan graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Fordham Univ. and a Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School.

Rosannah Deonarine – Cultural Activist, Professional Emcee and Radio Host
Ms. Deonarine is a professional emcee for musical events and performances. She is a dedicated Disc Jockey and Radio Host on Bacchanal Radio. Ms. Deonarine was born in Trinidad & Tobago and is focused on community, culture, and the people who follow her journey.

Ms. Deonarine’s blog ReadySetRose.com features articles and editorials showcasing regional, international and West Indian audiences. With both visual and oral interviews with Bollywood celebrities and other Artiste and Trailblazers she has molded her blog into a solid and credible media channel for her readers. Ms. Deonarine has emceed over 150 stages.

Faudia Baijnauth – Community Leader and Social Worker
Ms. Baijnauth is a co-founder and the Chairperson of the Indo-Caribbean Alliance, Inc. (ICA). She is responsible for the overall governance and direction of the organization which has grown to become one of the leading Caribbean organizations in Queens. Ms. Baijnauth’s primary role is to ensure that ICA advocates and creates programs and services for Indo-Caribbean residents in South Queens.

Over the last five years, the organization has successfully advocated to re-draw the political boundaries of certain City Council districts to increase the voice of this community; ICA has also helped hundreds of residents become new voters and have engaged them to be more involved within their neighborhoods. ICA has also created a Indo-Caribbean Special Collection of literature and media materials housed at Queens Library. Ms. Baijnauth graduated with a BA in Political Science from Baruch College and earned her Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and employed by Housing & Services Inc., (HSI).

ABOUT CBC: CBC is a membership organization that was established to provide a forum for small business owners and professionals in the Caribbean Diaspora to flourish. CBC has evolved to be a platform where all ethnic groups are welcomed and reportedly 40% of those who attend the monthly events are not of Caribbean descent. Our mission is to provide a forum for small business owners to aspire, connect and achieve.

For more information on CBC see www.caribbeanbizconnection.com or send us and email at [email protected].