Multiple embassies come together for gala at Organization of American States in D.C.
By Lizzie Suber AFRO Intern lizziesuber@afro.com
Washington, D.C. locals and diplomats from various countries across North, Central and South America gathered for a celebration of Caribbean culture at 7 p.m. on June 21 at the Organization of American States (OAS). The Multi Embassy Caribbean Gala was a three-hour event, open to the general public, featuring music and food from the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Attendees of the gala found no shortage of ways to immerse themselves in Caribbean culture: dance teachers from the area hosted salsa lessons, and an open bar offered drinks usually only sold in the Caribbean.
Purchasers of VIP tickets enjoyed cuisine such as pineapple glazed wings, reggae pasta and callaloo.
Beyond the food, dancing, shows and costumes,
Minister Counsellor and Alternate Representative of the Bahamas to the Organization of American States Mikhail Bullard (left) and Dornell WatsonDean, senior business development manager for the Bahamas Tourism Office in DC attend the gala as representatives for the Bahamas, just one of the Organization of American States’s thirty-five member nations.
participants were also able to engage with ambassadors and diplomats from Caribbean nations and learn from their firsthand experiences. Things To Do D.C. and Embassy Experiences, co-sponsors of the gala, donated profits from the event to The Bahamas Crisis Center.
Lillian Nalwoga (left) and John Dudley dance to live music on the large dance floor. After the live music, a DJ treated guests to a mix of Caribbean hits and salsa music.
Allen Kelly enjoying the evening at the Organization of American States Caribbean Party with Cristy Kelly, Kaitlin Kelly and Connie Kelly by his side.
Paul Dudley (left) and Selina Mutswairo perform live Soca music for gala attendees, supplying an authentic Caribbean feel to the event.
All photos by Patricia McDougal
Greg Bland, CEO of Things To Do D.C., welcomes guests to the event.
Ambassador Chet Neymour, the permanent representative of The Bahamas to the Organization of American States (OAS), speaks to guests.
June Findlay (left), Matthew Findlay, Yolande Findlay and Giovanni Moss, along with the others attendees of the event, could choose to not only celebrate Caribbean culture with food and dancing, but also through an event-wide limbo contest.
NNPA Fund hosts 2024 Messenger Awards
Publishers and journalists conclude conference with Inner Harbor cruise
By Lizzie Suber
On June 20, the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) annual national convention closed out with an awards ceremony, recognizing individual newspapers for excellence in various categories such as original advertising campaign and best coverage of education, entertainment, health and more. The ceremony was hosted by Mister and Mistress of Ceremonies, Lester A. Booker Jr. and Jocelyn K. Coley.
AFRO winners were Amelia Uduafemeh, who won the first place for the Youth and Children award after writing an article on high school activist, Jaydhen Johnson; Aria Brent, who took the first place Community Engagement award for her AFRO Cooking Live Series and Dana and Kevin Peck, winners of the third place Video Campaign award for work created by the AFRO’s Technology and Marketing team in collaboration with Comcast. On June 22 the conference ended with a cruise on the “Majesty,” a presentation from Baltimore Times writer Regi Taylor, food, drinks and entertainment.
AFRO News hosts second annual Juneteenth celebration
By Madeline Seck AFRO Intern mseck@afro.com
The AFRO hosted its second annual
and
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to honor the
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Leaders of the
and the
speaker; former Baltimore mayor, Catherine Pugh. Black press leaders were also present, many of them members of The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), whose national conference was officially opened at the brunch and ran through June 22.
and
Photos by Patricia McDougall
AFRO Intern lizziesuber@afro.com
Juneteenth celebration,
brunch
Center Club
Baltimore Inner Harbor.
Black community came together
Juneteenth holiday
importance
Black Press. Guests included Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott; Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead, professor at Loyola University
keynote
Photos courtesy of James Fields
Lenora Howze, AFRO executive director and director of advertising, welcomes this year’s group for the Juneteenth brunch.
Event honorees Dr. Vonnya Pettigrew (left), CEO and founder of Root Branch Media Group; Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., NNPA chairman; Dr. Daley, lifelong activist and educator, and Bobby R. Henry Sr. are together
given the spotlight for this year’s celebration.
Dr. Karsonya Wise Whitehead, the Black mommy activist, gives a passionate speech to the guests of the brunch.
Dr. Thelma T. Daley is the NAACP national director of women.
Dr. Draper, AFRO CEO and publisher, with Rachel D. Graham, CEO of BOPA.
Shown here, AFRO staff members Denise Dorsey (left), production manager; Deyane Moses, Afro Charities’ curator of archives, and Alexis Taylor, managing editor.
Dr. Thelma T. Daley (center) is surrounded by members of her beloved organization, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Dana and Kevin Peck make their way down the soul train line.
Bobby R. Henry Sr. (left); AFRO writer Aria Brent; Karen Carter Richards and Dr. Ben Chavis gather as Brent accepts the first place Community Engagement award for her AFRO Cooking Live Series, which appears on the AFRO’s YouTube channel and social media platforms.
Baltimore Times Publisher Joy Bramble (left) accepts the NNPA Publisher of the Year award with National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr. and Karen Carter Richards, publisher and CEO of the Forward Times, at her side. Bramble announced in June 2024 that she would retiring, closing out decades of service and commitment to the local community. The new publisher of the Baltimore Times is Paris Brown, not shown.
The NNPA cruise around the Baltimore Inner Harbor attracted plenty of attendees, many of whom took time to dance with journalists, publishers and National Newspaper Publishers Association board members in attendance.
Dr. Ben Chavis, president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, joins in with cruisers dancing on the “Majestic,” June 22 in the Baltimore Inner Harbor.
AFRO staff concludes day three of the conference with three NNPA Messenger awards. Shown here, Andre Draper (back, left); Nico Lee; Denise DeLeaver; Lenora Howze; Aleisha Robinson; Diane Hocker; Felicia Phillips; Benjamin Phillips; Kevin Peck; Denise Dorsey; Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper; Eva Lee; Alexis Taylor (front, left), Aria Brent and Dana Peck.