ZANMI: Impacting lives through Caribbean Culture

ByMicaiahMorganCNWContributor

When Wesly Jean Simon migrated from Haiti to the United States, he quickly created a home to live his dream amid Haiti’s political instability, natural calamities, and lack of economic opportunities Fueled by passion and love for his native country, he wanted to assist other Haitians and Caribbean immigrants who like himself, needed a haven to pursue their aspirations

In his quest for the greatest avenue to help others, he founded a Haitian restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, and created opportunities for the Caribbean and black communities while using his culinary skills to provide a one-of-akind dining experience

Zanmi, the name of his restaurant, translates to “friends” in Haitian creole and represents its amicable atmosphere for those who want to enjoy authentic Haitian cuisine, melodious music, and distinctive art

“If you look at what’s happening in Haiti right now, we have no culture and home, with all the turmoil going on down there, so we decided to create a home for all the Haitians that are traveling all over the world,” Wesly explained

With 15 years of expertise in the food industry working at restaurants such as Burger King, TGIF, and Olive Gardens, Wesly is living his dream of helping Caribbean immigrants and building Black communities in one of the toughest cities in which to make it

From hosting community-building events to showcasing artists who contribute to the creative sectors in New York City, Wesly’s restaurant has been a platform for emerging voices – even for those vying for elected offices that will impact the community

He also shared that he has collaborated with the fire and police departments to create safer zones for the neighborhood as he believes it is important for the Blacks and Caribbean people to make a significant difference

While he is praised for his efforts and the success of his business, he shared that he does not celebrate his current accomplishments, but instead remains focused on his goal-impacting lives

“I don’t pat myself on the back because as soon as you pat yourself on the back you lose the bigger picture I want to keep driving and inspire more people around me to do the same,” Wesly said humbly

Zanmi, which has also inspired other Caribbean businesses in Brooklyn, has resulted in more restaurants offering fine dining With these new developments, Wesly intends to offer consultations to new restaurant owners while assisting in writing menus and establishing their businesses with unique concepts

He also expressed the need for more Blackowned businesses so that Black communities can achieve better financial stability and establish their brand names

To accomplish this, Wesly encourages Caribbean immigrants and those of the Black community to work hard to fulfill their dreams and take advantage of opportunities that will allow them to leave their mark

Formula One Champion, Lewis Hamilton, takes pride in his Grenadian roots

When most people think of Formula One, they think of Lewis Hamilton He is considered by many to be one of, if not the best drivers the open-wheel single-seater formula racing division has ever seen He is tied with Michael Schumacher for the most Formula One Championships, with seven, and holds numerous other records, including the most career pole positions and the most career points

Off the grid, Hamilton is a champion for multiple causes including fighting climate change His charity, Mission 44, aims to empower young people from marginalized groups, leveling the playing field against the same institutional inequality that he and his father fought against to establish his career

In 2021, Hamilton was knighted in celebration of his achievements Despite all these accolades, he has never strayed from his roots His father, Anthony Hamilton, was born in Grenada and the pair still have family who reside in the Caribbean country In 2016, he visited the country to reconnect with this side of his culture “The Caribbean feels just as much like home as the UK does,” he explained in a caption posted to his Facebook “A big part of my heritage and family is here ”

Despite his accolades, Hamilton remains a polarizing figure within the sport, simply due to his race Formula One is not only a predominantly white sport, but Hamilton is also to date, the first and only Black driver to compete in the division let alone win multiple championships

Fans of other drivers, professionals within the sports, and even many of his countrymen, have lobbed racist remarks his way under the guise of criticism

It's no surprise that Hamilton has found his stays in Grenada to be therapeutic

“I would say where I always felt more comfortable was when I went back to Grenada I was never told to go home to my country, and I never experienced racism there or discrimination ”