Island Origins Magazine - Spring 2021

What Makes This Beach Different?

Plan an unrivaled kind of Florida vacation. Spread out on 23-miles of golden beaches. Dine at waterfront restaurants serving up sunset views. Or cruise miles of scenic waterways in the yachting capital of the world. What makes this beach different? Everyone under the sun. Learn more at visitlauderdale.com

CONTENTS Spring | 2021

24 PHILIPPE BIEN-AIME: A THOUGHTFUL LEADER

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN HOME 2

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AN ISLAND SPA RETREAT

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A YEAR WITHOUT CARNIVAL

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CREDITS PUBLISHER Calibe Thompson BRAND STRATEGY David I. Muir BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Tamara Phlippeaux EDITORS Calibe Thompson Jayme Fraser ASSOCIATE EDITOR Hannah Gulics ART DIRECTOR Vladan Dojcinovic CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Zenzile Whitsett Dr. Naima Stennett Rebecca Hugh Hannah Gulics Stephen Bennett Carolyn Guniss Ghenete ‘G’ Wright Muir David I. Muir Calibe Thompson

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HEALTH & BEAUTY The Radical Practice of Self Care Busting Fitness and Nutrition Myths Emmanuella of MJD Wellness: Woman on a Mission What We Need to Know About the COVID-19 Vaccine

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STYLE & DESIGN The List: Gifts for Mom and Dad The Purpose Driven Home

TRAVEL 14 Escape on an Island Spa Retreat CULTURE 18 A Year Without Carnival INSPIRATION 22 Chef Creole: South Florida’s King of Caribbean Fusion 24 Philippe Bien-Aime: A Thoughtful Leader 32 Mary Estime-Irvin: In Service of Community 34 Chef Thia: A New Chapter 36 Gang Alternative: Changing Lives INVEST 28 Fearless as the Sky Fell

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TASTE THE ISLANDS Chelly’s Jamaican Restaurant Review Springtime Recipes

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RESTAURANT LISTING

48 FINAL THOUGHT: Filling Negative Spaces

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Brooke Lark Jernej Graj David I. Muir Ariel Camilo Photography Maryline Damour Rikki Snyder Stephen Bennet (Uncommon Caribbean) Courtesy Discover Grenada Courtesy The Jamaica Pegasus Courtesy Miami Carnival Mark James Arserno Aurelus Courtesy Welcome to Little Haiti Courtesy Cool Creative Courtesy Manjay Maybeline Despagne (Pix City Studio) Courtesy Gang Alternative Inc. Kizzmekia Corbett ON THE COVER: The Renewal Issue Haitian-American Philippe Bien-Aime, mayor of North Miami, has guided his city through the challenges of 2020 as a unifying force. Ahead of Haitian Heritage Month (May), Bien-Aime and his wife Sarah shared a bit about the man behind the title. This issue also celebrates a number of Haitian-American leaders in community and business.

Cover photo by David I. Muir. Styling and Sarah BienAime’s dress by Tanya Marie Design. Makeup by Rory Lee (Laura Benoit).

This issue contains sponsored content.

Copyright © 2021 by Island Syndicate. All rights reserved.

Island Origins Magazine is published by Island Syndicate. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a review. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at Island Syndicate, 1310 SW 2nd Ct #207, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. Printed in the United States of America.

Island Origins Magazine ℅ Island Syndicate 1310 SW 2nd Ct #207 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 417-812-5663 | islandoriginsmag.com support@islandsyndicate.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY // RADICAL PRACTICE OF SELF-CARE

THE RADICAL PRACTICE OF

SELF-CARE WRITER ZENZILE WHITSETT PHOTOGRAPHY VARIOUS

PHOTOGRAPHY BROOKE LARK

“DOING THIS KIND OF RADICAL SELF-CARE WORK IS SOMETIMES PERCEIVED AS BEING SELFISH ONLY BECAUSE WE HAVE CONSTRUCTED OUR PERSONAL WELLNESS AS BEING SOMEHOW OUTSIDE OF THE PURSUIT FOR JUSTICE. THAT FALSE DISTINCTION IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST LIE WE CAN TELL OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT BEING WELL IS A RIGHT AND NOT A PRIVILEGE.” - DR. FATIMAH JACKSON BEST

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ow, more than ever, a cacophony of distractions pulls on our attention, making it difficult to focus on ourselves: from social media, computers and cellular devices to work, social justice issues and our interpersonal relationships.

At its simplest, self-care is about finding ways to ride these waves of life and not get lost in the undertow. The Crisis and Trauma Institute in Canada defines self-care as “all the things you do to take care of your well-being in four

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key dimensions — your emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual health.” Most of us need to do more of this.

COMMERCIALIZED COMFORTS In a 1988 essay titled “Burst of Light,” writer and activist Audre Lorde put forward the notion of self-care while famously declaring, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence; it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

She further articulates that self-care has become synonymous with self-indulgence and the idea has been commercialized. Lately, even cosmetic surgeries are being marketed as an expression of self-love, as are the sale of cosmetic serums, spa visits, home decor and corsets. Although there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to a luxury item or experience, what Lorde meant went deeper.

In broaching the idea of self-care as a revolutionary act, she was speaking specifically

KEEP IN MIND

•

ADDITIONAL SELF-CARE TECHNIQUES:

Affirmations

PHOTOGRAPHY JERNEJ GRAJ

PHOTOGRAPHY BROOKE LARK

Meditation

about people of color and the way we ought to treat ourselves. In her estimation, for too long, people of color have been made to put others first, to their own detriment. Whether we choose to continue prioritizing others or not, in order to survive and thrive we must put in the work to first take care of ourselves.

IT TAKES HARD WORK TO REST WELL Dr. Fatimah Jackson Best, a public health researcher from Canada who specializes in mental health and centers Caribbean and Canadian communities in her work, emphasizes what she refers to as “The Actual Work of Care.” While, she explains, it means different things to different people, the narrow definition of self-care as a pricey tangible like a spa-day or expensive treatment can disillusion those with limited disposable income.

“We know that these kinds of self-care techniques do not pay attention to class, access, and the privilege of being able to seek out care in these ways and that excludes many women,” she said.

Instead, an act of self-care may be as simple as the ability to find beauty in decay, the way an artist appreciates the rich russets and bronze tones in fall leaves. Approaching self-care from an elemental perspective — earth, water, fire, air — ask yourself how you can balance those elements within. Do you need to take a trip to the ocean, or can you create a similar experience in your bath, soaking in warm, mineral-rich water as you immerse yourself in your tub? Can you simply step outside to appreciate the warmth of the sun and breeze caressing your skin?

Perhaps, this is where self-care really begins — having the audacity to claim the air we breathe as a gift and not a commodity.

CULTIVATE YOUR OWN HEALTHY SELF-CARE PRACTICES Giving yourself permission to feel all your feelings, and finding healthy ways to manage those feelings, is self-care. You are allowed to be hopeful, joyful and cranky at the same time. That’s called mindfulness, one of many tools you can use to cultivate your own self-care routines. Here’s a list of other practices you can try as you build your arsenal: • Set reminders on your phone to find joy, find something to laugh about or take a break to breathe deeply.

• Run some warm water over your hands, or splash some cool water on your face.

• Keep a gratitude journal where you write down 10 things you’re grateful for upon rising and at least five things you’re grateful for before you go to bed.

• Setting up simple spaces or personal sanctuaries with images of loved ones, things that inspire you or remind you of goals you aspire to achieve.

• Get a pet that you can afford to take care of monetarily and time wise.

• Create inspirational playlists on YouTube with your favorite teachers, music, poetry, artists and comedians.

• Journal using prompts that you find online, in books, in magazines or from your own intuition. One prompt from Iyanla Vanzant’s book “Acts of Faith” that you might try is, “If you had to tell someone in 10 words or less what you stand for in life, what would you say?”

•G et a daily inspirational book to read from first thing in the morning. It’s a great way to set the tone for your day.

Establishing support groups Detoxifying relationships Scheduling downtime Setting personal boundaries on time Reducing social media use Nurturing personal passions Learning to say no

• BEHAVIORAL GOALS

Mindfulness, self-awareness, reflection Gratitude Living in the present versus worrying about the past or future Self compassion, forgiveness

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HEALTH & BEAUTY // BUSTING FITNESS MYTHS

BUSTING NUTRITION & FITNESS MYTHS THE DOS AND DON’TS OF HEALTHY LIVING

WRITER DR NAIMA STENNETT PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

I

t is easy to become confused. Scrolling through social media, visiting your favorite websites or chatting with armchair experts exposes you to many myths around fitness and nutrition. But it is important to know what is a fitness fact versus falsehood. Here are several myths that can actually undermine efforts toward achieving our fitness goals.

MYTH NO. 1

MYTH NO. 3

Carbohydrates are bad

You have to sweat for physical activity to count

Balanced nutrition includes proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Even if you are setting a weight loss goal, carbohydrates are essential to a healthy diet as a primary source of energy. The key is the source — not all carbohydrates are created equal. It is best to focus on natural sources and minimally processed foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, whole grains and dairy for your carbohydrates. For people with an active lifestyle, it’s the carbohydrates in your diet that fuel those workouts and ultimately help you be a healthier you.

MYTH NO. 2 A detox diet or juice cleanse is the solution A detox or juice diet sounds like a healthy and natural way to lose weight and improve your health. However, the body has an innate detoxifying machine: the liver. Detox and juicing may provide short term benefits, but your best detox method is to maintain a balanced diet, decreasing the workload on your liver. Reducing your intake of alcohol, sugar and processed food helps to improve liver function, ultimately boosting our body’s ability to reduce inflammation and increasing our energy.

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The main purpose of sweating is to cool your body down. Typically during exercise, as your heart rate increases, your body begins to sweat.

However, this might not always happen, especially if you are working out in a cooler environment. Moving your body and raising your heart rate are the most important elements of effective exercise. As you increase your physical endurance and capabilities, you may start to sweat more when you’re active. Also, keep in mind that as you get older you may sweat less during similar workouts. The takeaway is that if you’re moving your body more than you usually do, you are working toward better fitness, sweat or no sweat.

MYTH NO. 4 Weight loss is just about diet and exercise Many people view weight loss as a twopart equation involving food deprivation and excessive exercise. However, there are several factors beyond diet and exercise to consider when you’re trying to shed some pounds. Some medications, including birth control or diabetes medication, can cause weight gain. Drinks like juices, coffee, soda, sports drinks and alcohol can lead to an overload on empty calories, so opt for water instead. Underlying medical conditions, including thyroid issues, can affect your weight, particularly if undiagnosed or your medication is not optimal. Stress can cause weight loss or gain, which can lead to a cycle of further stress and further weight fluctuations.

If you notice your weight loss journey is difficult despite a balanced dietary plan and physical activity, consult with your doctor. Approaching weight loss with a more holistic view can increase the chances of accomplishing your goal.

Are you young at heart?

Jackson Health System is offering a free online test to learn your heart age. Take the test to see if you’re at risk for heart disease. It’s never too early to care for your heart. If your heart is younger than you, great! If it’s older, schedule a heart screening. A heart screening could save your life.

Take the test today at LearnYourHeartAge.org.

MYTH NO. 5 Lifting weights will inevitably make you more bulky Weightlifting helps build muscle, which in turn increases your ability to burn calories and lose weight. Strength training should be something that we all incorporate into our exercise routine.

Unless you are intentionally trying to “bulk up” by lifting heavy weights, it is unlikely that this will occur. Also, women will not increase their muscle mass the same way men do. Use lighter weights and more repetitions to accomplish a toned body type instead of a muscular one. Don’t ignore those weights. Give them a try and see how they can fit into your health journey.

THE LIST GIFTS FOR MOM

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DOUBLE LOVE BRACELET

ib designs captures the diversity of Caribbean history and nature in every piece of jewelry. Made to order and shipped from the island of St. Croix, this double-knot cuff bracelet comes in gold, silver or rose gold. ibdesignsvi.com $125.00

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ACACIA BULB PAPIER MACHE VASE

Handmade by artisans in Haiti, this statement piece has a square footprint of 10.5 inches and stands 19.5 inches tall. The vase accentuates any room with its timeless black-and-white palette, making it a chic vessel for your favorite dried flowers or as a standalone decorative piece. caribbean-craft.com $137.50 

WIPE YUH FOOT DOORMAT

Ava Kirlew, a Jamaican national now living in Jacksonville, Fla., makes “handcrafted tings.” Her “Wipe Yuh Foot!” doormat is made from 100% natural coir and is available in small or large to outfit any front or back door, deck or patio. etsy.com $40.00 (16x24 inches) $52.00 (24x36 inches)

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ARTFLOW JEWELRY STAND

Barbadian Suzie Cheeseman creates her own molds to form these unique, functional pieces of art. Shop this jewelry tray designed as an ode to the tropics, made with a mixture of acrylics, pigments, powders, foil leaf, glitter and sand. artflostudiobb.com $25.00

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LITTLE LUXURIES TRIO SET

This travel kit includes two-ounce bottles of spray oil, shower gel and body lotion. Cosmetic chemist Kathryn Nurse extracts fresh, sweet and herbal ingredients to offer the following fragrances: agave + hibiscus, citron + granadilla, jasmine + evergreen, tea + thyme, pomelo + coco crème, gardenia + morning mist, golden sage + lavender, and nectar + spice. immortellett.com $15.50

THE LIST GIFTS FOR DAD

CLASSIC MAN BEARD BALM

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Made by a child of St. Vincent with natural, moisture-rich ingredients like shea butter, castor oil, coconut oil and vitamin E, the Classic Man Beard Balm promotes hair growth, moisturizes and acts as a natural styling gel.

With notes of bergamot, warm sandalwood and vanilla this gift is perfect for the suave Caribbean man. avalah.com Price: $20.00

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HAMMERED BRASS RINGS

Inspired by her travels, Jamaican-born Kimone Young designs bespoke jewelry made of materials sourced from India, Istanbul and Africa. Handmade in Brooklyn, N.Y., this adjustable brass ring is embossed with hammered textures and can be worn individually or in multiples.

84gem.com Price: $15.00

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EXECUTIVE BACKPACK

Designed in Jamaica, fitted with stainless fasteners, concealed compartments and padded shoulder straps, this medium-sized, versatile travel bag offers style, comfort and security.

Add a personal touch by customizing your bag with a name or initials, free of charge. roastbybresheh.com Price: $299.00

HAITIAN RUM CREAM SHOOTERS

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Founded in 2013 by Charlene Absalon, Cremas Absalon now sells one-ounce, pocket-sized cremas shots. Choose from a variety of authentic Haitian flavors with a modern twist: regular, kafé, zanmann chokola, creme brûlée, kennél or noisette. cremasabsalon.square.site Price: $6.37

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KARMA KNIVES

Founded by Jamaican Jabulani Johnson, Karma Knives uses recycled and local materials to produce artisanal kitchen knives and other tools for everyday use. Shop from the short paring knife, the eight-inch Nakiri Knife, and more. Or place an order for a custom piece. karmaknives.com Price: $60.00-$500.00

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STYLE & DESIGN // PURPOSE DRIVEN HOME

THE PURPOSE DRIVEN HOME WRITER HANNAH GULICS PHOTOGRAPHY VARIOUS

IN THIS PAST YEAR, MANY OF US RETREATED INTO OUR HOMES, REIMAGINING BOTH THEIR PURPOSE AND THEIR POSSIBILITIES. THE HOME IS NOW MUCH MORE THAN A PLACE TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AFTER A LONG WEEK AT THE OFFICE; IT IS THE OFFICE. AND A CLASSROOM. AND THE GYM. AND THE ART STUDIO. AND THE COFFEE SHOP.

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e spoke with interior designer, Maryline Damour of Damour Drake, about how you can revamp your spaces to function the way you need them to, while still looking the way you want them to.

Good interior design, she said, reflects the best of yourself back at you. Commit to yourself and what you love, and you’ll find the right style.

“Live in a surrounding that really reflects who you are, not just aesthetically, but also in terms of your mood,” she said. “Are you the person that is energized and go-go-go? Your space should reflect that!”

We talked to her about three multipurpose rooms that could inspire updates in your own home.

STATEMENT WORKSPACE

PHOTOGRAPHY ARIEL CAMILO

• With schools and workplaces shifting online, the home had to

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become both. That is why Damour and her senior designer, Mel Jones Jr., crafted this blended home office and classroom for their Kingston Design Showhouse in Hudson Valley, New York. With its bright colors, intricate details, and overall sophisticated design, this room pleases children and adults alike.

She adamantly pushed back on the suggestion that children and adults need to be separated. “Whether you are an adult or child, the room serves the same purpose: work,” said Damour.

Beyond the functional details, she wanted to create a space rooted in what the world was dealing with at the time. In addition to the disruptions of COVID-19, 2020 was also defined by historical social movements.

Originally from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Damour adds beautiful col-

PHOTOGRAPHY MARYLINE DAMOUR

PHOTOGRAPHY ARIEL CAMILO

MOODY BLUE OFFICE • Set in a Victorian building that

ors and textures that reflect her Caribbean background to every room she designs. However, the unique green wallpaper in this room tells a different story.

Created by famous African American designer, Sheila Bridges, this “Harlem Toile” wallpaper was chosen in an ode to the Black Lives Matter movement. The wallpaper features African American children and adults playing Double Dutch, dancing, and picnicking — blending the traditional toile style with contemporary experiences.

To complement the intentional wall, Damour chose a bright blue paint for the ceiling and colorful splashes of Haitian artwork throughout the room. “If you are confident in your aesthetic, show that confidence by repeating it over and over. That’s what makes it impactful. And that’s what makes it look intentional.”

hosts the Damour Drake team’s professional office, this railroad apartment showcases a deep blue shade of paint on the walls, a traditional rug on the floor, modern open shelving and personal trinkets from Damour’s life.

Architecturally, the room is windowless and fairly dark. Instead of attempting to slather some white paint on it to make it lighter and brighter, Damour worked with what she had. By giving in to the room’s inherent moodiness, the adjacent room appears even brighter and more airy while giving this room its own juxtaposed character and charm.

“Do what the room is telling you to do,” she said.

This home office also proves it takes more than a big desk and a swivel chair to design a truly functional, inspiring workspace.

Instead of forcing the aesthetic of the traditional, this room should reflect your personal style just as much as the rest of your home.

“One of the mistakes people make is when thinking about a home office, they don’t design it like the rest of the spaces,” Damour said.

Beautiful artwork dons the walls of Damour’s office, but that is sim-

ple. By using her own pieces, she could showcase her design abilities and personal aesthetic. As an homage to her roots and celebration of her culture, a paper mache zebra from Haiti is mounted above a hanging collection of her colorful rulers. “That was a moment where I was able to do a little bit of an installation of my own,” Damour said.

The use of bold color and modern, boxy pieces, like the clean lines of the shelves, help a whimsical antique or something as simple as a ruler stand out even more.

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PHOTOGRAPHY RIKKI SNYDER

STYLE & DESIGN // PURPOSE DRIVEN HOME

ZEN RETREAT • Many of us have struggled to relax and recharge in homes that have

become crowded with so many other purposes. Damour offered this Hudson Valley Mediation and Yoga room as an example of creating an intentional, but still multifunctional, space to retreat.

The clients offered this room on the bottom floor of their townhouse, asking Damour to create “something very calm and meditative.”

She was adamant about not bringing in Asian or Indian references that are stereotypical of a yoga room. Instead, she focused on the calm and peacefulness she wanted the room to emulate.

She drew inspiration from a Japanese psychotherapy practice that sends people into the woods to lower their blood pressure and heart rate, reducing their stress level by interacting with nature. To capture that same feeling in this room, Damour worked with an artist who created a huge installation piece of greenery to convey a canopy of leaves.

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“It was interesting to watch people come in. They stopped talking, and that’s the point, you know,” Damour said. “When you’re surrounded and just taken by nature. You’re just kind of being.”

Senior Designer Mel Jones, Jr., who doubles as a furniture maker, created the room’s unique, low sofa. Paint-splattered meditation pillows line the floor, adding a pop of color that still blends with the room’s predominant natural tones.

As an added feature, Damour’s team converted a small closet into a single person sauna.

For more design inspiration, follow Maryline Damour and her team at Damour Drake on Instagram: @maryline_damour and @ kingston.design.connection.

TRAVEL // ESCAPE ON AN ISLAND SPA RETREAT

Escape on an

ISLAND SPA RETREAT WRITER STEVE BENNETT (UNCOMMONCARIBBEAN.COM) PHOTOGRAPHY VARIOUS

FOR THE MOST SOOTHING SPA ESCAPES ON EARTH, THE CARIBBEAN OFFERS REJUVENATING CHOICES FROM PENTHOUSE TO TREEHOUSE, AND HOT SPRINGS, TOO.

T

hroughout the islands, otherworldly natural wonders are tapped for restorative treatments that satisfy souls like nowhere else can. In keeping with the rich cultural milieu in the region, Caribbean spa experiences encompass everything from the very latest in cutting-edge health and wellness to traditional West Indian practices employed to pamper minds and souls throughout the islands for generations.

Steve In the Tub at Ti Kwen Glocho.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY DISCOVER GRENADA

GRENADA All-natural is best when it comes to truly restorative spa escapes.

And few places do it better than Grenada.

The Spice Island is volcanic in origin, a distinction easily noted and enjoyed by way of its sublime sulfur springs. Long-renowned for their healing powers, the mineralrich, heated waters in these thermal pools relieve all manner of skin irritations and infections.

If you’ve got dry scalp or you’ve got a rash that nothing seems to cure, no problem. Get yourself to one of Grenada’s rejuvenating sulfur springs. River Sallee Boiling Springs in St. Patrick and Clabony Hot Springs in Grenville are great options. Take a dip and feel your ailments wash away.

Sulphur springs deep in the wilds of Grenada

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY STEVE BENNETT (UNCOMMONCARIBBEAN.COM).

DOMINICA Back at the opposite end of the urban-rural spectrum, in the wilds of Dominica, the restorative waters of Ti Kwen Glocho offer an uncommon hot springs spa experience.

Translated from Creole, Ti Kwen Glocho means “little corner of hot water.” The place itself, though, is actually much more than that.

A great little rum shop offers all manner of colorfully named bush rums like “All Purpose” and “Man Better Man,” both of which unsubtly claim to provide a bit of a bedroom boost.

Two large pools offer ample spots to dip into the healing waters. For a more personal experience, Ti Kwen Glocho also offers a collection of old bathtubs for solo soaking in water channeled through bamboo pipes. No two tubs are exactly alike in temperature, which makes for a good bit of fun hopping from one to the next à la Goldilocks, in search of the one that’s just right for you.

All around you at Ti Kwen Glocho is raw, unfiltered nature making for a surreal bathing experience.

Soak in water from the healing mineral springs at Ti Kwen Glocho in the mountains of Dominica.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE JAMAICA PEGASUS / COURTLEIGH HOSPITALITY GROUP.

JAMAICA When your desired wellness experience must take into consideration an expected new bundle of joy, the White Orchid Salon & Spa in Kingston should top your list.

Set within the venerable Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, the top choice of celebrities, heads of state and royalty when visiting Jamaica’s capital, the White Orchid is a leading provider of prenatal massage.

However, the list of White Orchid specialty massage services doesn’t stop there. The facility has built a strong reputation for its sports massage therapies over the years, and in 2019 it became the first spa in Kingston to offer massage options benefiting cancer patients.

The comprehensive menu of unisex salon and spa services at White Orchid also includes facials, manicures, pedicures, hair styling, makeup, eyelash and weave extensions, waxing, body scrubs, exfoliation, detox and more — all in the heart of New Kingston.

The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel

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SAINT LUCIA Take your spa adventures to new heights while ensuring that your treatments stay rooted in authentic West Indian traditions. Check out the Rainforest Spa at Sugar Beach, Saint Lucia.

Set amid an enchanting natural wonderland of lush greenery, fragrant flowers and towering trees, this exotic spa paradise embodies centuries-old Kalinago traditions.

This is most dramatically evident in the facility’s Treehouse Spa Treatment Rooms. These unique structures enable you to restore balance to your mind and body while literally balancing well above ground among the trees.

Endemic Amerindian traditions at the Rainforest Spa also extend to their spa products and the techniques employed in pampering guests here. Creams and oils are derived from local fruits and herbs and used in accordance with tradition. Coconut to exfoliate. Bananas to smooth away wrinkles. Cocoa butter and aloe to heal and hydrate.

Everything at the Rainforest Spa is all-natural, good for you, and beautifully espouses the holistic healing power and rich cultural heritage of Saint Lucia. In this way, the benefits to your soul here are shared with Saint Lucia herself.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY STEVE BENNETT (UNCOMMONCARIBBEAN.COM).

TRAVEL // ESCAPE ON AN ISLAND SPA RETREAT

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY STEVE BENNETT (UNCOMMONCARIBBEAN.COM).

Treehouse Spa treatment room at the Rainforest Spa at Sugar Beach, Saint Lucia.

The natural beauty of the islands is a feature of your luxury treatment at The Spa at The Palms in Turks and Caicos

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TURKS AND CAICOS Luxury spas in the Caribbean don’t come much better than The Spa at The Palms in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. It’s not just the fantastic quality of the massage that makes this place so special.

Nor is it the luxurious surroundings and attentive service, both hallmarks of this hallowed hideaway.

Indeed, the best thing about The Spa at The Palms is what’s not there – what you see and experience at most every other high-end spa in the Caribbean. This facility does away with excessive indoor space that is overly air-conditioned.

The natural beauty of the Caribbean itself – complete with swaying palms, fragrant flowers, blue skies and darting birds darting – is always the star attraction. Separating visitors from these natural treasures, even to optimize pampering, seems to defeat the purpose of the spa experience, diminishing the uniquely soothing power of Caribbean environs.

The Spa at The Palms artfully mixes indoor, air-conditioned spaces with bright, comfy and inviting outdoor areas, keeping you squarely in a tropical frame of mind. You hear birds singing and the wind whispering through the trees. You taste the salt air blowing in off Grace Bay, just a few seconds walk away. All of this beautifully affirms The Spa at The Palms’ most special sense of place. You’re sure to love it here and wish to experience it over and over again.

SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY Buses are disinfected nightly with additional cleaning daily.

Face coverings are required and remember to keep a safe social distance.

For schedules: Broward.org/BCT/Schedules • Wi-Fi available Call Customer Service at 954-357-8400

TTY 954-357-8302, Florida Relay: 711

PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID MUIR

CULTURE // A YEAR WITHOUT CARNIVAL

A YEAR WITHOUT

CARNIVAL WRITER CAROLYN GUNISS PHOTOGRAPHY VARIOUS

LAST YEAR, RESTAURATEUR DONOVAN SMITH WAS AT THE GATES TO THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY YOUTH FAIR GROUNDS JUST AS HE IS EVERY OCTOBER.

C

arnival Miami had gone virtual for the first time in response to the pandemic, but Smith, who owns Kingston Delight, still showed up and made prank calls to Carnival leaders. In a normal year, they would have come down to the gates to escort him in so that he could set up his food booths.

“It’s 6 o’clock in the morning and there is no one here,’”

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Smith remembered telling CEO Mario Zamora and others over the phone, pretending like he did not know the festival had been canceled.

The joke became popular chatter in the chat rooms and social media of the carnival circuit, said Carnival Miami Spokesperson Yvette Harris. Though everyone had a good laugh, Smith’s calls underscored what was missing from the virtual carnival produced

last year: the soul of the event, including the hassles.

“Last year, going virtual was nothing compared to the real thing,” said Smith, who has been involved with Carnival in South Florida for 16 of its 37 years.

“At carnival, you feel the adrenaline, the hype, the dancing, the costumes,” Smith shared, getting excited over the phone. “Carnival is Carnival, the excitement, the atmosphere, the sunshine, the

big trucks. Carnival represents the world. To see the vendors, to see all the food from the different islands; it’s a feeling – the feeling, the rush that gives you the excitement.”

Hard to encapsulate all that through a live stream. Still, vendors such as Smith, longtime revelers, and sponsors thought the virtual carnival projected Caribbean culture and Miami’s flavor. The safety of the patrons and participants was paramount.

No one downplayed that even as they longed for a more traditional celebration.

The cancelations piled up as COVID-19 continued its grip on the globe.

Widely seen as the best and biggest in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival held in late February or early March just before Ash Wednesday usually brings more than 30,000 visitors to the island to fete and let loose.

But on Sept. 28, 2020 the government of Trinidad and Tobago pulled the plug.

“Of course, it was a gut-punch reaction for me as any true carnival reveler would be disappointed in this news,” said Vanessa James, who lives in South Florida, was born in Trinidad, and has researched and written about Carnival in addition to attending as an avid fan.

“There’s nothing quite like a Trini carnival,” she said. “But safety comes first and I appreciate the Trinidadian government taking this pandemic seriously and protecting their citizens. We have to always remember that, for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, the carnival tradition is more than an annual celebration but a way of life.”

Once again, the pressure is on for Miami Carnival, which typically closes out the international carnival season with festivities every October. Planners acknowledge Carnival Miami 2021 could be virtual again, although details depend on the success of COVID-19 vaccination efforts this spring and summer.

This time, committee members have some experience taking a street festival into a virtual space.

Asa Sealy was proud of last year’s program for showcasing the culture of Carnival as well as the destination of Miami.

“I tried my best last year. I proposed a different way to promote carnival and the amazing city that hosts it,” said Sealy. “I put to bed that Miami carnival is not trying to be New York, and this is not Trinidad; there is no other city in the world like this. Miami has the perfect recipe for this cultural celebration: the weather, the diversity, and the ability to touch all the different islands in one place.”

The details of this year’s bac-

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY MIAMI CARNIVAL

TURN THE WHOLE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

Revelers in elaborate regalia enjoy a beautiful day at Miami Carnival in 2018. chanal are still being worked out.

For now, the host committee hopes to have a mix of virtual and in-person festivities for Miami Carnival, Oct. 8-10, 2021.

Whether they be allowed to use the same venue is still a tossup. As of March, the fairgrounds and a desired alternate location, the Broward County Stadium, have been commandeered as COVID-19 testing sites. Yet, that challenge also offers a ray of hope: By early March, government officials had reported that 57% of Florida’s seniors had been vaccinated with hopes to open doses up to other Floridians soon.

Organizers still don’t have answers to some key questions.

Last year, going virtual was nothing compared to the real thing,”

Who will be able to travel and choose to attend? Will top artists and costume designers, who mostly come from Trinidad, be allowed to cross the border? Or, given the opportunity, will revelers feel safe enough to don a costume and go on “de road?”

Border closures and state COVID-19 rules could affect attendance dramatically, particularly given that many Miami revelers

are visitors. In 2019, 11% were international travelers and 37% had arrived from outside Florida, with the biggest contingents coming from New York, Maryland and Georgia, according to a survey by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Although some stayed with family, a whopping 65% of those surveyed stayed in Miami’s hotels or motels.

Miami Carnival 2020 was a virtual celebration.

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CULTURE // A YEAR WITHOUT CARNIVAL

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Corporate professionals by day, soca aficionados like Carla and Marlon Hill transform into colorful characters on a traditional carnival day.

PHOTOGRAPHY MARK JAMES

Sealy said everyone is ready to deliver the best possible carnival in 2021, whatever form it ultimately takes. The visitors bureau has said it will continue its support even if the hybrid event does have to go fully virtual. By May, the host committee hopes to know what Carnival Miami will look like and where it will be held.

Meanwhile, carnival vendors are finding ways to cope as one year without carnival looks like it might stretch into two.

“We have to keep the culture going, so whatever it takes,” said Kathy Ann Paul, owner of Sweet Hand Kathy’s Restaurant and Bakery.

James, who is ready to hit a Caribbean carnival in 2022, thinks the biggest lesson for so many, coming out of this pandemic, is understanding what carnival means to the people of the Caribbean and the diaspora as a whole.

“More than an annual tradition, it’s a way of life, culture and people that are deeply rooted in tradition, resistance and freedom,” she said. “Ever since I could remember, my family would gather for carnival celebrations to watch calypso and soca artists perform over a freshly cut coconut water with a side of Scotch. I have endless memories of gatherings listening to panorama or finely tuning costumes before carnival Monday and Tuesday.

“My favorite carnival celebration has always been J’ouvert Morning,” James said, reminiscing. “Where we gather before the crack of dawn to cover our bodies in paint, mud, cocoa or powder, much like our ancestors, (before) chipping down the road to drums and soca.”

Paul agreed there’s nothing quite like the traditional event even though she thought the virtual Miami Carnival was “fantastic.”

She can’t wait to create special foods like pigeon peas cook-up with chicken. “From the beginning” of South Florida’s carnivals, Paul’s booths have sold doubles, bake and shark, corn soup, and crab and dumplings.

Most of her business before COVID-19 was catering for carnivalrelated masquerade bands. Now, there are no bands.

PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID MUIR

READY FOR DI ROAD

J’ouvert revelers covered in paint chip “dung di road” behind a music truck as island flags wave in the background.

“When there is no carnival, there is nothing,” Paul said.

Smith’s business, too, had to undergo change without carnival.

His last large catering event was for Super Bowl 2020 in Miami, just before pandemic lockdowns started in the United States. While he waits for the carnival business to rebound from COVID-19, Smith has found an unexpected line of business for his venue in North Miami Beach – catering requests for repasts and funerals.

“It was a surprise,” Smith said.

“But they started coming for

that.… People are dying.”

His employees often ask him about the fate of carnival and other Caribbean festivals such as Best of the Best and Jamaican Jerk Festival. Everyone is excited for a possible hybrid carnival this year, with some in-person components.

“I am ready,” Smith said. “My trucks are ready; my workers are ready.”

Paul, too, is preparing for a partial return of festivities -- and not just as a vendor. She formed a 15-player steel-pan band called United Steel Orchestra, which

practices at her restaurant near Miami Gardens on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights. The players, cooks and bakers are antsy at the starting line, waiting for someone to say, “Go,” she said.

Yolanda Henry, who organizes the Miss Miami Broward Carnival Pageant just before carnival each year, wonders how revelers will create their costumes this year.

Most of the notions, fabrics and materials to make them are usually shipped from China to New York.

With the lockdowns, she worries there may be challenges finding adequate supplies.

“West Indians are very creative,” Henry said optimistically. “And the U.S. has local seamstresses and some good swimsuit designers.

They will come up with something.”

If Miami Carnival allows people to gather this fall, Henry believes people will be there. And if attendees have to wear masks, she has no doubt they will be beautifully made.

“They will come in masks covered in feathers and stones,” she said. “I can see it already.”

EMMANUELLA OF MJD WELLNESS

WOMAN ON A MISSION

W

PHOTOGRAPHY VARIOUS

hen she first launched a food bank, Emmanuella Fleurimont recalls taking rations from her family’s own fridge to give to others in need.

“When someone calls you and says, ‘I don’t have anything, how am I going to eat?’” she said. “The only thing that comes into your mind is, ‘I’m gonna go get it.’”

MJD Wellness and Community Center, founded by Fleurimont, is a non-profit organization on a mission to provide care, medication and food to the underserved population in their North Miami community. The center comprises a food bank and a clinic for healthcare screenings. Their offerings include a nutrition program, mental health services, medication management and HIV testing. To stock up, they stage monthly food drives, and most of the services they provide are low-cost or free.

Fleurimont, born and raised in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, has always been

invested in the betterment of others, so a career in wellness and community service made sense.Even as a teen, she was involved in youth-oriented community work.

After medical school in the islands, she moved to the United States in 2010 to continue studies in psychology. A juice bar was her extracurricular side hustle, but it offered the opportunity to make friends and hone her skills as a wellness advisor. With the support of former North Miami Councilman (and current mayor) Philippe Bien-Aime, she created a health fair that had an overwhelming response: more than 800 people showed up to the event. Realizing so many were in need, Fleurimont founded MJD Wellness and Community Center, and she has stuck to her vision with singular focus.

“I can only see where I’m going, because that’s my mission,” she said.

For more information or to find events visit mjdwellness.org. Instagram @mjdwellness

PHOTOGRAPHY ARSERNO AURELUS

WRITER HANNAH GULICS

INSPIRATION // CHEF CREOLE

CHEF CREOLE

SOUTH FLORIDA’S KING OF CARIBBEAN FUSION WRITER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID I. MUIR (ISLAND SYNDICATE)

ISLAND ORIGINS DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TAMARA PHILIPPEAUX RECENTLY HAD A CHAT WITH CELEBRITY CHEF AND SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR KEN SEJOUR, THE RESTAURATEUR BEHIND THE CHEF CREOLE BRAND. FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, CHEF CREOLE HAS BEEN SATISFYING FOODIES ACROSS THE CULTURAL SPECTRUM WITH CARIBBEAN FUSION CUISINE, ALL WHILE BEING A MODEL FOR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP. ISLAND ORIGINS HAD THE CHANCE TO LISTEN IN WHILE THEY CAUGHT UP.

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Tamara: So Chef, How did you actually get started in this business?

Ken: We started December 5, 1992. The concept was to display seafood so “you buy, we fry.” We’d show you a big display of seafood and charge according to the weight. The concept took off like a jet.

Our people are very economical. So if something costs $10 and they can get it for $7, they’re gonna get it for $7. Other communities received Chef Creole because we got a little creative. Carmen Hope at WEDR told me, “You need to invite another demographic. Your food is good. It should be good for everyone.” At the end of the commercial [I ran with them], they told everyone to try the fried fish. Oh my God, was she right! I went from selling, let’s say, 50 fried fishes in a day to, like, 250.

When people came in, they didn’t question the prices. They said, “Is that the same fish I got yesterday? Yeah? Give me five of them.”

Tamara: Nice! And what would you say was a time that challenged you like you hadn’t been challenged before?

Ken: There was an opportunity to buy 54th

Street, which would have been our third restaurant. Everyone said it was a bad idea because the Haitians are on the north side of 54th and we were looking on the south side. But what they didn’t know was that my intention was to go after a Black-American crowd. When we opened it up, of course we had growing pains.

I even closed the restaurant down and took off on vacation for 14 days to clear my head. But I came back, it took about a year, and ever since, it’s been like a jet.

Tamara: So you’ve always been innovative, but what would you say is the “secret sauce” that makes Chef Creole so successful?

Ken: I’m Bahamian and Haitian. When you take [Bahamian] conch salad or fried conch and you cross it over, now you’ve got a bigger market you are catering to. [Haitian] creole food is, of course, traditional legume, griot, tasso. So we took fried conch and we “creole-fied” it. Nou manje queu boeuf but oxtail is popular because of Jamaicans — we “creole-fied” it. So when other nationalities came in, they identified their food and the flavor that we gave them. That’s what made the difference.

Tamara: You’ve seen phenomenal growth over the years. You now have six locations throughout Miami, including one at Miami International Airport — congrats on that. That’s not based only on what goes into the pot. Is there some kind of guiding principle behind the way you’ve grown?

Ken: When we first started, we sponsored everything. The Haitian community at that time was into foutbòl and [for the championship team], we had our names on the shirt. That was our first date with giving, and you saw the impact that had on the community. When people got familiar with always seeing us sponsoring, they started to come to us with their concerns. When you saw the impact you had on just one person [when you gave them] help, you saw the world change in their eyes.

From that point, it always stood out to me that success is not just taking or receiving, success is also giving. If you’re able to make a profit, and from that profit you are able to give back, that in itself is a profit. It’s a practice that we embedded in the brand. That’s just the way we do business.

Tamara: I know this. I’ve seen how much you give back to the community and how you’ve changed people’s lives. I’m pretty sure that philanthropic spirit kicked in during this pandemic.

Ken: Yeah, I think we were there [with a new Chef Creole location] no more than maybe four or five months. [I thought] — we’ve got inventory, we might as well do some good with it.

I didn’t start it to say that I was going to keep feeding people. I started it because the Holy Spirit put it in my heart.

I’m thinking I opened up a can of worms. But the next day I got phone calls from suppliers that said, “Hey, we like what you’re doing. How can we help?” I say, “Give me a couple cases of chick-

en.” They said, “We’ll do better than that. We’ll drop a hundred cases off to you.”

So I went from feeding 200 people, then it was 200 people a shift, and we ended up feeding people for a month. I was the one that said no, no more. Although I had the support, although they kept giving me food, it was exhausting.

I started something. Everyone that’s been here before me should now say to themselves, “Let’s take the baton from him,” and that’s exactly what they did.

Tamara: Where do you see yourself going in the future?

Ken: In the next 10 years, I would hope that I become a vehicle to continue employing people, because at the end of the day, I think the best thing you can do for someone is give them a chance to work and make money. That way they can build up their self-esteem. Making money is freedom.

I would hope that we’re blessed enough that maybe we could start building affordable housing units. That way we could keep our people safe. Little Haiti, for me, is a very sensitive issue because of what’s going on right now with gentrification. It’s heartbreaking. I see that little by little it’s dwindling away, and it’s being done in such a creative and constructive manner that

Success is not just taking or receiving, success is also giving. If you're able to make a profit and give back, that in itself is a profit.

when it’s all said and done, people wouldn’t even know that there were Haitian people in this area in the first place.

2020 was a time where I did a lot of reflection.

I looked at my family. I looked at the employees.

I said, “I’m tired. I want to rest. I want to take advantage of all the work that I’ve done.” There was a voice inside of me that said, “Stop working hard, work smart. You’re going to have to open up at least a thousand stores.” And I asked myself, “How am I going to do that?” And then myself told me to figure it out — so I have to figure it out!

So this year we will be selling franchises. That’s the best that I can do. We will be in Broward, South Miami and then Orlando.

Tamara: I’m really proud of you. The whole Haitian community is.

Ken: Thank you for being proud of me. You should be more proud of my wife! Siw m pat gin on bon fanm bo kotewm, mwen tap tet anba. (If I didn’t have a good woman by my side, I would be upside down.)

If I was worth a hundred million dollars and tomorrow they said, “Look, you’ve got to make a choice. Out of the hundred million dollars, we’ll leave you with $1 million and your wife, or we could find you another woman that is just as good as your wife and we’ll give you $99 million,” I would say leave me with a half a million and my wife. Take the half a million dollars just for closing the deal.

Your successes as a businessman, as a man on this planet, is your woman. Not any woman.

The woman that God chooses for you. Not the woman you choose, ’cause you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.

Learn more about Chef Ken Sejour and Chef Creole restaurants at chefcreole.com.

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FEATURE // A THOUGHTFUL LEADER

PHILIPPE BIEN-AIME

A THOUGHTFUL

LEADER WRITER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID I. MUIR (ISLAND SYNDICATE)

“I LEARNED SOMETHING IN POLITICS. YOU MAY HAVE POWER, BUT DON’T ABUSE IT. YOU CAN HAVE THE MAJORITY, BUT YOU NEED TO PLEASE THE MINORITY AT THE SAME TIME. WHAT YOU WANT IS COMPROMISE SO EVERYONE CAN BE HEARD. YOU NEED BALANCE IN ORDER TO CREATE STABILITY.”

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N

orth Miami Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime is a thoughtful leader who combines a businessman’s approach to governance with a humanitarian spirit toward his constituents. He’s guided the city through and to the other side of the 2020 pandemic. Now, after eight years on the dais and two years at the helm, Bien-Aime is seeking a second term as mayor. Island Origins spoke with him about his background, civic service and plans for the future.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE OFFICE OF MAYOR PHILIPPE BIEN-AIME

sciences. By 1995, he had moved back to Haiti, become a journalist at one of the country’s top radio stations and was a young congressional candidate. After an unsuccessful run, he headed to South Florida to be with his wife and kids.

Though Bien-Aime started his new life in South Florida working paycheck to paycheck as a security officer, his aspirational spirit would not allow him to settle. He accumulated some savings and decided to pursue the American dream, becoming an entrepreneur.

By 1998 he had opened a 99-cent store. Later, he got into the car sales business, eventually opening his own dealership. All the while A PERSISTENT SPIRIT his focus never left politics, he said. He was giving to political leadBorn and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Bien-Aime became interers and engaged in political groups to empower the North Miami ested in government after visiting agricultural fairs with his father in community. His influence his youth and interacting had grown enough that, with the political class at through campaigning these events. and fundraising efforts, While Bien-Aime was he was able to help elect a high school student, the first Black mayor of Haiti was experiencing North Miami. political turmoil. During After deciding to the Jean-Claude “Baby become even more inDoc” Duvalier dictatorvolved, Bien-Aime ran for ship, dissenting politia seat on the North Micians were being jailed. ami city council in 2013.

“That’s when I started He won. raising questions,” he “For him, in this comsaid. He chose to study munity, the people come government and polifirst. That’s his passion,” tics in college because said his wife, Sarah. he realized that’s how “He’s really doing it for he could effect change. the people.”

“When you see someone He was elected vice being arrested for his mayor by the council durbeliefs, that’s not right ing his first term. When and that’s not freedom. the mayor needed to People should be able to Mayor Philippe Bien-Aime with constituents. step down, Bien-Aime express themselves.” moved into the role of A moment that stands interim mayor from May out in his memory is to November 2015. when the government “He stepped forward of Haiti sent many jourand he served in that canalists into exile in 1983. pacity, at the time when Haitians were standing the city was in crisis and up and asking controverneeded a leader,” said sial president Duvalier to Leonie Hermantin, an leave the country. international community “I remember when development consultant the pope went to Haiti and professional associand said [that] someate of Bien-Aime. thing needs to change.

He promised not to President Jimmy Carter run for mayor after this went to Haiti and did a first term, opting to take conference about huthings step by step. man rights,” Bien-Aime “He kept his word that recalled. “Those two big he was not going to run moments made me say and was widely recog‘Okay, I have to step up nized and celebrated beand be a journalist.’” cause of that,” HermanDeciding early on that tin said. “He stabilized he wanted to be on the things; he did it with side of the people, Biengrace; he did it with hu“For him, in this community, the Aime studied at the Namility; and I think that’s tional University of Haiti people come first. That’s his why he was so appreciand later went to Lavale passion,” said his wife, Sarah.

“He’s really ated.”

University in Canada to After his interim term study political and social doing it for the people.”

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FEATURE // A THOUGHTFUL LEADER

ended and another candidate served as mayor for four years, it was finally Bien-Aime’s moment. He faced four other candidates in his first run for North Miami’s highest office — and he won.

“My first mission in North Miami was to stabilize the city,” he said. “As of today, I can tell you I made [North Miami] a city for everyone.”

REPRESENTATIONAL LEADERSHIP Philippe Bien-Aime has been a long term student of social sciences studying culture and people, which has helped him build consensus in a diverse community.

“Managing multiple cultures is not an easy task. You will never agree with someone 100% of the time.” he said. “That’s why, as a leader, I’ve learned my mission is to be an example for everybody.”

Hermantin was impressed by Bien-Aime the first time she met him. Her confidence in him grew as she saw more of his work. ”This person is different,” she remembers thinking. “When I heard him speak to parents about their responsibilities… he was being real, and they respected him for that. And the business community likes him, too. He’s able to work with both sides of the aisle. That’s what made me feel that he has the right tools to serve his community.”

My first In his mayoral role, Bien-Aime mission spearheaded several infrastructure improvements, mindful of the in North Miami 20% of residents who live under was to stabilize the poverty line and the seniors who live on fixed incomes. Many the city. As of single-family homes needed to today, I can tell be repaired, and so did city infrayou I made North structure. He asked himself, “How are we going to increase property Miami a city for values when you have dilapidated everyone.” homes in our district? Do we send code enforcement, or do we bring assistance to the people?”

He decided to invest millions of dollars into home rehabilitation.

“Not only do we bring assistance to those people,” he said, “but we also increase the property value and tax billing [for the city].”

Throughout his tenure on city council, Bien-Aime said one of his top priorities was maintaining a healthy city budget, which would support assistance programs for people in need, improvements to city infrastructure, and initiatives addressing climate change and sea level rise.

Hermantin recalls how focused he was during 2020 Census activities, wanting to make sure people were counted so the community would receive appropriate government funding in the future.

“I have never seen any mayor as devoted and committed to getting people counted in the city of North Miami,” she said. “I mean, he was on every radio station. It was very personal for him.”

On climate change, Bien-Aime was proud that the city planted a record number of trees during his tenure. North Miami also was one of the first cities to ban the use of toxic pesticides on government land.

Bien-Aime’s team at the city planned to add at least 1,500 affordable housing units, but the pandemic knocked everything out of order. Ever the pragmatist, Biene-Aime said, “When there’s a crisis, that’s when your leadership starts. “ On March 12, 2020 the government declared a state of emergency. The next day, the city of North Miami followed suit. Under his guidance, funding from the community redevelopment agency went to the residences and businesses who were most affected by the challenges of the pandemic. Following scientific recommendations, they were able to decrease the rate of infection in the city.

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Officials also set up food banks where needed “to offer assistance to small businesses, those mom and pop stores, the landlords and the tenants.”

“Now,” Bien-Aime said. “We are making sure that everyone who needs the vaccine has access to it.”

Hermantin lauded his response to the pandemic, particularly how Bien-Aime’s administration sought to make its assistance accessible to everyone in the community.

“Some of the strategies to help people were really grounded on culturally sensitive approaches,” she said. “When everybody went remote, the city of North Miami was almost a hybrid operation because they understood people would not have access to the internet or the tools that most municipalities can rely on to communicate with their constituents.

“So they did a lot of drive-thrus. When they had their rental assistance, they provided in person assistance when needed. To assist with PPP [Paycheck Protection Program], they also partnered with organizations that could help them reach out to their business people, particularly those with less sophisticated tools.”

FAMILY MAN Bien-Aime and his wife Sarah met and fell in love in Haiti, although not all at once. As a nine-year-old, she had a crush on him, but he was 10 years her senior so it would be many years before he felt the same. They reconnected as adults and have been together ever since.

“He’s a loving man, a loving father,” said Sarah, who beams when talking about her husband’s strengths as a protector and provider. “[Our three

kids] all went to private school. I never [had to take] my kids to school, never [had to wake] up in the morning to get them ready.

He even cooks breakfast for them.”

During his first run for councilman, she wasn’t as involved in campaigning because the kids were so young. During the mayoral race, however, Sarah quit her nursing job and canvased for him full time.

Their kids are all grown up now. One child plays collegiate football, another is just about to graduate college, and a third plays football in high school. So far, two have shown interest in following in his political footsteps.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

His affordable housing vision, delayed by the pandemic, is now beginning to come to life.

One development underway will add more than 300 governmentsubsidized affordable units. More are scheduled to follow. Because these projects will require water and sewer upgrades, the broader neighborhoods will benefit from updated infrastructure, too.

Over the next two years, in the new term he hopes to earn, BienAime plans to keep increasing property values while lowering taxes.

He’ll focus on economic growth and job creation, and continue to improve the quality of life of his residents. He would like to see the 7.2 acres of We need land at Cagney Park revitalized, including the adleadership dition of an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

“The plan is to make sure we have a balanced to keep moving budget with surplus,” Bien-Aime said. “That’s why the city forward, I’m running again in the middle of a pandemic. We need leadership to keep moving the city forward, and that’s what I and that’s what I put on the table.” put on the table.”

INVEST // FEARLESS AS THE SKY FELL

FEARLESS

AS THE SKY FELL WRITER CAROLYN GUNISS PHOTOGRAPHY VARIES

THESE THREE BUSINESSES SHOW THAT THE RERSILIENCY OF THE HAITIAN SPIRIT IS ALIVE AND WELL IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

T

he police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last summer reignited the long simmering Black Lives Matter movement and invigorated broader campaigns for Black equity.

Just before that, in February and April 2020, about 41% of Black-owned small businesses closed, devastated by pandemicrelated closures and reduced customer traffic, according to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Although small companies across the board struggled, Black entrepreneurs were hit hardest.

Yet, these dual crises also inspired new investments in Black businesses, reinforced longstanding traditions for Black communities to look after their own, and spurred some to pursue new opportunities despite pandemic uncertainties.

Haitian businesses in Miami rode the economic wave.

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“It’s hard to quantify how many Haitianowned businesses are in South Florida, so it’s harder to say how many closed last year,” said Djénane St. Fleur, vice president of the Floridabased Haitian American Chamber of Commerce.

Nonetheless, the organization has worked to limit the harm, offering classes on topics such as how to apply for grant funding. The chamber also supports Haitian restaurants by regularly purchasing hundreds of meals for its food distributions.

“We want them to survive,” St. Fleur said.

Some have managed to thrive.

Two sisters opened Welcome to Little Haiti, an online coffee shop that grew while competitors shut down. With the support of grants established for Black businesses in the revolt against racism, the owners of a digital marketing and clothing company expanded their reach. And Christian Dominque kept his restau-

rant, Manjay, open while carving out plans for new ways to feed Miami.

All agreed that 2020 was a challenge, but they survived because of expanded, targeted support for Black ventures.

“People were DM-ing me on social media, asking me, ‘Are you a Black business? I want to support you,’” Dominque said.

Joann Milord, of Welcome to Little Haiti, said friends and family supported her business first, then others followed.

Black customers always were the core customers of COOL Creative, but Co-founder Johanne Wilson noticed increased interest after the social justice revolution. For that, she’s thankful.

Learn more about these three Haitian businesses, which either started during the pandemic or scaled up to meet opportunities while many wondered if the sky had indeed fallen.

Welcome to Little Haiti businesses solve problems. She drew on that experience and realized the time was right to elevate Haitian culture. Milford also reflected on how the 18-acre Magic City Innovation District was changing the face of Little Haiti. Dubbed a campus by developers, the district will include residences, retail shopping, a business incuba-

tor, and art and public spaces. Although some have criticized the development, Milford knew it was inevitable and seized the opportunity to be a part of shaping what it would become.

“Little Haiti is the epitome of Haitian culture,” she said. “We just want to highlight aspects of the culture.”

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF WELCOME TO LITTLE HAITI

Joann Milord grabbed onto a concept that puts focus squarely on her culture and a changing Miami neighborhood, Little Haiti.

Milord remembers drinking Haitian coffee from an aluminum cup with a saucer when she was sent to the island for childhood summer breaks. Coffee beans grown in Haiti are known for producing a mellow-bodied dark roast that is smooth, slightly sweet and low in both bitterness and acidity. The brew is traditionally enjoyed black to savor the natural flavor, often including hints of smoke and chocolate.

The drinkability of plain Haitian coffee stands in contrast to the cafe cubano — a sweetened espresso with cream foam — served in little plastic cups at walk-up windows throughout Miami.

Milford married her love for Haitian coffee and Little Haiti to launch Welcome to Little Haiti, an online coffee and merchandise store that aims to support Haitian entrepreneurs and preserve Haitian traditions.

It started when COVID-19 upended life as she knew it. Milord resisted the urge to curl up in loungewear and ride out the pandemic. Instead, she used the time for introspection and to answer the question: What’s next?

In previous roles at Miami Bayside Foundation and the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, Milford helped small Black

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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF COOL CREATIVE

INVEST // FEARLESS AS THE SKY FELL

COOL Creative COOL stands for Create Out Of Love. The phrase captures the peoplecentric philosophy of this boutique-style brand design and digital agency that has a specialized focus on Black customers and businesses.

Love, art and culture also were behind the business’ latest and, arguably, most popular expansion. An illustrator by trade, Co-founder Terrance Wilson drew Black historical figures to teach his daughter about significant people of color. Then he started putting the faces of Angela Davis, Tupac and Maya Angelou on clothes.

“People bought them; people really took to them,” said Johanne Wilson, Terrance’s wife and COOL’s co-founder. “We took it casually and did the apparel just for fun. Some celebrities got a hold of it, and it started to gain some traction. Then we got some wholesale orders.”

The owners decided to open a store in Miami. They signed a lease in December 2019 and opened March 2020 – just as COVID-19 awareness flared. Soon, they struggled to fill orders.

“We were set up to do really well in 2020 and then everything happened,” Johanne said. “We did the most with what we had. We kept on pushing. We are not complaining. Everyone went through it.”

Always on the lookout for ways to support the business, Johanne entered Comcast Rise, a program to provide marketing support to underrepresented business owners. She won three months of advertising on Comcast Network. That led to an appearance on the Kelly Clarkson Show and another $5,000.

The social justice revolution of the summer propelled the COOL brand even further. Many of the shoppers were of African-descent, seeking ways to support Black businesses and to honor Black history makers.

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Black Americans, including people of Caribbean descent, have always been frequent customers at Manjay.

Christian Dominque established Manjay in 2017, planting it in The Citadel food hall in the Little River neighborhood of Miami. He and his wife, Sabrina, reimagined the cuisines of Caribbean islands – Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, The Bahamas and others – as fast-casual dishes.

“I use the influence I get from the islands and make it modern,” said Dominque, who grew up working in his family’s hospitality businesses. “I take flavors in those dishes and create something unique.”

The business thrived. COVID-19 tested its resiliency.

Dominque offered family-plan meals for takeout. When Uber offered free delivery to customers who bought from Black businesses, sales soared.

“People weren’t coming out. That campaign made my sales increase 100%,” he said.

Instead of retreating or holding steady until the economy rebounded, Dominque expanded instead. He secured a second brick-and-mortar location in Wynnwood and soon will launch a food truck, which will be powered by Instagram updates on location and menu.

“Most of the investors that I have read about invest when times are not good,” Dominque said.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MANJAY

Manjay

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INSPIRATION // MARY ESTIMÉ-IRVIN

MARY ESTIMÉ-IRVIN

IN SERVICE OF COMMUNITY WRITER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY MUIR (ISLAND SYNDICATE)

MARY ESTIMÉ-IRVIN DESCRIBES HERSELF FIRST AS A SINGLE MOTHER THEN AS A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, ENTREPRENEUR AND, IMPORTANTLY, AS THE COUNCILWOMAN ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT 3 IN THE CITY OF NORTH MIAMI. SHE WAS SWORN IN AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL AT GRIFFING PARK ON JUNE 11, 2019, EXCITED FOR PLANS TO FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES, IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE, INCREASE SERVICES FOR SENIORS AND DEVELOP YOUTH PROGRAMS. 32

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Glam Squad Jacqueline Charles (Maggie Salon) and Marsha Griffiths Kaftan by Tanya Marie Design

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Her parents, both medical professionals, immigrated to New York before she was born because of turmoil on the island. At the time, Haitian licenses were not recognized in the United States, so they started by working odd jobs. Her mother, a dental hygienist in Haiti later became a certified nursing assistant in the U.S. Her father worked as an orthopedic technician and later became a licensed practical nurse.

“My parents worked really hard,”she said. “My mother decided to move here, very near to North Miami, because it reminded her more LEADING THROUGH CRISIS of Haiti. Even though I was born in this country, I live like I was born in Haiti. It’s the pride, it’s the culture. When you come to a land of opEight months after joining the council, COVID hit. portunity, it’s just [about] taking advantage [of your circumstances] and “We just had to reimagine the way we did things,” Estimé-Irvin said. being a better citizen.”

“Immediately I started serving our seniors, our most vulnerable, makIt is important, too, she said to stay connected with her Caribbean ing sure that they had food, reassuring them. Calling my constituents roots. She is heartened to see future generations continuing Haitian in general and educating people. One of the first things that we did traditions in Miami. was provide relief [because people were] not working and businesses “May 18th is Haitian Flag Day. It is so nice to see all the young peowere closed. We immediately provided millions of dollars for housing ple, even though they were not born in the country, embracing their relief, for mortgage relief, for small business relief — especially essential culture, eating the griot and the banann pézé — that’s fried pork and businesses.” fried plantains. They are listening to compas, learning about their hisAlthough Estimé-Irvin and the entire city council had to pivot their tory, proud that we were the first Black country in the western hemi2020 plans because of the pandemic, she speaks glowingly about sevsphere to have independence in 1804,” she said “That’s something we eral of achievements. She sponsored an ordinance to create the North really take pride in.”

Miami Youth Council, which has offered several seminars such as one Around the same time the community hosts Haitian Compas Festival, about college readiness. “Leadership is important,” she said. “And drawing diverse crowds from all over the city and state. In North Miami, making sure our kids know what we’re going through is important.” the celebrations of Haitian contribuShe also served as the commissioner tions to the world start earlier, typiof the Community Redevelopment cally on May 1.

Agency, sponsored the ordinance to “It’s usually a big event,” she said. establish the first Women’s Commis“You get to see the beautiful art, the sion in North Miami and sponsored dancing, the food. It’s a good time a resolution to attract tech businessfor us.” es to the city.

Along with her son Patrick, who Estimé-Irvin sees North Miami as a cultural melting pot. While there’s is her pride and joy, Estimé-Irvin’s a high population of Haitian Ameriparents now live with her. The imcans, she represents Hispanics, Caportance of family has been close ribbean people and people from at heart since her mother was diall walks of life. The area’s diversity agnosed with stage IV colon canalso inspires her work. Multiculturcer in the midst of the COVID-19 alism, she said, should be attractive outbreak. Now, Estimé-Irvin is to tech businesses from California acutely aware that March is Naand elsewhere who are looking tional Colorectal Cancer Awareness for new headquarter locations. So, she recently sponsored a resolution Month, too. In her elected position, to actively work on creating favorshe’s begun advocating for early able conditions for these entities in cancer screenings.

North Miami. She believes the city “We just need to take better care is ideally located between both maof ourselves, especially in the Caribjor South Florida airports and is ripe bean [community]. Take the time with skilled job seekers, making this out,” she said. “If anyone had canopportunity a win-win for both busicer in your family, just go ahead and nesses and locals. take precautions.”

The Women’s Commission, which has not yet finalized its leadership, What’s next for Estimé-Irvin, the “would basically look at every aspect council member? of life in the city of North Miami.”

She’ll continue to partner with “They are an advisory board to county, state and federal officials to the mayor, [which is necessary better serve the city of North Miami. because] women’s issues are everyAs she completes her current term one’s issues,” Estimé-Irvin said. and gears up for a new election, the focus remains on vaccinating North Miami residents and continuing on THE SIGNIFICANCE her original path.

OF HAITIAN HERITAGE “More workforce housing, infraIt’s the pride, it’s the structure dollars, economic develThis spring, recognizing Women’s culture. When you come opment, better programs for our History Month in March and Haitian youth, programs for our seniors and Heritage Month in May, Estimé-Irvin to a land of opportunity, it’s just making North Miami a better reflected on the significance of her just [about] being a better place to work, live, learn and play,” current position, her heritage and citizen.” she said. her journey there. he also is the only Black woman and the only Haitian-American woman on the current city council.

“I’m just so proud that little girls that look like me know someone represents them,” she said. “I’m here to represent everyone that lives in my district and I serve everyone that lives here.

But there’s just something special about when someone looks like you and understands your culture, regardless of gender.”

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INSPIRATION // CHEF THIA’S NEW CHAPTER

CHEF THIA

A NEW CHAPTER

WRITER HANNAH GULICS PHOTOGRAPHY MAYBELINE DESPAGNE (PIX CITY STUDIO)

AN ACCOMPLISHED CULINARY EXPERT AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER KNOWN FOR HAITIAN-FUSION CUISINE AND A LARGER-THAN-LIFE PERSONALITY, CYNTHIA VERNA IS ADDING A FEW NEW ELEMENTS TO HER IMPRESSIVE CURRICULUM VITAE. 34

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undreds of thousands of fans have tuned in to “Chef Thia” on her Facebook live broadcasts — from her impassioned prayers and family dinner preps to backstage award show peeks. She seems to have done it all. She’s been a restaurant owner, a host of TV show Taste the Islands, a best-selling biographical author and a women’s advocate.

Adding to her accomplishments, Verna has recently debuted a new hardcover cookbook and her own line of signature spices. The collection, branded Chef Thia’s Spice, features four dry seasoning blends for seafood, steak, poultry, meat and even rice.

“It’s been a dream of mine to just have something created from the heart,” said Verna.

Haitians are familiar with the term “epis,” a popular blend of oil, herbs and spices used in creole cooking as a base for nearly any savory dish.

To get around the need for refrigeration, Verna developed the dry spice line to offer similar flavor with a much longer shelf life. And the packaging is as vibrant as she is.

Her Signature Spice Mix is a simple, all-purpose blend. Verna’s Peppercorn Spice Mix includes pink, green, black and white peppercorns and is ideal for red meats and vegetables. Her Torched Bird Spice Mix should be paired with poultry and other white meat. And her seafood seasoning, coming soon, contains “a little bit of wine, dry butter and all the goodies,” she said.

The new cookbook, “Taste the Islands: Culinary Adventures in a Caribbean Kitchen,” was developed with the team from the TV show and the University Press of Florida. It was also a labor of love for Verna. It took around two and a half years to perfect, with the recipes being thoroughly tested and tasted before the final product was presented to the public. One of her favorite recipes from the book is an elevated take on soup joumou, Haiti’s famous Independence Day fare.

“When you come from the Caribbean,” she said, “You walk inside a Barnes and Noble and your book is right there with all the top chefs, it’s beautiful and powerful to see.”

When she’s not crafting delicious Caribbean seasonings and recipes, you can find Verna traveling the world as a private chef. She recently returned from catering an intimate, exclusive event in Dubai. “I focus more on bringing my country, my culture, my roots around the world.

You want to eat Haitian food. You contact Chef Thia. I bring Haiti, my heart, to you.”

An avid artist and serial entrepreneur, she’s got lots more in the pipeline. Through her newly developed mobile app, her legions of fans — existing and future — can connect fully with her brand. They can purchase her spices or subscribe to get them delivered monthly. They can also purchase any of the three books she’s authored, explore other product offerings such as Chef Thiadesigned clothing and home accessories, and, in the near future, contact her for curated cooking advice or one-on-one help in the kitchen.

Download the Chef Thia app, visit chefthia.com, follow her on social media and buy her books on Amazon.

INSPIRATION // GANG ALTERNATIVE

GANG

ALTERNATIVE CHANGING LIVES

WRITER HANNAH GULICS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF GANG ALTERNATIVE, INC.

“IF IT WASN’T FOR GA, I WOULD PROBABLY BE IN JAIL OR DEAD.”

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hese words are the reflection of one young man aboutGang Alternative Inc. (GA), getting to the heart of why the group’s services are an important refuge and resource for many in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. As an all-encompassing outreach and social service program, GA is saving lives. In 2020 alone, its services benefited nearly 15,000 people in 83 ZIP codes.

The nonprofit evolved from a former church ministry following a pattern of high crime in Miami in the late 1980s. Incorporated in 2005, GA has evolved into a wrap-around service provider that develops resources to dismantle the “gang

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mentality” that controls individuals and families in South Florida’s inner-city communities.

Where possible, GA takes the approach of intervening with positive influence early on.

Twenty-five programs on the organization’s current roster give participants the tools they need to improve life skills and build healthier relationships. GA also offers reform programs and behavioral health services like therapy and trauma recovery. Beyond the initial interactions, they consistently develop and introduce intuitive services that support youth and families in implementing the skills taught through their programs.

“If it wasn’t for GA, I wouldn’t be focused on school,” said a young woman who described the organization as a safe haven. “ I wouldn’t have resources, and I wouldn’t have

a family I could come to whenever I need to talk to someone.”

To change destructive mindsets of youth and young adults and to improve their home environments, GA works with people of various ages and their families in a holistic way. Aside from workforce development for the participant, they focus on broader issues like family strengthening, health knowledge and many other services.

Gang Alternative, Inc. is more than just hope for the better. They have numerous success stories that prove their programs work.

“GA helped me to stop being a follower and become a leader,” said one person who now gives advice to other communities.

To donate, volunteer or learn more about Gang Alternative, Inc., visit MyGA.org.

FEATURE // ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE

FEAR • FACTS • FICTION

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE WRITER GHENETE “G” WRIGHT MUIR PHOTOGRAPHY VARIOUS

AFTER A YEAR OF DEALING WITH A DEADLY PANDEMIC WHICH HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BLACK PEOPLE, YOU WOULD THINK WE’D EMBRACE SOMETHING THAT PROMISES TO RETURN US TO NORMALCY. BUT THAT’S NOT THE CASE. EVEN AS COVID-19 VACCINES BECOME MORE AVAILABLE, WE BLACK AND CARIBBEAN FOLKS ARE STILL DISPROPORTIONATELY SKEPTICAL ABOUT GETTING THE SHOT.

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n late February, a nationwide poll by the Pew Research Center found that 69% of U.S. adults had already been vaccinated or said they wanted to be. The rate was a lower 61% among non-Hispanic Blacks, although that is up dramatically from 42% in November just before the first vaccines were authorized in the United States.

I confess that initially, I was hesitant about taking the vaccine. I thought perhaps it was best for me to see how it worked on others before taking it myself. My knowledge of the vaccines was sketchy at best, and posts on social media that questioned their safety and efficacy made me even more uncertain. Many of the friends I polled on Facebook shared my

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worries. Some have since changed their minds.

“I do not know what is true anymore,” said Karen, of Trinidad. Her trust grew weaker as rumors and questionable information proliferated online. But she also is in a high-risk category and fears COVID-19. “So I have decided, if I have an opportunity to take the vaccine, I will get it. Growing up in Trinidad, all the vaccines were mandatory. I turned out fine.”

Aisha, who is of Jamaican, Panamanian and Senagalese ancestry, was nervous about how quickly the vaccine was created and also did not trust that adequate testing had been done.

But when her mother’s care facility called to ask if she wanted her to be vaccinated, she immediately said, “Yes.”

“That made me pause and ask myself, if it is okay for her, why is it not okay for me? So I am getting it now.”

I started researching this article to answer my own questions as well as those raised by friends and family.

Now, I have a much better understanding of how the COVID-19 vaccines work and which companies were authorized to create them here in America. I learned the majority of scary social media posts I had seen were either false or did not include critical context. There are, of course, reasons to be concerned about medical racism today, but Black doctors are among those who developed the vaccines and are advocating for their use.

In short, here’s how the vaccines were ready to go — safely — in less than a year: NEARLY TWO DECADES OF RESEARCH. COVID-19 comes from a family of viruses that have been well studied. Scientists got a headstart on COVID-19 from their work on vaccines for the 2002 SARS coronavirus and the 2012 MERS coronavirus. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were created based on the work of a team that includes viral immunologist Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett, a Black woman. Their work included developing the mRNA technology used in two COVID-19 vaccines. Corbett also was a hands-on leader in the creation of the Moderna shot.

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QUICK RESPONSE. Infectious disease experts and vaccine researchers had long predicted a global pandemic involving a respiratory virus. When COVID-19 appeared in China and started to spread globally, key researchers immediately began developing a new vaccine. In January 2020, the first vaccine had already been drafted by the National Institutes of Health team that included Corbett. Early studies showed promising results and the first human trials started in March, just as many states issued their first lockdown orders.

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WORLDWIDE ECONOMIC IMPACT. Because COVID-19 brought the world economy to a halt, billions of dollars were donated from private and government entities to fund the research and development of the vaccine, significantly decreasing the financial and bureaucratic barriers usually associated with medical research.

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GLOBAL COLLABORATION. Researchers worldwide collaborated to produce the vaccine quickly and safely.

Volunteers lined up in the tens of thousands for the trials. Blacks were still underrepresented, but the gap was smaller than often seen in such studies: Blacks accounted for about 10% of people in the clinical trials but are 12% of the U.S. population. The group was large enough to soundly conclude vaccine safety and effectiveness was similar across racial and ethnic groups.

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Aisha and her mom.

Aisha was nervous about how quickly the vaccine was created.

But when her mother’s care facility asked if she wanted her mom to be vaccinated, Aisha immediately said, “Yes. That made me pause and ask myself, if it is okay for her, why is it not okay for me?"

So far, two types of vaccines have been developed. To trigger the body’s defense system, one uses a fake, inactive virus, the other uses mRNA proteins.

Historically, vaccines used an inactivated virus cell to trigger an immune response. That is the strategy the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine employs. A modified version of a different, harmless virus teaches our cells how to fight COVID-19. The coronavirus spike protein is effectively no longer able to attach to our cells. “mRNA” stands for Messenger RNA, a string of proteins that the body uses to communicate with our DNA. The dual-dose Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are the first mRNA vaccines to be approved, although the strategy has been in development for about 15 years. In short, the mRNA vaccine teaches the body’s immune system to develop antibodies that fight the coronavirus should the real thing appear. (Note: The vaccine does not alter your DNA, it just instructs it.)

Both kinds of vaccine can cause temporary side effects such as a fever, fatigue, rash and body aches, among others. These symptoms typically last less than two days. They are signs that your body has recognized the vaccine and is learning how to fight to protect you.

Allergic reactions have been rare, but speak with your doctor if you have had problems with a previous vaccine. Serious adverse reactions

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY: KIZZMEKIA CORBETT

HOW THE VACCINES WORK

Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett is part of the National Institutes of Health team that developed the mRNA technology and the Moderna vaccine.

have been incredibly rare — only a handful — after more than 80 million people in the United States have received at least one dose.

Cuban American Olga was initially going to take the vaccine but now has concerns that it could impact her fertility (a claim that has repeatedly been debunked). Since she is younger, she also believes she would handle COVID-19 well enough should she get it.

Jamaican nurse Ana also worried about the potential side effects, but decided to seek vaccination after doing her own research.

“The worst result of COVID is death and the worst result of the vaccines are adverse effects (which we know are rare),” she said.

On reflection, Ana recognized how vaccines, such as the BCG vaccine to prevent tuberculosis, have historically improved the lives of Caribbean people. That was first developed in 1921. “Look how far we have come — so many significant medical developments. I feel like I should trust now more than then.”

While the new vaccines don’t promise to prevent COVID-19, clinical studies show that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are about 95% effective at preventing symptomatic illness, hospitalization and death. It is not yet clear if people who are vaccinated and become infected can still spread the virus if they do not have symptoms. That is why authorities ask people to continue wearing masks and taking other precautions even after vaccination.

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FEATURE // ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINE

After some hesitancy, Karen decided to get the vaccine

I do not know what is true anymore,” said Karen. But she is in a high-risk category and fears COVID-19. “So I have decided to take the vaccine.

Growing up in Trinidad, all the vaccines were mandatory.

I turned out fine.”

VACCINE HESITANCY AND HOW TO FIX IT Black people are four times more likely to be hospitalized and three times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white people in the United States. Nearly 80% of Black Americans know someone who has been hospitalized by or died from COVID-19.

Yet, white Americans are getting immunized at a rate three times higher than Black people in America.

Some of it has to do with barriers to access, like age limits and lists of “essential” jobs that disproportionately excluded Black people. But some of the gap also is because of uncertainty about the vaccines and mistrust of the healthcare system.

Medical atrocities against Black people in the United States, like the governmentsponsored Tuskegee Experiment, and everyday health care disparities contribute to the distrust of the medical community.

Black adults who do not want to be vaccinated told the Pew Research Center that their major reasons were: • side effects (84%) • fear about the speed of vaccine development (74%) • u ncertainty about how the vaccines work (71%) • and prior bad experiences with medical system mistakes (about 50%) The list included some of the concerns I had, or had heard from others, before I started research for this article. I talked to Dr. Sidney Coupet, a Haitian American, about why hesitancy runs so deep in Black communities.

“Healthcare has never treated us well,” Coupet said. “In fact, it has abused us, caused us harm, used us for their benefit.”

Coupet, who also has a master’s degree in public health, dedicated his career to addressing healthcare disparities in our community. He said America needs to take a three-pronged approach to gain the trust of the Black community: Apologize, listen and co-create.

After apologizing for past harms, Coupet believes health professionals need strategies for active, ongoing listening to the Black community about their experiences and concerns.

And then they need to collaborate with us to resolve barriers to equitable care.

The Black Coalition Against COVID-19 (BCAC), which is working to provide accurate information and resources, has found that many people, like myself, have adopted what they call the “wait and see” approach. And while BCAC understands that this hesitancy is understandable, the group notes that delayed vaccination jeopardizes our health.

Dr. Vanessa Cumming, who works in a sickle cell clinic in Jamaica, has seen the divide firsthand. Her patients who are immunocompromised have been anxiously waiting for their chance to be vaccinated. The general population, however, is less trusting.

“We know that for some semblance of ‘normalcy’ to return, we will need to vaccinate a high percentage of our population,” she said.

If enough people are immunized, we collectively achieve herd immunity. For the world to put this horrendous episode behind us, there are no other options. I hope others can find their way from vaccine skepticism to optimism, the way I ultimately have on this journey.

Courtesy: Kaiser Family Foundation

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This shouldn’t be how we say hello...or goodbye.

It’s our reality right now. But it won’t be if we do what it takes to beat COVID-19. Vaccines are coming, but until enough of us are vaccinated, we all still need to wear our masks, stay at least six feet from others, and avoid indoor social gatherings. The more we slow the spread, the faster we’ll return to normal hellos … and fewer goodbyes.

Learn more about vaccines and slowing the spread at cdc.gov/coronavirus Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

TASTE THE ISLANDS // RESTAURANT REVIEW

CHELLY’S JAMAICAN RESTAURANT IT’S ALL LOVE AT CHELLY’S. OWNED AND OPERATED

BY PARNETTE PEOPLES SINCE 2013, THE FAMILYRUN OPERATION IS FILLED WITH LOVING ENERGY AND FABULOUS CUISINE. THIS IS A QUAINT, HOMEY SPOT WITH A NARROW DINING AREA. IT HAS COUNTER SERVICE WHERE TO-GO AND PICK-UP ORDERS ARE COLLECTED, BUT ALSO SEATING FOR UP TO 50 PEOPLE. WRITER AND PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID I. MUIR

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eoples credits her daughter, Natalie McKay, with making it happen from day one. Her daughter, a doctor, financed the project. And as I dined at Chelly’s, I met Peoples’ daughter-in-law, husband and other family members, who all assist with making the family business work.

Peoples, who hails from Savannah-la-Mar in Jamaica and migrated to the United States in 2006, explains that her dream to be a chef and restaurant owner culminated in opening Chelly’s.

Their menu is filled with traditional Jamaican comfort foods and less typical offerings, including seafood like shrimp, lobster and conch. My server, Samantha, was also the manager on duty and was quick to suggest that I try their jerk chicken, curried conch and peppered shrimp.

Chelly’s peppered shrimp is delish. Ever wonder how they get those to be so amazingly bright red? The shrimps are sauteed in a bath of mixed spices like scotch bonnet, paprika or cayenne pepper from which they absorb the color. These shrimp are a throwback to my childhood trips through BlackRiver in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. I would see people selling river shrimp in small, clear plastic bags on the side of the road for a tasty snack. The ones on the table before me were large shrimp in-shell, with a crunchy exterior, tender and flavorful meat, and dangerously spicy. Be cautious and enjoy.

The curried conch is the star of the show, smothered in a light and loose Caribbean curry sauce sweet peppers, onions, and carrots. The dish offers undercurrents of thyme and Scotch Bonnet peppers. This is genuinely a winner. The conch is surprisingly tender with the slightest of breading, and I’m definitely going back for more. Although I had this as just an appetizer-sized sampling, it is regularly available as a complete meal with rice.

My main course was jerk chicken with rice and peas, steamed vegetables and fried plantains. It was quite unique and interesting. The appearance and flavor were authentic, however, the texture varies from what I expected. Jerk is typically served as dry, grilled meat, sometimes with a sauce to offer some moisture, but at Chelly’s the meat remains extremely moist. I thought for a moment that the chicken was a stew but it wasn’t served in a gravy. The steamed vegetables were soft and well seasoned, and included cabbage, carrot, corn and string beans. The fried plantain was ripe, sweet and a perfect compliment to the meal.

9160 W. Commercial Blvd., Sunrise, FL 33351 (Sunrise West Shopping Center on Commercial Boulevard near Pine Island Road)

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Jamaican-style peppered shrimp.

A bowl of curried conch.

TASTE THE ISLANDS // SPRINGTIME RECIPES

SPRINGTIME IN THE ISLANDS

Trinidadian Chicken Pelau There is no dish more iconic for the island of Trinidad than chicken pelau.

Typically made for large family gatherings, this delicious one-pot meal is the perfect combination of savory Caribbean flavors.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • 2 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs • 3 sprigs thyme • 2 teaspoons grated garlic • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce • 1-2 tablespoons soy sauce • ½ teaspoon salt • ¼ ground black pepper • 2 tablespoons canola oil • 3 tablespoons brown sugar

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• 2 cups parboiled rice • ¾ cup coarsely chopped onion • ¾ cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper • 2 cups fresh or canned pigeon peas • 2 cups canned coconut milk • 2 cups chicken stock • S alt and ground black pepper, to taste • 1 whole Scotch bonnet pepper, uncut • ¼ cup thinly sliced green onions

DIRECTIONS 1. In a large bowl combine chicken, 1 sprig of thyme, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, garlic, salt and black pepper, then marinate for 1-2 hours or overnight.

2. Add oil to a large, deep pot and place over medium heat.

3. Once the oil is hot, add the sugar and let it caramelize to a dark brown for about two minutes in an even layer.

4. Add the marinated chicken thighs to the pot and stir gently to coat with the sugar. Allow to cook for 8-10 minutes.

5. Add the rice and stir thoroughly to coat with flavor.

6. Stir in the onions, sweet peppers, pigeon peas, green onion and remaining sprigs of thyme, and stir for five minutes 7. Add the coconut milk and chicken stock and season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Add the whole Scotch bonnet pepper, cover the pot and bring to a boil for 10 minutes.

8. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 25 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed.

9. Enjoy!

Frozen Piña Colada Originating in Puerto Rico, the Piña Colada is now the island’s signature drink.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • 2-3 ounces white rum • 2 ounces coconut cream • 1 ounces heavy cream • ¾ cup fresh pineapple juice • ½ cup of ice • Fresh pineapple wedges and maraschino cherries for garnish

DIRECTIONS 1. Combine all ingredients except garnish and ice in a blender and mix thoroughly.

2. Add ice and mix for another 20 - 30 seconds.

3. Pour into a 12 ounce glass, garnish with a fresh pineapple slice and maraschino cherry.

4. Enjoy!

Puerto Rican Coquito Cheesecake This cheesecake recipe is the most delicious way to incorporate Caribbean holiday ingredients into a creamy dessert, perfect for any time of year.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED For the crust: • 9 inch pan • 2 cups graham crackers, crushed • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar • ½ teaspoon cinnamon • 1 stick of butter, melted

For the filling: • 4 (8 ounce) packages of cream cheese, room temperature • 1 cup granulated sugar • ½ teaspoon nutmeg • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • Pinch of salt • 4 large eggs • ½ cup cornstarch • 1 cup coquito

DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 2. To prepare the crust, mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. The mixture should stay together when squeezed.

3. Compress the mixture into the 9 inch pan, pressing all the way up on the sides to create a crust.

4. Bake for 10 minutes and set aside to cool.

5. To prepare the cheesecake, add the cream cheese, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and pinch of salt to a bowl and blend at a moderate speed with a hand or stand mixer until combined and smooth.

6. Add the eggs one at a time 7. Slowly add the coquito and the cornstarch to the batter and mix until combined. Do not over mix.

8. Pour the batter onto the cooled crust and bake the cheesecake for about 80 minutes, or until firm.

10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool at room temperature for 2 hours.

11. Cover the cheesecake with plastic wrap or a cake cover and refrigerate overnight.

12. Remove the cheesecake from the pan and enjoy!

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TASTE THE ISLANDS // RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

RESTAURANT

LISTING IN SOUTH FLORIDA

AVERAGE COST PER PERSON BEFORE DRINKS, TAX AND TIP. $ Under $10 / person $$ Under $20 / person $$$ Under $40 / person $$$$ Over $40 / person 925 NUEVO’S CUBANO’S | $ Cuban Serving succulent roast pork and delicious sandwiches.

925 N Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale Delivery ALBERTE’S RESTAURANT I$$ Haitian Unique and authentic Caribbean dishes, with live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

1201 NE 38th St, Oakland Park albertesrestaurant.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout ALEXSANDRA’S CARIBBEAN CAFE |$$ Caribbean, Jamaican Soak up some sun while enjoying their famous jerk chicken sandwich and patties.

235 E Commercial Blvd, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Delivery | Takeout ALI’S ROTI SHOP | $ Caribbean, Indian, Vegetarian Tiny counter-serve joint dishing up Trinidadian comfort food like doubles & aloo pie.

3 03 S State Road 7, Plantation Delivery | Takeout LA BELLE JACMELIENNE CAFE | $$ Haitian Haitian décor and friendly staff serving up a wide array of Haitian cuisine 3 328 South University Dr, Miramar Delivery | Takeout

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BAMBOO SHACK | $$ Bahamian Quick-service restaurant serving snacks and traditional Bahamian items.

18450 NW 2nd Ave, Miami Gardens Delivery | Takeout

CHEF CREOLE | $$ Haitian Simply delicious signature Haitian seafood.

2 00 NW 54th St, Miami, FL chefcreole.com Takeout

BAHAMIAN REEF SEAFOOD RESTAURANT |$$$ Seafood Low-key and casual with colorful interior.

7836 NW 44th St, Sunrise Delivery | Takeout

CLIVE’S CAFE | $ Jamaican Popular spot for jerk chicken and curry goat.

5 890 NW 2nd Ave, Miami clivescafe.com Delivery | Takeout

EL BOHIO DE MAMA | $$ Dominican Familystyle restaurant offering music, mofongo, shrimp and dancing.

2181 State Road 7, Margate Dine In | Delivery | Takeout BUTTERFLAKES | $ Jamaican Local spot for patties and hot food.

5100 W Commercial Blvd #3, Tamarac butterflakesbakery.com Delivery | Takeout CALYPSO RESTAURANT & RAW BAR | $$ Caribbean Try their Caribbean-style seafood and Jamaican jerk and curry dishes.

4 60 S Cypress Rd., calypsorestaurant.com Dine In | Takeout

COLADA | $ Cuban Family-owned bakery serving savory and sweet Cuban treats and other Cuban cuisine.

5 25 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale coladahouse.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout CONCH HEAVEN | $$ Bahamian Lots of conch based comfort foods, with locations in Miami, Plantation and Atlanta.

1 1275 NW 27th Ave, Miami conchheaven.com Delivery | Takeout CONCH KRAWL CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT | $$ Bahamian, Seafood Enjoy traditional Bahamian and other Caribbean dishes.

2 600 S University Dine In | Takeout

DON ARTURO RESTAURANT | $$ Cuban Serving traditional recipes & drinks in kid-friendly environment.

1 198 SW 27th Ave, Fort Lauderdale donarturorestaurant.com Dine In | Takeout DONNA’S CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT | $$ Jamaican Authentic Jamaican food all day, plus cocktails and Sunday brunch. Nine locations around South Florida.

5 434 N University Drive, Lauderhill donnascaribbean.com Takeout DUKUNOO JAMAICAN KITCHEN | $$ Jamaican Wynwood’s full-service, upscale, Caribbean dining experience.

3 16 NW 24th St, Miami dukunoojamaicankitchen.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout DUNN’S RIVER | $$ Jamaican Authentic Jamaican cuisine in a beautiful ambiance, serving the Hallandale area.

9 08 W Hallandale Beach Blvd, Hallandale Beach Delivery | Takeout DUTCH POT JAMAICAN RESTAURANT | $$ Jamaican Authentic Jamaican cuisine.

3 120 W Broward Blvd, Fort Lauderdale dutchpotrestaurants.com Delivery | Takeout

ESTEFAN KITCHEN | $$$ Cuban Star-powered destination for upscale Cuban cuisine.

140 NE 39th St #133, Delivery FIERY IRIE | $$ Caribbean All your favorite authentic Jamaican dishes.

1 00 S Flamingo Rd, Pembroke Pines fieryirie.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout FINLEY’S BAHAMIAN RESTAURANT | $$ Bahamian Try their breakfast served with johnny cakes or grits, lunch specials daily 2 710 W Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach finleysbahamianrestaurant. com Delivery | Takeout HAVANA 1957 | $$ Cuban Quick bites in a buzzing backdrop with Havana memorabilia 4 05 Espanola Way, Miami Beach havana1957.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout ISLAND FUSION GRILL | $$ Jamaican, Cuban Jamaican, Cuban, Asian and Creole flavors with seafood and vegetarian options 4 811 S State Rd 7, Davie, FL 33314 islandfusiongrill.com Delivery | Takeout

LC ROTI SHOP |$ Indian, Vegetarian Cash-only eatery, serving housemade roti with pepper sauce.

19505 NW 2nd Ave, Takeout LITTLE HAVANA | $$ Cuban Authentic Cuban Cuisine 1 2727 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami littlehavanarestaurant.com Dine In | Takeout LOCALICIOUS JAX ICE CREAM | $ Ice Cream Old fashioned, hand made ice cream including Caribbean flavors.

4 220 NW 12th St, Lauderhill Delivery | Takeout JAMAICA KITCHEN | $$ Jamaican Known for their extra spicy beef patties 8 736 SW 72nd St, Miami www.jamaicakitchen.com Dine Outside | Delivery | Takeout

JUANA’S LATIN SPORTS BAR & GRILL |$$ Latin Casual Dominican, Puerto Rican & American sports bar and grill.

1 1602 City Hall juanaslatinsportsbar.com Dine In | Takeout LAS OLAS CAFE | $ Cuban Freshly squeezed juices and Cuban sandwiches.

6 44 6th St, Miami Beach lasolascafesb.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout LAS VEGAS CUBAN CUISINE | $$ Cuban, Latin American A dine-in hot spot with 16 South Florida locations offering Cuban meals and cocktails.

2 807 E Oakland Park Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale Lasvegascubancuisine.com Dine In | Takeout EL MAGO DE LAS FRITAS | $ Cuban Cozy spot for Cuban burgers.

5 828 SW 8th St, Miami elmagodelasfritas.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout

JOY’S ROTI DELIGHT | $$ Trinidadian, Indian Counter-service cafe with Indian-inspired Caribbean cuisine.

1 205 NW 40th Ave, Lauderhill joysrotidelight.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout

MANGU CAFE RESTAURANT | $$ Dominican Bare-bones Dominican spot serving pernil, goat stew, beer & wine.

2 007 W 62nd St, Hialeah Dine In | Delivery | Takeout

JUANA LA CUBANA CAFE |$ Cuban Cuban sandwiches & dishes like ropa vieja & roast pork.

2 850 SW 54th St, Fort Lauderdale juanalacubana.com Dine In | Takeout

MARIO’S CATALINA RESTAURANT | $$$ Cuban Dine in relaxing ambiance, eating Cuban and Spanish 1 611 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale Dine In | Delivery | Takeout

EL OTRO TIESTO CAFE | $$ Dominican Dominican-Japanese fusion with a twist.

3 023 Biscayne Blvd, Miami elotrotiestocafemiami.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout ORTANIQUE ON THE MILE | $$$$ Caribbean Fusion Island flavors, local ingredients, creative cocktails, tropical-themed decor.

2 78 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables ortaniquerestaurants.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout PADRINO’S CUBAN CUISINE | $$ Cuban Serving the best mariquitas, mojito and flan for the past 40 years.

1 135 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale padrinos.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout PANFRIDAYS | $$ Jamaican Try their popular jerk chicken and shrimp pasta.

7 183 W Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderhill panfridays.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout POLLO EL COJIDO | $$ Dominican Delicious mofongo, quesadilla and sancocho.

5 859 N University Dr, Pompano Beach Dine In | Delivery | Takeout POLLO TIPICO | $ Traditional Dominican dishes in a laid-back atmosphere Dine In | Delivery | Takeout

PUERTO SAGUA RESTAURANT | $$ Cuban Known for their soup and oxtail stews 7 00 Collins Ave, Miami Beach Dine In | Takeout REED’S CATERING & CONCESSIONS | $$ Seafood, Caribbean Late night seafood truck, with a specialty of conch salad.

1 2203 NW 27th Ave, Miami Takeout REGGAE PON THE GRILLE | $$ Jamaican, Caribbean Buffet style dining offering tasty Jamaican dishes.

8 032 W McNab Rd, North Lauderdale Reggaeonthegrille.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout ROCK STEADY JAMAICAN BISTRO | $$$ Jamaican, Caribbean Strip-mall cafe with Jamaican dishes like jerk chicken, curries & crab fritters.

2 399 N Federal Hwy - Unit C, Boca Raton r ocksteadyjamaicanbistro.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout SAZON CUBAN CUISINE | $ Cuban Tasty Caribbean cuisine and live weekend entertainment.

7 305 Collins Ave, Miami Beach sazoncubancuisine.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout SHALAMA’S HALAL ROTI SHOP | $ Caribbean, Indian Casual ethnic take-out spot with authentic roti, curries and pepper sauce.

1 432 State Road 7, Dine In | Takeout

SHEIKS BAKERY & CAFE | $ Caribbean, Indian East & West Indian food including halal meats, spices & baked goods.

1 54 University Dr, Pembroke Pines sheiksbakery.com Takeout SWIRL WINE BISTRO |$$ Caribbean, Wine Bar With fresh, high-quality ingredients their culinary team offers a variety of cuisines and wines.

1 435 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek Delivery | Takeout VEG BY HAKIN | $ Caribbean All-vegan menu and fresh juices served in modest digs.

1 05 North State Rd. 7, Plantation Dine In | Takeout VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT BY HAKIN | $ Caribbean All-vegan menu and fresh juices served in modest digs.

7 3 NE 167th St, North Miami Beach Dine In | Takeout VERSAILLES | $$ Cuban, Latin American Serving tasty Cuban cuisine and culture for four decades. The gauge of the community’s pulse.

3 555 Southwest 8th Street, Miami versaillesrestaurant.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout YARUMBA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE | $$ Dominican Try their traditional stews or Churrasco with live music.

4 740 NW 167th St, Miami Gardens yarumbarestaurant.com Dine In | Delivery | Takeout

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FINAL THOUGHT // FILLING NEGATIVE SPACES

FINAL THOUGHT

FILLING NEGATIVE SPACES WRITER CALIBE THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY DAVID I. MUIR (ISLAND SYNDICATE)

FOR ALMOST HALF MY LIFE, I’VE LIVED IN SOUTH FLORIDA. I CALL IT HOME NOW, EVEN THOUGH I ALSO STILL THINK OF JAMAICA AS HOME. AND EVEN IF THE TENSE POLITICAL CLIMATE PERSISTS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, I’VE GROWN SO ACCUSTOMED TO CERTAIN CONVENIENCES THAT I DON’T THINK I WOULD EVER OPT TO MOVE BACK TO THE ISLAND PERMANENTLY.

Kaftan by Tanya Marie Design

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till, although America is now home, I am conflicted daily because, after almost 20 years, I continue to feel like a stranger in this land. I think many Caribbean people feel that. I think many immigrants from wherever they come from feel that.

Strangely, I am most concerned for African Americans who were born and raised in this country. As an “outsider” looking in, it seems as though, like many DREAMers, although this is the only home they have ever known, they don’t feel welcome here either.

I never followed politics before I came to America. When I was growing up on The Rock, it seemed there were fewer fights about policies and more fights about who was wearing the wrong color — in our case, orange or green. But here, although I am an advocate of pulling myself up by my bootstraps, patriotism

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and following the law for the most part, I’m also against voter disenfranchisement, putting money over people, and winning at any and all cost. After the recent elections, after seeing how Americans have been treating Americans — immigrant or otherwise — it seemed like we all needed to reset. It seemed like we needed to take stock of what is truly valuable to us, what we need to leave in the maelstrom that was 2020, and what we plan to do and be from here on forward. Rather than living in the negative headspace politics and media seem to want to create in my mind, I choose to fill the negative space on the canvas of our pages in print and online with stories that don’t ignore the bad things around us, but that also look forward to the great things to come.

So though our WhatsApp groups are trying to scare us out of getting vaccinated, Ghenete

has shown us the results of her personal research and why we should trust the science. Carolyn has explored the subtle devastation of a year without carnival on the collective Caribbean spirit, but has given us hope that revelers in sequins and feathers will soon march again. Hannah visited with one of the designers who helped us turn our homes into havens while we were “trapped” in them over this past year. Steve showed us where to go to cleanse our weary chakras once we can freely visit the islands again. And in celebration of Haitian Heritage Month, we’ve profiled several of the political, community and business leaders from South Florida’s Haitian community.

Whatever struggles you have gone through in these past months, here’s hoping that you can find renewal, pure energy and vibrant colors to fill the negative spaces on your own life’s canvas. #islandorigins